October 2004

Lisa Emerson, 24, became a Libertarian activist -- and student organization leader -- at the University of Missouri-Columbia, from which she recently graduated with a degree in linguistics. Since then, she's been active in various campaigns in the Kansas City area (she lives in Raytown) and as secretary of the Missouri Libertarian Party.

"Stewardship of taxpayer money is a matter of both efficiency and trust," she says. "And recent Treasurers have failed Missourians on both counts. A Libertarian is the ideal choice to serve in this office, as I would not be beholden to politicians of either party -- there would be no conflict of interests between the requirements of the job and the demands of politics."

Emerson has identified several areas in which she believes she can make a difference:

• Bringing investments of state funds back to Missouri
• Reforming the state's unclaimed property program
• Getting the Treasurer out of the "social engineering" business

"Of Missouri's roughly 2.8 billion dollar investment portfolio, about 90% of it is invested in New York banks. It would be preferable to have that money invested here in Missouri, as it was under former Treasurer Wendell Bailey's 'MO-Bucks' program," she says. "But the structure of Missouri's portfolio runs counter to that purpose. Ultimately, we need to either get that money back to taxpayers and let them invest it as they wish, or start handling it more responsibly so that Missourians get the best possible return, resulting in more revenues from lower taxes."

And the money that stays in the state, says Emerson, is mishandled in service to the Treasurer's political agenda. "Programs such as Missouri First Linked Deposit, Dollar$ and $ense and Missouri Mo$t don't represent good stewardship. They represent the use of taxpayer money for subsidies and special treatment for taxpayers who spend money the government's way instead of their way."

Find Out More About Lisa's Campaign at www.vote4lisa.org