Final Post

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who let me interview them. I'm sorry I wasn't able to post everything - I was bombarded with info.

I had fun. Hope you did too.
Beth

News Conference for Final Simulation

Bill 274 passed in the House and was signed into law by President Millworth. This means a grand restructuring of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and several other similar agencies within the government. While across the nation some were outraged with the vote, others were proud to have witnessed what they called a new era of civil rights. Representative Simon voiced his opinions in an interview with me last week stating, “I was happy Bill 274 passed; I voted for it. Two people from my state were killed in one of the hate crimes. It didn’t speak well that the House vote was so close, but I’m glad it passed.”

The House also passed a bill to investigate alternative fuels. The discussion leading up to the vote was candidly polarized. On one side, Representative Zarkasian felt the money could be used elsewhere, suggesting the U.S. buy corn from Brazil instead of growing it here. To this, Representative Culpepper countered with, “Why should we not buy oil from Iraq but buy corn from Brazil?” As the discussion continued, it became more heated. It will be interesting to see how this bill is received in the Senate.

In the Shell Oil crisis, the UN resolution passed and gas prices have increased 10% and then leveled off. The White House credits this leveling off to investors trusting that the oil fields are protected and production will resume in the near future. But in Nigeria, the use of U.S. military troops to secure the Shell Oil fields has taken an odd turn. Human Rights groups are upset over the military’s presence for keep oil safe while refusing to aid those suffering from starvation and political unrest within the warring Nigerian population. Some have gone as far as comparing Nigeria to Rwanda 25 years ago.

The White House is responding to the damage to Cuba in the aftermath of Hurricane Fay. White House Advisor Frock stated, “The Millworth Administration is asking the American people to donate to the International Red Cross. Efforts will include several other countries and we will be donating and working with them in the relief efforts.”

The Robotic Land Personnel Bill (149) is a Department of Defense research project that would cost taxpayers $100 billion dollars a year for 5 years. To date, this has been a hotly debated subject. House Representative Zarkasian wants a complete dismantlement of the Department of Defense and a restructuring process to begin before discussion of any new funding projects. To some other Congressional members, this attitude is too harsh. They are working with Zarkazian on an amicable solution. In a statement from the House External Matters Committee, they suggested remote-controlled vehicles rather than robotic ones. They also wanted small pilot programs before approving such a large military project. The House also reduced the funding from $100 billion to $10 billion.

Bill 274 Passed House, Senate and the President Signed Off Too!

Today was a busy day as well. Perhaps most importantly, Bill 274, which was previously approved by the Senate, today passed in the House. The vote was extremely close and at one point a tie seemed possible. Those in favor of the sexual orientation civil rights bill were as follows: Representatives Simon, Zarkasian, Unger, Hilton, Jackson, Zahn, Yarmolinski and Gomez. I should note that Rep. Nedwick was absent from House chambers today.
The vote happily electrified the Senate, who first passed the Bill before sending it on to the House Rules Committee. Within minutes, President Millworth signed the Bill.
For many who sided with the pro-Bill movement, today was an historic day of victory. However, those opposing the Bill are extremely upset with the Bill's passage. Rep. Kilpatrick was visibly shaken after the vote, having to leave chambers for a short period of time.
I asked Speaker Villary about the her vote and the outcome. She stated she had voted against the Bill because she was worried about it protecting gay marriage. Yet in the end, she said, "it came down to protecting our citizens." She was satisfied with the overall vote.
I would like to think that having Senator Meyers on today's program might have allayed some fears surrounding the Bill. The Bill is not about gay marriage or whether it is morally correct to be a homosexual. It simply defines sexual orientation as a part of civil rights legislation.
And on the topic of gay marriage, I showed a clip from this weekend's Miss USA pageant in which a contestant answered a controversial question in an un-politically correct manner in the eyes of the judges. Now, having been in a number of beauty pageants in my much younger days, I can assure you that your love of Jesus is throughly beat in your brain as a southern belle. So I don't really see the fuss about the religion part. All girls are supposed to talk about how moral they are and their desire for world peace. Her question might have been written in a different manner or she could have answered it in a different way. Her stance for her beliefs are admirable, but seems to have cost her the crown. You decide - here's the clip:

In other news, the Senate has been discussing Bill 208 regarding the Lottery. I spoke to Senator Dixon(D) regarding the talks. She felt some members believe the Bill will be a good idea "because it will help the economy and taxes." Dixon stated the Lottery will help with taxes and it is "on a voluntary basis." She noted that there were issues involved in gambling that she would like to investigate further with other members. If possible, she would like to have some sort of program, specifically social programs for gambling addicts, be paid for with the proceeds from the Lottery. Dixon said that both sides of the issue made their points clear. Some were caught in the middle, "(they) were torn between the moral and fiscal issues." She also added that she tried to look at the issues as if she were not a United States Senator, but back home as an "average citizen." It was clear that the issues have not been completely resolved; yet a vote is definitely close. Stay tuned to find out more on the Lottery Bill (previously the Casino Bill).

Tomorrow I'll fill you in on the Cuban recovery efforts, Nigerian situation and much more. Please send in any comments so that we might share your questions on the next broadcast.

Good night -
E.E.

Hate Crimes, Bill 274 and the House

What appeared to be a copy-cat killer is now looking more like an organized hate group. Last week a bomb went off in a homosexual community in Portland, Oregon. Three men were killed in the blast and 22 people were injured.

A few days prior, in New York’s East Side, two gay men were killed execution-style in a remote alleyway near a gay neighborhood. The two men were evidently returning to an apartment after a movie. Police say the perpetrators tied their hands behind each victim, made them kneel down and shot each of them in the back of the head with a .38 caliber pistol.

In both cases, a note was left near the crime scene with words written from scripture: “The wages of sin are death.” The FBI and CIA were testing the notes to look for any connection.

These actions seem to stem from the Senate’s approval of Bill 274 (Sexual Orientation and Discrimination). It was also recently passed in the House Rules Committee and is expected to be open for a vote of the full House as early as this next week. The Bill protects homosexuals as a class, similar to the way race and gender are handled in civil rights legislation. If passed in the House, the Bill will take effect one year after passage.

As expected, there are very strong opinions on both sides of this issue. A website called StopSexualPerversion.org informs visitors that homosexuality is unnatural and should be removed from American society. The home page of this site contends that “homosexuality is a cancer that must be treated through moral reform or other drastic measures.” The site quotes scripture, reports confessions of reformed homosexuals and provides a chat room for those who want to end homosexuality in America. The website is the work of Wendel Lemly, a retired dentist, and his wife. The Lemlys are “dedicating the rest of our lives to the task of saving those homosexuals who can be saved, and exposing the evil in those who defy the laws of nature.”

And in an odd turn of events, leaders of a group called Fight Back have expressed frustration with a Cleveland, Ohio U.S. District Court decision by appealing the decision regarding “freedom of speech” for anti-homosexual websites. Traditionally, homosexual groups have used freedom of speech for their rallies and promotional literature. Now Fight Back, an organization designed to protect the rights of homosexuals, intends to turn the tables and contest the constitutionality of the site, citing their frustration and anticipating a long appeal. The leader of Fight Back, Brian Jefferies, stated the Lemlys’ anti-homosexual site “provides a gathering place for hate groups, and subtly encourages violence against homosexuals.”

The sides are not drawn as simply as pro-homosexuality and anti-homosexuality. According to recent polls, many Americans are in favor of civil unions for homosexuals. The idea of the class as a whole being protected as a civil rights group may bring more controversy. In some cases, hiring individuals based not based on sexual orientation might prove morally challenging to religious work environments. However, the same ideal holds true for persons of color or minorities. The religious right and far right conservatives are not moving their position. The far-lefters feel they have been silent for too long and will push the issue until the Bill is adopted. We are set for a volatile situation unless Congress comes up with a plan quickly. Even then (and either way), I would expect riots and some Congresspersons to lose their seat come next election.

To add a punch for the pro-Bill 274 side, just this weekend a press release from the Human Rights Campaign (an interest group supporting gay rights), publicly stated their appreciation to Senator Meyers (D) for his years of hard work on behalf of the gay and lesbian community for passing 274. The group also implored to the House to pass Bill 274, noting the public is generally in favor of protecting homosexuals from discrimination (and similar issues), and that Republicans should be reaching out to new demographics and younger voters.

I was granted a short interview with Senator Meyers last week (prior to the Human Rights Campaign announcement). He was very pleased that 274 passed the Rules Committee, stating that is was even more significant for him as he is an openly gay Senator from Michigan. He stated, “It is a great time to be an American. Ending bigotry based on sexual orientation – This is the last frontier of civil rights.” He noted Senate success would not have been possible without the bipartisan effort. He added that he has spoken with the House Speaker (Villary) and they expect to receive similar support within the House.

In the works for next week’s show – I hope to have an interview lined up with an expert on Bill 274 to discuss the current hate crime situations and discuss the possibility of the Bill’s passage. Please leave comments and questions and we may be able to have them on the air. Until then –

E.E.

Bills 156 and 136 Passed!

Representative Villary called the House to order and lengthy discussions of both bills ended satisfactorily in which both sides could agree for passage.

Bill 136, Digital Broadcast Spectrums, was revised and passed by the House last week. Representative Williams (R) spoke and referenced the President’s initial proposal and that work was made to the Bill in order to satisfy everyone involved, thus ensuring success. Other than some bickering between a few House members, the Bill seemed to be malleable enough to shape into what they felt will help both industry and increase revenue. Representative Culpepper (R) said the Bill was “a nice, free-market solution without raising taxes.”

The Bill passed unanimously (Kilpatrick was absent).

More controversial, Bill 156 (Multi-Lingual Education), was heavily worked and reworked in committees before reaching the floor for a vote. The initial Bill focused on school children learning two additional languages (other than English) for the purpose of making America “more competitive in the world marketplace.” The revised Bill (I requested a full copy) provides federal funding to schools wishing to participate in exchange for two languages being taught (one English, if not native). They feel this will provide all school children a better language base in English while offering more alternatives for native English-speakers. During floor discussion, members reiterated that this was a strictly voluntary program and one that was only available to public schools (not private). Representatives Villary and Culpepper noted they had talked with the President on the Bill, and felt he, too, would approve the Bill.

There were oppositions to the Bill before it was even openly discussed. The most wide-spread conservative objection was federalism in the form of the Republican House. Many felt the House should not put further restrictions on local government. Some, of course, recognized the Bill’s passage as another way the federal government could make an attempt at nationalization, and to some, another step toward socialism. However, several education-based organizations disagreed, wanting additional monies for foreign language instruction, especially in poorer public schools where these resources would be very welcomed.

The Conference for State and Local Governments noted the Constitution was silent on the issue of education because it was more of a state responsibility, noting they were opposed to nationalized education. “Educators end up being seduced by federal dollars and alter their missions so that they can stay on the dole. Over time, the national government has used so-called federal aid to increasingly nationalize and homogenize our educational system. And, this has been done to the detriment of our states and localities.” While they encourage new teaching methods and ways of learning for all children, they would rather the federal funds go into federal projects and allow state and local boards of education to determine what is best for each community.

After the vote and announcement of passage, there was a drop in the approval ratings for Republicans. This seems to be a direct correlation with Bill 156, as some conservatives see the Bill as a Trojan horse for permitting Spanish to become a semi-official language. As you know, America does not have an “official” language. This unofficial status may allow other languages to dominate English.

The Bill passed unanimously (Kilpatrick was absent).

Results of Millworth Blog Poll

The last blog poll asked how you thought President Millworth had performed as a President in the last year (really 15 months). 54% of respondents felt the President's performance was Fair or below. Only 27% responded, "It's been a rough first year but he's doing as well as can be expected." Even fewer, 18% gave him the glowing, "Great - everything I expected and more."

This week's poll is about the new drug called Frenzy. The poll is in the upper right corner of this blog. Feel free to comment somewhere in the blog if you wish, but please vote - it makes a difference. Thanks.
E.E.

President Sends Military Action to Nigeria

President Millworth recently gained a slight “rally ‘round the flag” bump in the latest approval poll (Robinson). This percentage boost is relatively small compared to prior polls. Perhaps the numbers are up as a result of sending U.S. troops into Nigerian oil fields. At the same time, the numbers were not more impressive as the country is feeling more “war fatigue.”

However, it seems some form of military action was needed to secure the oil-rich area in which the Shell Oil Company operates. Prior to this civil war, Nigeria produced 2 million gallons of oil each day. Economists have predicted global gas prices to soar as a direct result of the ongoing Nigerian violence. Factions, derived from the dissolution of the old government, sprung up from the hundred or more ethnic groups struggling for territory and control while a new military government is attempting to crush resistance. A military move by the U.S. Government was seen as a crucial step in drawing world-wide attention to both the violence and natural resource issue in Nigeria. And with over a thousand people a day dying from wounds and starvation, the death rate is increasing.

In a statement released by the White House last night, the Nigerian conflict has become even more intense. Rather than summarize Press Secretary Adamez’s statement, below is the press release in its entirety: “The Situation in Nigeria has gotten worse. The British have introduced the resolution on sending in negotiators and peacekeeping forces to secure the oil fields in the Niger River Delta. The resolution has a good chance of passage. The peacekeeping force would keep the oil fields safe while the Nigerians have an opportunity to work out their problems. Our British allies are asking us to support a United Nations Security Council to provide military assistance to protect Nigerian oil wells against sabotage. The resolution would create an international peacekeeping force made up of representatives from Great Britain, Russia, India, Australia, the United States and Egypt. A British general would serve as the overall commander of the operation. The force would only be in place until the civil war in Nigeria is concluded and the country is declared safe. The proposed UN resolution also sends negotiators to resolve differences between the new Nigerian government and the many ethnic groups. The U.S Forces would be assigned to the western region of the oil wells. That region is the least likely to experience any serious problems. Most of the tension is in the eastern region where the Ogoni people live. This resolution and the peacekeeping force should have the long-term impact of calming tensions and guaranteeing Nigerian production of oil. This stabilization of production should stabilize oil process for consumers. The U.S. will support the resolution and play a minor role in the peacekeeping force. The goal is to strictly protect/secure the oil fields. The minimum amount of troops needed to secure the oil fields will be sent in.”

The White House seemed confident this plan would be successful and added that they believe the House supports this current military action. But as of tonight, there have been several talk radio and late night television programs taking calls from concerned Americans who are worried that this may be the start of another long war.

Interviews with Dr. Davis and Senator Litz on Bills 180 & 274

WOW! What a busy day. During my morning show, I interviewed Dr. Nathaniel Davis, Acting Chair of the Political Science Department at Georgetown University. We discussed Bill 180, regarding the President’s plan to, in effect, legalize drugs, taxing them and making them fall under the purview of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This will certainly pose a problem for several agencies, least of which the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Dr. Davis felt people will continue to recreate with the type of drugs that cause a feeling of euphoria, such as the new dangerous drug, Frenzy. As I discussed in my morning show, Frenzy is a synthetic and cheap drug in tablet form that is said to be “better than cocaine." By legalizing such drugs through the FDA, the President expects to increase the federal revenue by $5 billion annually. It does not appear he took into account the number of field agents who would be required to test substances to see if the drugs in question are legal or not. He also didn't take into account the millions of poor people dependent on medications for diabetes, heart conditions, etc. which they will now have to pay taxes on as a result of this Bill. While the President’s plan might reduce the number of new inmates due to drug infractions, I suspect there will be a renewed entrepreneurial spirit among drug dealers – illegal manufacture and bribery, possibly even copyright fraud with manufacturers' symbols. BREAKING NEWS: 3 violent deaths have been attributed to the use of Frenzy recently. In the first case, a 20-year old New Jersey woman jumped from her dorm room to her death around 30 minutes after taking the drug. An 18-year old man drove his car into the wall of an expressway underpass at reckless speed in Chicago. He had taken Frenzy at a suburban party less than an hour before the accident. And another man, a 19-year old was electrocuted after jumping into electrical wires by climbing up an electrical pole. None of the cases were ruled as a suicide. It appears that in each case, the victims developed a false and unrealistic sense of self-confidence after taking the drug Frenzy.

Dr. Davis also took my questions about Bill 274 as it related to the increased violence against the homosexual community lately. Dr. Davis did not necessarily see a direct connection between the proposal of the bill and the series of crimes. Rather, he felt the media might be paying more attention to these crimes due to the timing of the bills. I asked Dr. Davis about the Litz factor – since she is a Republican from Alaska and was the bipartisan vote that allowed the Senate to pass the Bill. He stated Litz represents an eclectic group of people and this vote was not all that radical. As far as any backlash against Litz in Congress, it will be interesting to see how this unfolds. I was given an exclusive interview with Senator Litz about the controversy surrounding this topic. She said that she was persuaded to vote in favor of the Bill after listening to what other Senate members had to say. She said she, “voted what she thought was best.” When asked about any connection to the crimes against homosexuals we’ve heard about in various news agencies recently, she responded: “I can’t connect the crimes to the Bill. And if we stop discrimination, maybe these types of crimes won’t happen again.” She iterated that she tries to see the views of her constituency and society in general when she casts her votes.
As I was listening in on the House’s discussion of bills today, it seems there is strong support to pass Bill 274 there as well. Possibly the news of the bombing of a gay nightclub in Oregon last night increased the attention of the House. Three 3 men were killed and 22 injured. There was a note close by the scene with the biblical verse, “The wages of sin are death.” This same phrase was used in the recent murder of two homosexual men in New York City. In a statement from the White House, analyses are currently being done on the messages in both attacks. Federal agents are looking into the Oregon incident as a copycat crime, believing there is no relationship between the two crimes.

I’d also like to mention two important topics I’ll be discussing tomorrow: The Shell Oil crisis in Nigeria and the INS sick-out situation. I enjoy your comments so please keep them coming.

E.E.

P.S. I heard that President Millworth has been under the weather. And rumor has it Representative Kilpatrick broke her foot in a skiing accident. We at National Cable Television News wish them both a speedy recovery.

Senator Litz Job Approval, Robinson Poll

Senator Litz Job Approval	12/20/08	1/20/09
	%	%
Approve	60	53
Disapprove	37	43
Don't know/no response	3	4
Robinson Poll, 1/20/09, 848 respondents, ± 3%

According to the latest Robinson Poll, Senator Litz's approval ratings have dropped. The Senator from Alaska received high marks at the end of last year for her work in the environmental business sector. But some Senate insiders feel her bipartisan vote for Senate Bill 274 was the cause of her recent decline in the polls. This Bill provided special civil rights to homosexual groups, particularly in cases in which persons in this group were justifiably discriminated against. Those close to the Senator feel the Republicans are generally experiencing a downward turn and that Senator Litz has done an excellent job representing her constituency. At the moment, however, the religious group, Family Focus, once a strong supporter of Litz, has openly turned their backs on the two-termed Senator, causing additional attention to her voting record.

President's Budget Announced

At approximately 9:40 AM today, President Millworth announced his budget plan. Many people in attendance were dismayed we were not handed the actual proposed budget (in hand) until after his speech but were allowed to ask general questions after his talk. After receiving the budget, we completely understood: He would have been pummeled by rotten fruit.
In his opening comments, he again took the opportunity to use his campaign slogan by proclaiming his budget the "New - Idea" budget. His key messages were, "We have to collaborate for a better America" and then later, "We are in need of serious new ideas." The "collaborate" word was used several times. But not as many as his most often used phrase of "Let's be clear about something." That's precisely what the House and Senate want to know. Is there something the President can be clear on? Definitely not his budget. By slashing the National Defense budget and raising taxes by .99% (which he was happy to report was less than 1%), he expects the national deficit to turn into a surplus. We are talking about a $10 trillion debt with $47 billion in the current deficit. Yes, compounded over years it will be horrible, but some in attendance felt this budget was overly optimistic.
Possibly sensing some resistance, the President said, "We all need to come together to fix this economic crisis." That is probably a grandiose statement considering how the economic situation is for many Americans. Can we afford to lose even more of our income money while cutting back on the military? Do we feel any safer or more American by making such sacrifices? I'm not sure everyone's buying this candy, Mr. President.
If the President has his way, he anticipates a $39 billion in surplus each year. How does he propose to do this? He said, "with cheaper energy." The key is collaboration but he continued with this statement: (We) "can't cover everything. We're not here to drive numbers in your head but to give you an overview." His overview seems to include more than doubling the Energy budget.
When asked why the National Defense budget was cut by around 35%, the President said he felt the war was in the conclusion phase and the money that had been allocated to the war effort could be used elsewhere.
I asked him about the unemployment numbers that indicated we have more poor people this year and will definitely have a lot more poor people if they are taxed additionally in his proposed budget. If we have more poor people, I wondered, would the social services sectors be able to accomodate the needs of those new poor? The President responded that he had reallocated money in mind of the social services. This did not appear to be the case at all when the budgets were handed out. There were budget CUTS in the following areas: Medicare, Income Security, Social Security, Veterans Benefits and the Administration of Justice.
There was uproar in both houses regarding such areas of reallocation. I will be writing a more in-depth piece tomorrow on the reaction of Congress and any comments they wished to be a matter of record.
Until then -
E.E.

Multi-Lingual Education Bill (156)

In an effort to strengthen America's primary and secondary education, the National Language Education Association (NLEA) intends to broaden school children's language skills by a factor of two. For example, a child who speaks English in her home could be offered to learn two additional languages at a participating school with the financial support of the U.S. Government (no dollar amounts given).
The NLEA believes that in order for Americans to become more competitive in the global market, they must learn additional languages. Increasing the verbal strength of the next generation seems to be their key issue. They also cite immigration as a reason to institute such a plan as it would allow Americans to "prepare our society for social change." Really - "preparing" for immigration? That almost sounds like we are getting ready for an invasion. Are we?
And what "change," you may ask? The NLEA states: "The traditional picture of America as being white, Anglo-Saxon and English speaking will change as immigrants from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe increase in numbers. Eventually, the number of non-English speakers may be greater than the number of English speakers." I'm afraid this isn't a good selling point for a significant portion of the country. I can already hear the boos and roars from the pro-English speaking groups. Just as the pro-English Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem folks were just quieting down, too...
In many ways, this could be a valuable Bill for children. But the pro-English groups would argue that if such a plan was what America needed to be better at their jobs, wouldn't they have done it already? Many of them see America as the dominant country and, more importantly, the premiere language of the world. To agree to such a bill would be to admit defeat for their long-fought battle over having the English-version of the National Anthem sung at baseball games in English only. To others, it is a matter of history as the first permanent European settlers were English speakers, to which it has remained the prominent language, culture and quite frankly, propagation until recently. This could also have the anti-immigration groups wondering if the Government is sending an invitation to illegals - "Come here, we'll teach not only your kids, but we'll teach our kids your language in our federally funded public schools with taxpayers' money." As I talked to other people about this issue, one lady responded, "No, I didn't know English wasn't the official language of the United States. What is it then?" Her friend rebutted that the official language is English and had been since the founding fathers. So, it appears current Americans have a bit of educating to do, preferably before trying such an experiment on children.
If you are not aware (and you really should know this by now if you have email), there is a grass-roots group listing figures of how much the Government spends on educating illegal immigrant children, particularly those who were born in America to illegal immigrant parents. This will definitely be fuel to their fire, as they feel much of their hard-earned money is going to help people they don't consider to be "true Americans."
You may be wondering - what if the primary language in the child's home is Spanish? The NLEA would supplement Spanish with English and perhaps French, Portugese or German. They insist English would be taught in the three-language set, no matter the native language.
As the Bill had been discussed with the Internal Matters Committee of the House recently, I received a hand-written letter from the Internal Matters Committe, with the following well-meaning, if not watered-down, sentiment: "The Internal Matters Committee is working on a bipartisan effort to encourage and promote diversity in young Americans by providing funding for the education of foreign language education. This is part of a continuing effort by the Committee to work across party lines. At a time when the county is highly polarized, the Committee is heading the fight for a more cohesive house.
Signed - Rep. Gomez, Chair (and members Villary, Nedwick, DeWitt, Zahn and Yarmolinski, listed separately)
Again, the promise of better education, broadening horizons and a more linguistic generation sounds wonderful. The Committee's letter glossed over the controversial aspects of the Bill, perhaps in an effort to gain that bipartisan reach they have extended.
The future of this Bill seems to lie in the marketing. If the NLEA can continue to spin this as a true need for the next generation, it may still have life. My prediction, however, is that the pro-English-speaking groups will loudly protest the cost of the programs and implications it might have on immigration.
The future of this Bill - Does someone have a coin?
E.E.

FEMA on Overtime

This has been a busy week for FEMA officials. Earlier in the week they worked with state and local agencies in New Jersey as a truck incident caused a toxic waste spill. The area was evacuated and HAZMAT teams tested the soil, water and air before they allowed people to return. There were reports of numerous breathing problems and skin irritations, however, no deaths have been reported.
While the problem seems to have been efficiently handled, questions were raised about toxic containers crossing state lines. I suspect the New Jersey Department of Health and possibly other state-level agencies (Dept. of Transportation?) will be questioned about the incident on how to avert future disasters of this kind.
Representative Kilpatrick (R) of New Jersey was in session when the accident occurred. As soon as she became aware of the situation, she immediately appealed to the President. I happened to be at the White House as this took place and can say that while the President was concerned, he agreed to meet with her in a time frame of less than an hour. To Ms. Kilpatrick's persistence, she aggressively came to terms with the President's new Press Secretary, Ms. Adamez, who relayed the severity of the situation to the President, thereby sending FEMA to the area sooner. While this information was being worked out, Vice President Rourke appeared to be quiet and a bit confused. I suspect he might have been contemplating what his action would have been if he had been in the President's shoes...
Shortly after FEMA was dispatched to New Jersey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) detected a hurricane off the coast of Bermuda. As the hurricane, dubbed "Faye," makes her way slowly through the Caribbean to the Gulf of Mexico, meteorologists predict landfall will be near the Miami/Dade area of Florida. Winds have picked up to an excess of 150 and possibly even up to 180 miles per hour. Some meteorologists have named Faye the "hundred-year hurricane" as current jet stream conditions are aligned to clash with the volatile hurricane, creating a level of destruction some have called "unimaginable."
I had an opportunity to discuss the Faye sitatuion with Rep. Kilpatrick. Her response was brisk, "That's not my area. I'm from New Jersey." I reminded her that there might be a chance FEMA would have to reassess their resources and/or some personnel might potentially be re-routed to the Faye situation. To this, she contacted Ms. Adamez again to make sure resources were on their way to her district first. So for those of you in Rep. Kilpatrick's district - you are apparently getting your money's worth. For those of you not lucky enough to be in her district, you might want to take a closer look at this assertive legislator.
Within a few hours, Ms. Adamez spoke at a very brief press conference in which she explained the toxic spill had been handled and people were starting to return home. She credited the expedited response of FEMA for that success. She added that FEMA was also being dispatched to lower Florida to aid in the Hurricane Faye situation. Ms. Adamez did not take questions.

E.E.

President Announces Plans for New Legislation

At 9:35 AM CST Thursday, President Millworth conducted a press conference, introducing five new bills. During this announcement, the President spoke with renewed confidence and commanded the attention of the room. Several journalists wondered if he would address his divorce situation - he did not. He did, however, take questions, much to the surprise of those in attendance.

Among the bills introduced, Bill 159 (Plant-Closing and Community Impact) caused the greatest stir among reporters. The Bill would require certain employers planning to close their businesses (mainly manufacturing and distribution) to provide a 2-year notice to all employees of the business closing date. The President felt the Bill would, "allow for workers to hunt for new jobs without getting their feet pulled out from under them." Further, an operational fund would be created to provide financial assistance to workers - up to 6-months after the business closes. When asked who will regulate the requirements of the bill, the President responded the responsibilities (as well as the funding) would lie completely with the state governments. When a bevy of further questions were asked, he stated, "I didn't take into account all the aspects and will revise it as necessary." I'm certain the President's staff will be working overtime fielding a great number of phone calls from state officials over this bill.

Another controversial item was Bill 104 regarding Comprehensive Profiles for Foreign Visitors. The President stated border control is a national problem that currently runs up a $10 trillion debt. He felt this bill was, in part, "an effort to cut this debt." While the Bill was written to allow for better border security without raising taxes, this Bill may not accurately count or include illegal immigrants. The President reiterated that this Bill aided in national security, as well as streamlining costs; adding, “Illegal immigration will pose a threat and may not be included.” He continued that border security was important to his administration, and he was also willing to hear from others and “review everything,” implying more revisions would be necessary.

To opponents of this Bill, the language went too far in the personal freedom area and not far enough in keeping out illegals. The Bill calls for profiles to be “furnished at American embassies or consulates in the visitors’ home country, and must be updated every 5 years.” This alone could provide statistical complications, particularly in cases of political or social asylum. But the Bill goes further: “Each profile will include a complete personal history, fingerprints, and genetic samples.” Some persons question the security of their personal identities if this Bill were to pass. If the President has his way, the information would be entered into a database, causing more alarm for persons concerned about identity theft and possibly their personal safety. For many, this database is a tool that, in the wrong hands, could be used maliciously.

Another item, Bill 122 (North American Natural Resources Preservation Act) dealt with preserving North America's natural resources by renewing America's relationship with Canada and Mexico. This no-brainer move was seen as a positive step in controlling gas prices while looking to "new ideas." The President was excited about this legislation and stated, "It's encouraging for everyone."

The National School Standards Bill (#129) was another area for President Millworth to exercise his campaign slogan, stating this Bill included “new ideas.” The Bill allows for a one-day exit exam to measure high school graduate’s achievements. While not a mandate, those schools participating would receive a compensation of $25 per student and $25 additional for meeting the testing standards (passing the exam). It is anticipated that benefits would be provided to schools that meet expectations. The Department of Education would publish the results annually and should track changes and trends. However, the expense of this program is expected to be around $5.5 billion annually. Some have stated this money could be used for school improvements and teacher testing rather than rehash another standardized test. When pushed on further details, the President responded, “It’s not the government’s job to pay for every little expense incurred,” meaning additional funds might need to be sought elsewhere. There should be more information on this bill within the coming weeks.

Finally, Bill 142 (Independent Voters and Primary Elections) was drafted with independent voters in mind, allowing them more freedom at the polls by eliminating party identification. The Bill calls for the states to revise their election laws and polls, but did not discuss the amount of money states would have to spend on such measures. The President said he “strongly encouraged” this bill and felt the White House “can’t hear the independent voters” without this Bill.

As the press conference wore on, the President seemed less confident and more taken aback by the degree of questioning by the reporters. While he was seen as confident and exultant at the beginning, the press took their toil on him as he ended the conference on a somewhat forlorn note. It will be interesting to see what he has to say about the budget at next week’s press conference.

E.E.

P.S. My bet is Bills 142 and 122 pass with relative ease as these are lower cost – pro-democracy items on his agenda.

Bill #274, Senate Passed 8:1

Today the Senate passed Bill #274, which outlined the elimination of employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. If passed by the House, this bill will go into effect one year after passage, and no discrimination lawsuits can be filed during the intervening period of time.
So what is the bill all about? In a word – controversy.

The bill was designed to protect the employment rights of people identified by their sexual orientation in much the same way as Civil Rights legislation did for color and gender in the 1960s. Individuals who feel they have been discriminated based on their sexual orientation may bring suit against other individuals and/or organizations.

While the bill passed by an overwhelming majority and even experienced bipartisanship support in the Senate, religious conservative organizations such as Family Focus are outraged. These organizations feel the bill would make it easier for the Supreme Court to require all states to institute civil unions – or - put simply, a Trojan horse for gay marriage.

Undeterred and desiring additional bipartisanship aid on this issue, Senate Majority Leader Meyers (D) sent a statement to Speaker of the House, Villary (R). After reading the press copy, I can say that Meyers’ attempt to sway members toward the full passage of the bill is admirable. Meyers writes: “An anti-discrimination policy with regards to sexual orientation will benefit all Americans. It will cut down on the hate crime rates and increase the quality of life for LGBTQ Americans who can now have job security and harassment protection which will promote a better working environment for all Americans.”
Meyers also listed the most recent findings from the National Election Study (dated 2004) in which a large majority of polled individuals responded favorably to the suggestion that an individual’s employment be protected based on sexual orientation.

This poll likely did not include many (if any) Family Focus organization’s members. They presented a strong reaction by stating: “Today, the Senate voted to weaken religious and personal liberties by passing Senate Bill 274, effectively granting special rights to homosexual groups. Homosexual activists have convinced a heavily Democratic Senate to grant protected class statute to homosexuals, a protection that should be reserved for immutable characteristics such as race or gender, rather than behavioral choices.” In this, they argued that religious liberties would be weakened if full passage occurred. To further their plea, one spokesperson stated the following example: “A Christian family will now be forced to rent their upstairs apartment to a practicing homosexual couple, even if they disapprove of their behavior. Christian businesses can no longer turn down job applicants who are openly engaged in homosexual activities, even if such behavior contradicts their morals and religious values. We urge Speaker Villary and House Republicans to ensure this bill never sees President Millworth's desk, and we will giving our fullest support to any candidate who runs against those Senators who voted for this bill."

A long time House Representative, Speaker Villary is sure to have her staff on call for what seems to be a deluge of correspondence from both sides of this issue. Having blocked the first set of session proposals from the President, Villary may be positioning herself for political suicide if she also blocks additional proposed legislation. And the albatross around her neck might be Republican Senator Litz of Alaska who voted across party lines in favor of the bill. To again quote from Family Focus’s spokesperson: “We expected nothing less from the Senate Democrats. But from Litz, this vote comes as a betrayal. We know she has an independent, libertarian streak, but this vote goes against the conservative values of her supporters and constituents.” When asked if Family Focus and other conservative groups would help mount a primary challenge to Litz in 2012, the spokesperson replied, "You better believe it."

I will continue to monitor this situation; however, until Villary decides how to proceed, it appears this bill might stand in the wings for awhile. With strong feelings on both sides heating up, I anticipate more bipartisan reaching out from the Senate and an increasing public outcry from both religious right groups and liberal organizations.

- E.E.

Just In - Job Approval Ratings (01/2009)

According to the latest Robinson Poll, job approval numbers for President Millworth are looking up. President Millworth began his Presidency with a low job approval rating - a result of a close but hard-fought campaign. This dipped even further amid the announcement of his intention to go forward with divorce proceedings and was almost assuredly compounded by his original Press Secretary's missteps. However, as the Robinson Poll suggests, the numbers seem to be improving as the President has gained significant strides with the introduction of new bills. These figures indicate that the public has, as recently as this January, favorably responded to the President's vision of "new ideas for new times."
While the President's numbers are on the upswing, the White House scandals have taken a heavy toll on Congressional approval ratings. During the scandals, Congressional Republicans enjoyed a brief boost in the polls. As the President's numbers have increased, the Republicans' numbers have evened out. Congressional Democrats, on the other hand, were less effected by the scandal and have seen more significant rises in their approval numbers. (Actual figures listed below.)

	October	November	December	January
President Millworth	46	42	45	48
Congressional Democrats	34	33	32	36
Congressional Republicans	42	44	39	40

Next post: Discussion of Bill 274-Sexual Orientation and Discrimination

- E.E.

April 7, 2009

At 10:20 AM CST, President Millworth met with his full cabinet for a closed door meeting. Sources indicate the group discussed key bills the President will be pursuing in the next year. Some have stated he is late in doing so as much of his first year has been surrounded in negative issues. From his public divorce to the series of Press Secretary missteps, this has certainly been a rough start for the still new President. Finalizing his divorce and replacing his Press Secretary with Ms. Adamez seems to be putting the President in a refocused position, and one that the Democrats are sure to jump on board with in the coming weeks. They now seem focused on directing their energies toward the policies on which President Millworth campaigned instead of fighting political fires.

On that note, I'm told that Thursday mid-morning there will be a press conference, at which time the President is expected to make an announcement about his legislative agenda. Some Americans are hoping this press conference will give him a fresh start and bring his "new ideas for new times" campaign promise to the forefront once again. The media has also been told that within the week there should be another press conference in which the President will specifically address the budget.

To some, this string of press conferences may be too little too late. The President's renewed public strategy may be overly optimistic as the religious right and other conservative groups are positioning themselves against the President due to his divorce, stating it does not reflect the values of traditional America. Some Democratic constituents feel his campaign was veiled as an untruth as both Mr. and Mrs. Millworth played the role as husband and wife only to win the election. Talk show hosts have gone as far as suggesting a pre-election settlement for the now ex-Mrs. Millworth, as the race would have been lost without the team package.

At this time it is unclear if the President will address any of his recent personal issues in these press conferences. Regardless, President Millworth narrowly won last year's election and can't afford to lose supporters. Perhaps more information will be outlined on Thursday. Until then -

E.E.