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.