The Mideast Record-Courier (Exclusive Interview with Roy Barnes)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record Courier
January 7, 2015

Tmthforu94 Sworn In As Governor

Following former Governor TJ's ascension to the Supreme Court, Lt. Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 has been inaugurated as the region's chief executive. With elections for governor and Assembly fast approaching, Tmthforu94 has stated that his primary concern will be to address the remaining legislation before the Assembly and to conduct a "major update to the Mideast Wiki page." Assemblyman TDAS04 (Labor-VA) has been nominated to fill the lieutenant governor vacancy.

Assembly Considers Bill To Expand High Speed Rail

Mideast Assemblyman New Canadaland (Labor-ON) has introduced a bill that would fund the construction of a high-speed railway from Ohio to Ontario. The proposed line would have stops in Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, and Toronto. Current cost estimates place the expense at roughly $50 billion. Governor Tmthforu94 has noted that the proposed line is similar to an already existing high speed line running between Detroit and Toledo, and has suggested extending the existing line instead of constructing an all-new railway.

Mideast Educational Freedom Act Stirs Controversy

Several members of the Assembly continue to voice their objections to the Mideast Educational Freedom Act proposed by former Governor TJ over two weeks ago. The bill, which has met with decided opposition from the Labor minority caucus, would provide government subsidies for students of charter schools whose local public schools are deemed "failing". While former Governor TJ insists that "if [charter schools] can outperform the public schools, the Mideast region has a compelling interest in their success," Assemblymen New Canadaland (Labor-ON) and TDAS04 (Labor-VA) have expressed concern that the bill would take resources from needy public schools. As of this writing, no member of the Assembly has commented on the bill in nearly 48 hours, though Speaker Spiral is yet to bring it to a vote.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

This is awesome!! Keep it up - let me know if I can be of assistance!

Thank-you, Mr. Governor!

Great, I love it when we have newspapers in Atlasia!

Is this newspaper going to cover national issues like the Midwest Record Courier or just focus on the Mideast?

Our primary focus will be on the Mideast; however, I hope to keep readers up-to-date on national issues as well.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 8, 2015

Voting Commences On Senate Rules Amendment

As of 1:46 PM yesterday and continuing through next Wednesday, Mideast voters will have the opportunity to approve or reject an amendment to the federal constitution revising the Senate's procedural methods. If adopted, the amendment would clarify the role of the Vice President in Senate proceedings and officially rechristen the body's presiding officer "the Speaker". Under the new rules, the Vice President would be tasked specifically with opening the confirmation threads for presidential nominees and, along with the Speaker, enforcing the rules of the Senate.  The amendment makes no mention of what role the Vice President might play outside of presiding over confirmation hearings. As of this writing, Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 has voted in favor of ratifying the amendment.

Bore Re-Elected Senate Speaker

Northeast Regional Senator Bore (Labor-RI) was unanimously reelected Speaker of the Atlasian Senate yesterday. Senator Bore, who served as Speaker of the 64th Senate and is the first presiding officer of that body not to be titled "President Pro-Tempore", was nominated by Midwest Senator and Labor firebrand TNF; Pacific Senator TheCranberry (TPP-OR) seconded the nomination. Senator Bore was supported by all three political parties with representation in the Senate, surely a good omen as he prepares to seek the presidency in February.

Mideast Record-Courier Endorses Tmthforu94 For Governor

Governor Tmthforu94 (Federalist-VA) has the support of the Mideast Record-Courier as he approaches the gubernatorial election to be held next week. Over the course of his long and distinguished career, Tmthforu has remained an active participant in Mideast and national politics, serving in various positions ranging from Assemblyman to Governor to President. In addition, his choice of Assemblyman TDAS04 (Labor-VA) for lieutenant governor demonstrates his willingness to work across the aisle for the good of Mideast citizens. We are highly confident that the governor will enjoy a long and fruitful tenure, and we look forward to casting our vote for him on January 15!

January 2015 Mideast Voters' Guide

For Governor/Lt. Governor
Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed)/ TDAS04 (Lab) (inc)
(Tmthforu94 is the incumbent governor of the Mideast. He has previously served as a Mideast Assemblyman, Lt. Governor, Governor,  Regional and At-Large Senator, Vice President, and President.)

For Assembly (5 assemblymen will be elected)
Bmotley (DR) (inc.)
(Bmotely first served in the Assembly under Governor ZuWo in 2012. He was a candidate for Regional Senator in October 2014.)
CrabCake (Lab)
(CrabCake is a new citizen of the Mideast Region.)
EarlAW (WSR)
(EarlAW is a member of the Washburnist Socialist Revolution Party. As far as we know, he is the party's only member.)
New Canadaland (Lab) (inc.)
(Canadaland has been a member of the Assembly since November.)
Shua (DR) (inc.)
(Shua has previously served as an At-Large Senator and as Game Moderator from 2011 to 2013)
Spiral (DR) (inc.)
(Sprial is currently the speaker of the Mideast Assembly. He has previously served as a Regional Senator and as Governor and Lt. Governor of the Mideast.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 9, 2014

Senate Debates Federal Recall Amendment

Debate continues on a constitutional amendment proposed by Midwest Regional Senator TNF (Lab-KS) that would allow voters to recall their elected representatives in the federal government. Should the amendment pass, a recall election would be triggered whenever 25% of the voters in the affected constituency "petition for the calling of a referendum to revoke [an] official's mandate. Should a majority of registered voters then vote in favor of recall, the official would be removed from office.
Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI) has expressed reservations about the bill, saying that it would defeat the purpose of at-large senate elections: to "allow people with not mainstream views [such as] Deus [and] JCL to be elected. The recall would likely recall both of them. Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) echoed Senator Windjammer's objections, saying "whichever side (left or right) has the most voters could easily recall those on the other side and replace them with their own, creating a 5-0 majority… which would not be an accurate reflection of the population at large." An amendment offered by Senator Windjammer that would have required the consent of 100% of eligible voters to hold a recall was defeated. Northeast Regional Senator Bore (Lab-RI) has proposed an amendment that would exempt at-large senators from recalls; as of this writing, neither Senator Windjammer nor Governor Tmthforu94 have indicated whether this is enough to ease their concerns.

Transcendental Democrats Gather To Discuss Party's Future

The 2nd Congress of the Transcendental Democratic Party is well underway, as delegates in Seattle, Washington debate the future of the small but growing political movement. Party founder and General Secretary Al Sibboleth opened the Congress on the 6th, calling on the delegates to develop the party's existing "Three Point Programme" into a larger manifesto and sounding what may become his party's war cry in the coming campaign. "I would like to take this opportunity to suggest to all those who are disenchanted with the current state of Atlasia that joining the Transcendental Democrats would be an excellent idea." he said, underscoring that his party is open to all ideologies.  "We are the most radical party because we stand in opposition to the current Order; we are the most conservative party because we reject utterly the idea that the current Order can be reformed. Harmony and Transcendence will ultimately triumph over bitter divisiveness."
Having reelected Pacific Councilor Gully Foyle (TD-CA) Party President and endorsed Northeast Senator Bore (Lab-RI) for the presidency, the party now turns its eyes towards drafting a more complete platform in advance of the February campaign.

Fmr. Senator JCL Enters Mideast Assembly Race

Former At-Large Senator Johanus Calvinus Libertas (Fed-IN) has declared his candidacy for Mideast Assembly. As a member of the Senate, JCL was well-known for his outspoken conservatism and was regarded by some as the polar opposite of Senator TNF (Lab-KS). He was defeated in his bid for a second term in the most recent midterm election.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 10-11, 2015

Mideast Unemployment Rate Drops, Defying National Trend

Though joblessness was expected to increase slightly in the post-holiday season, the Mideast saw a modest downturn in unemployment rates recently, a report from the Game Moderator's office showed Wednesday. While the national unemployment rate rose as of the last economic forecast, going from 6.3% in the first week of the New Year to 7.2% currently, joblessness in the Mideast dropped .2% from 6.7% to 6.5%, the equivalent of 123,000  jobs[1]. While this decrease is statistically minor, it is important to note that the Mideast was the only region to experience job growth during this period. Furthermore, economists are predicting that job growth will remain steady in the coming weeks, according to the Game Moderator's official publication, the Atlasian Democrat.

[1] Estimated Mideast Population: 61,734,655

Low Turnout Plagues Vote On Senate Rules Amendment

Though the debate on the Senate floor was lively, marked by a declaration of a state of emergency by President Lumine Von Reuental (Fed-UT) and heated disagreement over the proper role--and identity--of the senate's presiding officer, the proposed "Fix the Senate Rules Amendment" appears to have barely registered in the minds of Atlasian voters, particularly in the Mideast. Though voting on the amendment commenced on Wednesday in the Mideast, Northeast, and Midwest, only the Northeastern voting thread has more than a few replies. As of this writing, only three Mideasterners have voted on the amendment, all in favor of ratification. In the Midwest, the statistics are only slightly less pitiful: only four citizens have thus far voted on the amendment. The IDS and the Pacific have yet to begin voting on the amendment at all.
In an effort to increase turnout, Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) posted a message in his office thread yesterday urging Mideasterners to turn out for the referendum and providing a link to the voting booth. As of this writing, this effort does not seem to have significantly increased turnout. Voting will continue through next Wednesday in the Mideast.

Budget Debate Continues, With No End In Sight

This Friday will mark exactly one month since the Senate began debating the specifics of the 2015 Budget, and although the body is seemingly closer to an eventual budget than it was when the year began, observers do not expect the debate to be concluded anytime soon. An amendment proposed by IDS Regional Senator North Carolina Yankee (Fed-NC) and backed by President Von Reuental has met with stiff opposition from the Labor majority, as well as members of the TPP, who object to the suggested decrease in the Financial Transaction Tax. Speaking on the amendment, Northeast Regional Senator and Senate Speaker Bore (Lab-RI) said that he is "not really comfortable with this. From what I can work out we're cutting health care spending for what amounts to a tax cut for the rich." At-Large Senator Polnut (TPP-MA), a former governor of the Mideast, said that while he understands the desire to reign in the deficit, "we still have unemployment… that's too high, [and] inflation is above wage growth… I'm not going to take risks with the health and welfare of the Atlasian people." In response to these objections, President Von Reuental reiterated that "finding a common ground is certainly in the interest of all", but maintained his desire to pass a tax cut in some form.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 12, 2015

TDAS04 Confirmed As Lt. Governor

With the affirmative vote of Assemblyman Bmotely (DR-IN), the Mideast Record-Courier can now verify that Assemblyman TDAS04 (Lab-VA) has enough votes to be confirmed as lt. governor by the Mideast Assembly. The lieutenant governor's office was vacated last week, when then-Lt. Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 swore in as governor following the resignation of Governor TJ. Tmthforu94 then nominated TDAS04 to replace him as lieutenant governor.
In response to a question from Assembly Speaker Spiral (DR-MO), TDAS04 said his primary objective as lt. governor will be "doing all I can to assist in achieving Governor Tmth's goals in making the Mideast region a better place for all its residents."TDAS04 will seek a full term as lt. governor in the regional elections this week.

Assembly Candidates Sound Off On Issues

With three days to go before Mideast voters choose their next governor and Assembly, the candidates seeking election to the regional government have hurled themselves into a last minute campaign. While Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 and his running mate, Lt. Governor TDSA04, are unopposed in the gubernatorial election, no less than seven candidates are currently competing for election to the Assembly, with ideologies ranging from the libertarian Democratic-Republican Party to the far left WSRP.
Of the many contenders for the Assembly, perhaps the most visible is Federalist candidate Johanus Calvinus Libertas of Indiana. A former at-large Senator well known for his social conservatism, JCL is now seeking to return to regional politics after being defeated in the December 2014 At-Large Senate elections. Asked of his opinions of the measures before the Assembly to expand high-speed rail and subsidize charter schools, the former Senator expressed support for both proposals.
"I was the sponsor of a high speed rail law in a previous term as an assemblyman. I've always supported the idea of a rail system that could be both high speed and with minimal environmental impact," he told the Record Courier.  "When it comes to schools I've always had the view of an all of the above approach. Our public schools need healthy competition and I would have to look at the bill carefully before making any decision regarding any sort of subsidies."
Arguably JCL's polar opposite in the Assembly race is Mr. EarlAW, candidate of the Washburnist Socialist Revolutionary Party. The lone member of his caucus, which supports a variety of left-wing policies including "a complete overhaul of the [capitalist] system," Earlaw echoed JCL's support for high-speed rail but broke with him over educational policy. "I will... vote in favor of bills that move us toward abolishing private schools," Earl told the Record-Courier. "I support the principle of equality of opportunity, which can only be guaranteed with an education system that offers the same curriculum to all pupils at the elementary level (notwithstanding students with certain disabilities). As such, I oppose the concept of charter schools." The WSRP supports the abolition of private schools and home schooling.
Elections for governor and Assembly will begin on January 15 and last for three days.

Governor Tmthforu94 Endorses High-Speed Rail

Following the Game Moderator's release of a report on the increased popularity of high speed rail, Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) has announced that he will support increased funding for the program in the Mideast. Speaking before the Assembly yesterday, Governor Tmthforu94 said that "[high speed rail] provides good transportation alternatives while also bringing more jobs to the region," noting that growing demand justifies increased spending on this service. The governor did not, however, endorse a bill sponsored by Assemblyman New Canadaland (Lab-ON) to expand high-speed rail service in the Mideast, arguing that several of its provisions are made redundant by already existing legislation.  

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record Courier
January 13, 2015

Senate Passes Extension Of 2014 Budget

A resolution in the Senate that would temporarily extend the 2014 Budget currently has enough votes to pass, with eight Senators voting in favor and none against. Proposed by Northeast Regional Senator Bore (Lab-RI), the resolution would allow the government to continue operating under last year's budget, thereby preventing a shutdown. This measure will remain in effect until the passage of a new budget for the Fiscal Year of 2015.

Assembly Debates Changes To School Security Policy

An amendment to the Drop The Death Toll Act of 2012 proposed by Assemblyman Shua (DR-NU) that would allow localities to restrict the presence of firearms in schools is currently before the Assembly, and has been endorsed by Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA). As currently written, the DTDTA allows law enforcement officers to bring loaded firearms into schools and, if necessary, use "violent force" to subdue attackers or break up "altercations". Assemblyman Shua's amendment would slightly alter this policy to allow localities to "restrict the presence of weapons at schools carried by officers of the law… should they find it in the interest of the safety and educational environment of the school population."
The amendment has met with the support of Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA). While encouraging school districts to make provisions for the use of firearms in the case of an emergency, the governor said that he is "supportive of returning power to local districts--what works in inner-city Detroit may not work in rural Kentucky." Tmthforu94 has pledged to sign the amendment in the event that it passes the Assembly.

Poll: Tmthforu94 A Lock For Governor; Assembly Race A Toss-Up

Supporters of Governor Tmthforu94 have little to worry about as they prepare to head to the polls in the upcoming regional elections. A recent poll conducted by the Mideast Record-Courier found that 88% of voters intend to support the governor for reelection, with just 12% saying they were likely to write-in another candidate. Such unanimity could not be found in the race for Assembly, however: respondents split their first preferences amongst six candidates, with Federalist Johanus Calvinus Libertas and WSRP candidate EarlAW tying for first place with 25% of the vote. This, of course, is to be expected: there are currently seven declared candidates for Assembly, while Tmthforu94 is running unopposed for governor this month. What remains to be seen is whether any candidate or party will emerge from the election with a mandate, or whether gridlock and indecision will grip the regional government for the next two months.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 14, 2015

Mideast Ratifies Senate Rules Amendment

With seven votes in favor and none against as of this writing, the Mideast Record-Courier can project that the proposed Fix The Senate Rules Amendment has been ratified by Mideast Voters. The amendment, which officially retitles the Senate's presiding officer the "speaker", limits the vice president's responsibilities to opening the confirmation threads for presidential nominees, and stipulates that the Speaker of the Senate is next in line for the presidency after the vice president, sparked considerable debate within the federal government, but drew little attention from voters, a majority of whom failed to vote in the referendum. In addition, the Record Courier can project that the amendment has passed the Midwest (three in favor, two abstaining and the Northeast (nine in favor, one opposed, one abstaining). The IDS and the Pacific are yet to hold votes on the amendment.
Under the Federal Constitution, the consent of 4 regions is required to ratify Constitutional Amendments.

Hagrid Confirmed As SoIA

Following a brief confirmation hearing, former Secretary of Internal Affairs Hagrid has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate, completing a cycle that began nearly four months ago. Nominated by then-President DemPGH, Hagrid served as SoIA until last October, when he resigned prior to the Thursday Night Massacre. He  was replaced by Pacific Regional Senator TheCranberry (TPP-??), who assumed the presidency upon the removal of President Tyrion. Following the resignation of President Lumine Von Reuental's first SoIA, Flo, Hagrid was nominated to assume leadership of the Interior Department once again. "I'm here to help make the game work for people on the most basic level," Hagrid told the Senate during his hearing, saying that he does not intend to delve into too much detail except when requested by the president or the Senate.

January 2015 Mideast Regional Elections Voters' Guide

Elections for governor and Assembly begin tomorrow, January 15, and continue through January 18. All residents of the Mideast having lawfully registered to vote seven days prior to the start of the election (January 8 at the latest) are eligible to vote in this election.

For Governor
Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed)/ TDAS04 (Lab) (inc.)

Tmthforu94 is the incumbent governor of the Mideast. He has previously served as a member of the Mideast Assembly, as both a Regional and At-Large Senator, and and President of the Republic of Atlasia. Tmthforu94 supports increased funding for high-speed rail in the Mideast and allowing localities to restrict the presence of firearms in schools. He has been endorsed for a full term by the Mideast Record-Courier.

For Assembly
Bmotely (DR) (inc.)

Bmotely is an incumbent Assemblyman from Indiana. He ran unsuccessfully for the Atlasian Senate in October, 2014.

CrabCake (Lab)

CrabCake is a newcomer to Atlasia and the Mideast. If elected, he has pledged to support progressive taxation and pro-science environmental policies.

EarlAW (WSRP)

EarlAW is a member of the leftist Washburnist Socialist Revolutionary Party, which advocates a complete overhaul of the economic system. He supports expanding high-speed rail and abolishing all private schools, as well as homeschooling.

Johanus Calvinus Libertas (Fed)

JCL is a former Assemblyman and At-Large Senator and founder of the Coolidge Society. He is a strong supporter of high-speed rail, which he advocated during his previous tenure in the Assembly, [/b]and believes in an "all of the above" approach to education that includes support for charter schools and homeschooling.

New Canadaland (Lab) (inc.)

In his first term as a member of the Assembly, New Canadaland sponsored legislation to expand high-speed rail in the Mideast and opposed measures to subsidize charter schools. He has announced he will run for Speaker if elected to a second term.

Shua (DR) (inc.)

A member of the Democratic-Republican party, Shua recently sponsored legislation that would allow localities to limit the presence of firearms in schools. He supports establishing independent schools directly funded by the Mideast government as an alternative to subsidies.

Spiral (DR) (inc.)

Spiral is currently the presiding officer of the Assembly. He has previously served as Mideast governor and Regional Senator, and supports subsidizing charter schools.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 15, 2015

Mideast Citizens! The thread for the January 2015 Regional Elections is now open! Vote now!

Senate Passes Recall Amendment

A Constitutional amendment sponsored by Midwest Regional Senator TNF (Lab-KS) that would allow voters to recall their federal representatives was passed by the Senate yesterday, with seven votes in favor and two against. The amendment was opposed by Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI), who argued that it would only lead to increased political maneuvering and disrupt the relationship between representatives and their constituents. "The last recall recently, the recall of Midwest Govenor Lebron [FitzGerald], had not been made really by Midwesterners," the Senator said. "It [was] made by a group of persons who absolutely wanted him to go down, and they're outside of the MW. So this amendment will likely not improve the relations between the representatives of the people and the people, it will just create a new way of plotting." Several other senators also objected to the amendment on the grounds that it would defeat the purpose of at-large senate elections: to allow people with non-mainstream views to be represented in the government. These concerns were resolved by an amendment written by Northeast Regional Senator Bore (Lab-RI) exempting at-large senators from recall, however, and the bill passed without much further debate.

Push To Cut Taxes Meets With Resistance

An amendment to the 2015 Budget that would slightly lower the taxes paid by Atlasians earning between $85,000 and $399,999 has met with stiff resistance from the Senate's liberal members. Authored by President Lumine Von Reuental (Fed-UT), the revised budget would compensate for the 1% income tax reduction through a $125 Billion cut to healthcare spending, a measure that has met with fierce opposition from At-Large Senator and former President Polnut (TPP-MA), as well as other senators, who argue that such cuts are unwise in light of current inflation rates. "I don't see why a tax break of 1% is necessary," said Pacific Regional Senator The Cranberry (TPP-OR), arguing that the funds could be better used to prevent the proposed healthcare cuts. Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI) has also objected to the amendment.

Most Atlasians Doubt Budget Will Be Passed, Poll Finds

If the results are to be believed, a majority of respondents to a Mideast Record-Courier poll expressed varying degrees of doubt that the federal government will be able to produce a budget by the end of the current presidential term. Fifty-three percent of those polled said they were either "unconfident" or "very unconfident" that the Senate would succeed in passing a budget before President Lumine Von Reuental's administration leaves office, while 47% said they were either "confident" or "very confident" a deal would be reached. Speaking in the poll thread, IDS Regional Senator North Carolina Yankee (Fed-NC) said that while the resulting budget will not please everyone, "there will be something" in place by the end of February. Whether his statement will prove true or the worst fears of the voters confirmed remains to be seen.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 16, 2015

Mideast Citizens! The Voting Thread For The January 2015 Regional Elections Is Now Open! Vote Now!

Recall Amendment Meets With Resistance

Though it passed the Senate by an overwhelming margin, with seven senators voting in favor and two against, the proposed Recall Amendment to the federal Constitution has hardly received so sunny a reception from the nation's voters. In the regions where referendums on the amendment have already begun, the judgement of the public has been dubious at best, with large swaths of the nation voting against ratification. As of this writing, the no-vote in the Pacific is currently leading by 33%; in the Northeast, 60% of the ballots cast are against the amendment; in the Mideast, not a single ballot has been cast in favor of ratification. In the IDS, where amendments are ratified by the regional legislature, Legislative Speaker and former Emperor Maxwell (DR) has attacked the proposal as "allowing for partisan witch hunts." Only in the Midwest, home to the bill's sponsor, Regional Senator TNF, is the amendment currently leading, and there only by a single vote.
There is certainly time for the amendment's fortunes to see a reversal, and it is worth noting that the vast majority of voters are yet to express their opinion. Regardless, the fact that there is already such a strong negative response to the amendment, with barely 24 hours having elapsed since the referendum commenced, is a sign that the recall of federal officers is by no means a non-controversial issue.

Regional Elections Update

The results will not be official for another two days, but thus far Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 appears headed for reelection, with 100% of the ballots (excluding two blank ballots) cast in his favor as of this writing. Within hours of the polls opening, the Mideast Record-Courier was able to project that the governor would win his home state of Virginia, the state of Indiana, and the Canadian province of Ontario, based on a combination of current voter turnout rates and partisan registration. The state of Maryland and the Canadian province of Nunavut went for the governor later in the evening; all other states remain too close to call. Meanwhile, Mideastern liberals have reason to take heart in the results of the Assembly election. Current tabulations show the Labor Party retaining its two seats in the Assembly and the far-left WSRP picking up a seat. Assuming the WSBR candidate, EarlAW, caucuses with the Laborites, this would give liberals a voting majority in the Assembly.
More detailed coverage of the election, as well as minute-by-minute analysis of the results, can be found in the Mideast Record-Courier's live results thread.

Constitutional Typo Fixed By New Amendment

A recently-discovered glitch in the Mideast Constitution that allowed non-Mideasterners to be elected to the Assembly was remedied yesterday with the adoption of a Constitutional amendment to limit membership in the chamber to residents of the region. Proposed by Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA), the amendment was a sharp departure from the Federal Recall Amendment currently before the regions, with all five Assemblymen announcing their support and urging a speedy vote. As of this writing, Assemblymen Spiral (DR-MO), New Canadaland (Lab-ON), and Bmotely (DR-IN) have voted in favor of the measure, with no votes against.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 17-18, 2015

Mideast Citizens! The Voting Thread For The January 2015 Regional Elections Is Now Open! Vote Now!

Tmthforu94 Projected To Win Gubernatorial Race

With a little over a day left of the January 2015 Regional election, the Mideast Record-Courier has projected that Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) has been reelected governor by an overwhelming margin. As of this writing, the governor has been projected to have carried the states of Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Wisconsin, as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Nunavut. With no write-in candidacy having materialized by this point, the Record Courier believes that the governor's lead is now insurmountable and congratulates him on his reelection. At the moment, the Assembly race remains too close to call, but liberal candidates have reclaimed the lead after a brief conservative surge late last night.
More detailed coverage of the election, as well as minute-by-minute analysis of the results, can be found in the Mideast Record-Courier's live coverage thread.

.Nunavut . Ontario

Key
Orange: State won by Tmthforu94 (Fed)
Lime Green: State won by Write-In candidate
Pink: States too close to call
Navy: No Votes from this state

Windjammer To Seek Second Term As Mideast Senator

Despite speculation that he might step down, Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI) has announced that he will be a candidate in the February Senate elections. Since being elected last October, Windjammer has maintained an active presence in the Senate, arguing for a greater role for the Vice President in Senate proceedings and opposing a Constitutional amendment to allow for the recall of federal officeholders. I plan to still be on the side of workers and I will try to continue to improve their conditions," the senator said in his announcement speech. "I will continue to work with the other senators and the president/vice president in order to improve the life of our dear Atlasian citizens. And finally, I plan to work with the other senators and the active forces of this game to reform Atlasia. I read some good ideas of reform, like replacing At large senate seats by senate districts seats and I hope I will have the chance to discuss this idea during the next session. But of course, that will be the choice of Mideasterners . "The Mideast Record-Courier will make an endorsement in this race in the coming weeks.

Questions Surround Candidate's Ballot

If things are what they seem, Mideast resident and candidate for Assembly CrabCake (Lab-MO) may be guilt of violating federal election law, the Mideast Record-Courier discovered yesterday. While Federal law prohibits the editing of one's vote more than twenty (20) minutes after it is cast, the Record-Courier confirmed that after posting his vote at 11:53:23 AM yesterday, CrabCake edited his ballot over 4 hours later at 4:39:19 PM. While CrabCake's preferences for governor and Assembly have not changed, and the Record-Courier was unable to confirm whether any changes had been made to his vote on the Federal Recall Amendment, this is nevertheless a serious offense on the part of Mr. CrabCake, which could result in the invalidation of his vote.
(Editor's Note: I do not publish this article out of any personal or political malice towards Mr. CrabCake, whose conduct as a candidate has otherwise been exemplary, and would readily accept a satisfactory explanation on his part.)

Mideast Senator Sues Speaker Over Proceedural Dispute

The 65th Senate has not shrunk from proposing changes to the federal Constitution, having seen the introduction of no less than five Constitutional amendments since opening on January 2, but the latest attempt to do so has led to debate, not of the amendment itself, but over Senate procedure. The dispute originated with Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI), who claims that the Efficient Referenda Amendment did not receive enough votes to pass the Senate    despite Senate Speaker and Northeast Regional Senator Bore (Lab-RI) having announced its passage early yesterday afternoon. Senator Windjammer argues that the 6-0 vote in the Senate to approve the amendment is not sufficient to pass it, as the Constitution requires the consent of two-thirds of the Senate to amend the Constitution. Following Speaker Bore's decision to contest Windjammer's claim, Associate Justice Oakvale announced yesterday afternoon that the Supreme Court will hear both senators' arguments.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 19, 2015

Speaker Spiral Comments On Party's Loss, And Plans For Future

Though he and his party suffered a setback in last week's elections, outgoing Mideast Speaker Spiral (DR-MO) was already planning for future battles when he spoke to the Mideast Record-Courier early this morning. In response to questions about his party's future in the Mideast, Spiral rejected the idea that the Democratic-Republicans were a spent force, instead offering a forceful argument for their return. The following is a complete transcript of our conversation:

Harry S Truman: What do you hope to accomplish in your final days as Speaker?
Spiral:This current session is winding down and no other bills will likely be introduced, so my agenda in my last days as Speaker is really maintaining order and making sure we get business done efficiently. In terms of a broader legacy, I've tried to keep the Assembly active and moving, and we've surely seen significant improvements in activity for the region compared to how it was last summer or so. Based on these latest elections with the number of candidates we had, I'm confident that our worst days are behind us and we can keep going forward.

HST:The Mideast Democratic-Republican Party fielded three candidates for Assembly in the last election. Considering that your party only has four members in this region, was that an overreach?
Spiral: I wouldn't say that it's our small party base that was the problem. Bmotley, Shua, and I were all incumbents seeking reelection and it looked like there was still a fair chance that we could win. DRs and Federalists have quite often been able to work hand in hand in the Mideast, so getting the support of the right was not a problem at all. Demographic changes in the last couple of months have led to a larger and much more fervent left in the region, as you could have seen with the three capable leftist candidates running this month. They all got in because Labor has a strong GOTV machine now with the people to show. Another rightist candidate in JCL was also running, siphoning off potential votes from me or the other two DRs. This isn't to say that I have hard feelings toward any of these folks mentioned, because elections are much more fun when a bunch of people jump in, and that's what the game is all about. While the DRs have had a setback in January, we've still collected plenty of victories.

HST: Will you be a candidate for federal office in February?
Spiral:I'll be making news here: After plenty of encouragement from others, I have decided to run for Mideast Senate next month. I realize that to top Senator Windjammer and his machine will be challenging, but there's a misconception that the Mideast has suddenly become a Soviet paradise like the Pacific or Midwest, which it's not. It's back to being a swing region like it was one year ago. Victory may not be guaranteed but you better believe I'll make a hell of a run nonetheless. I look forward to this election!

After Elections, Assembly Has New Leftist Majority

Though the gubernatorial race was uncontested, with Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) winning 21 votes and all but two states where no votes were cast, the race for Mideast Assembly this past week was extremely heated, with conservatives and liberals gaining and loosing the lead multiple times over the past three days. When all the votes were tallied, leftist candidates held a thin but clear majority, with a coalition of Laborites and the far-left Washburnist Socialist Revolutionary Party winning just enough seats to enact their agenda over the next two months.
In terms of turnout, the left far outdid the right in getting their voters to the polls. While roughly 55% of registered Laborites cast ballots in the election, less than half of registered Federalists did so., and while Democratic-Republican turnout was much better (75%), their ranks were small to begin with. This advantage carried Labor over the edge in the Assembly, even when one of their ballots was invalidated due to violations of federal election law.
The Labor Party and its coalition partner the WSRP is expected to support newly-reelected Assemblyman New Canadaland (Lab-ON) for Speaker of the Assembly. The incumbent Speaker, Spiral (DR-MO), was defeated in his quest for reelection.

Recall Amendment Falls Flat In Mideast, IDS

Though it passed the Senate with only two dissenting votes, the Federal Recall Amendment has already been rejected by just as many regions, with the Northeast and the Pacific set to follow suit. Proposed by Midwest Regional Senator TNF (Lab-KS), the amendment--perhaps the most serious motion towards game reform in the last year--was opposed both by Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) and Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI), who felt it would only be an added weapon in the hands of those looking to lead "political witch hunts". As the consent of four regions is needed to ratify amendments to the Constitution, the dual rejection of the IDS and the Mideast means that the Recall Amendment will not be added to the federal Constitution, at least in its present form.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 20, 2014

Senator Holds Early Lead In Mideast Regional Race

Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI) has a substantial lead over his opponents in the upcoming regional senate election, a poll conducted by the Mideast Record-Courier revealed. Respondents to the poll overwhelmingly favored Senator Windjammer, with 53% giving him their first preference compared to 27% for outgoing Speaker Spiral (DR-MO) and former At-Large Senator Johanus Calvinus Libertas (Fed-IN). Though Atlasian polling is notoriously inaccurate, this is certainly good news for the Senator, who began his reelection campaign last week and who has already drawn two challengers from the libertarian Democratic-Republican Party. Though the Federalists have yet to name a candidate for the Mideast Regional seat, former Regional Senator Cassius (Fed-VA) and Assemblyman-elect JCL are both possible contenders. JCL has stated that he will make up his mind about a Senate run shortly.

Mideast Rail Act Brought To Vote, Stirring Controversy

A bill proposed by Assemblyman New Canadaland (Lab-ON) that would expand high speed rail in the Mideast was recently called up for a vote in the Assembly, confounding its sponsor and raising questions of partisan motivation. The motion was made by Speaker Spiral on Sunday, directly following his party's defeat in the January Regional elections, and was promptly questioned by New Canadaland, who is expected to become Speaker in the next Assembly. "I never intended this to come up for a vote," New Canadaland announced, saying that there had not been sufficient debate on the measure. Speaker Spiral responded that the no legislators had commented on the bill for several days, and that his motion was intended to efficiently wrap up the Assembly's business before the current session ends.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I only wish the South had a paper as wonderful as yours!

Thank-you, Emperor!

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 21, 2015

Governor Signs Law To Limit Presence Of Firearms In Schools

Having been passed by the Mideast Assembly and signed by Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA), Assemblyman Shua's amendment to the Mideast Drop The Death Toll Act went into effect today. The revised bill, which enjoyed bipar law allow localities to limit the presence of firearms on school premises, a change from the previous policy which gave law enforcement officials the right to bring firearms into schools without regard to local interests. Supported by both libertarian Democratic-Republicans and social democratic Laborites, the bill passed the Assembly without a single dissenting vote and was signed by Governor Tmthforu94 a few minutes after 1:00 this afternoon.

Bmotley Drops Out Of Mideast Senate Race

Following a campaign lasting just over 48 hours, outgoing Assemblyman Bmotley (DR-IN) announced his intentions to leave the Mideast Regional Senate race earlier today, clearing the way for Speaker Spiral (DR-MO) to win the Democratic-Republican nomination. Motley ran unsuccessfully for the Senate four months ago, in October 2014, when he was defeated by Labor Party candidate and now-incumbent Senator Windjammer. Assuming no Federalist candidate enters the race (former At-Large Senator Johanus Calvinus Libertas (Fed-IN) said he was considering a campaign but has yet to declare), this would leave Spiral as the only right wing candidate in a race that is sure to be one of the closest and most-watched in the nation.

Electoral Reform Commission Begins Drafting Proposal

The Commission on Electoral Reform established by President Lumine Von Reuental (Fed-UT) at the start of his presidency has come nearer to producing a final proposal, with Commission Chairman Rpryor03 (National-NJ) having introduced the draft of a Constitutional amendment that would replace the five At-Large Senators with senators elected from districts. Said districts would be drawn by a commission composed of the regional chief executives and the secretary of federal elections, which would meet every three months to adjust the districts as necessary.
Though the main objective of the amendment--to replace the at-large system of electing senators with more competitive district elections--is supported by the general public, it remains to be seen whether certain measures meet with resistance once the amendment is submitted to the Senate. The most obvious point of contention is that the amendment would not require the senate districts to be contiguous, opening the door for possible gerrymandering. Parts of the amendment are also vaguely worded: for example, the passage stating that the district map will "become valid at the August elections" does not state whether it refers specifically to the August, 2015 Senate elections or whether the districts will be redrawn every August. Nevertheless, the proposal is the most significant step towards game reform in recent memory, and its passage would surely speak highly of President Von Reuental's efforts to revitalize Atlasia after the disturbing events of October.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 22, 2015

Sen. Windjammer Reflects On Past Four Months, Sets Goals For The Future

Though he expects a strong challenge from Speaker Spiral (DR-MO) in the upcoming election, Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI) has already launched an ambitious agenda for his second term that includes changes to how wages are calculated for tipped workers and legal protection for the religious rights of employees. In a conversation with the Mideast Record-Courier, Senator Windjammer outlined his proposals for the coming four months, as well as what he feels the legacy of his first term has been. The following is a complete transcript of our conversation:

Harry S Truman: What, in your opinion, is the greatest accomplishment of your time in the Senate?
Windjammer: The greatest accomplishment of my time in the Senate is obviously the Atlasian Universal Education Bill. This bill reduced substantially the cost of [college] studies for every  student. This is a major improvement for Atlasia, [as it was] indeed unacceptable that people were still forced to pay their “student loans” many years after having graduated. Education has always been a critical issue for me (ie: when I was Midwest Governor, I sponsored and signed a bill reducing by 95% the cost of tuition fees )... I’m proud to have voted for this bill  with the other Labor and TPP senators, and I thank President Lumine for having signed this bill.

HST: How do you feel about your chances in the upcoming regional Senate election?
W: This race will be extremely difficult to win. Spiral is someone I like personally and considering his strong ties with the ME right, he will probably manage to unite them behind his candidacy. This should be extremely close, but right now, I would say I would trail him by 2-3  votes if the election were held today.
I love campaigning and whatever the result I will obviously respect the choice of Mideasterners.

HST: Assuming you are reelected, what will your first priority be for your second term?
W: Some of the bills I introduced during my first term haven’t been debated yet and I guess they will be debated during the next session.

(Here, the Senator went on the quote from the "Tips and Gratuities Preservation Act" he authored, which would prevent employers from counting tips as part of their employees' salaries.)

W: The Midwest, the Northeast and the South passed a similar bill last year. But unfortunately, no such bill passed the Pacific, and it was rejected in the Mideast.
I believe this is important that employees are protected from this potential situation. Indeed, if someone gives them Tips or gratuities, it means they believe this employee made a wonderful job and they wanted to reward him. If they wanted to to reward the employer, they would have given tips directly. Every employee deserves to keep his tips.

The other piece of legislation I have introduced and that hasn’t been debated yet:

(The Senator quoted a piece of legislation that would allow workers to refuse to work on Sundays for religious reasons.)

W: My biggest senate work if I’m reelected will likely be writing an important bill for workers having disabilities (l’m not sure if this is the good term, so some examples: someone who is blind for example). Atlasia doesn’t have specific legislations for helping these people to find a job. And this is sad because they really need that (for obvious reasons!).
The other big issue will be obviously game reform. I’m working with Senator Cris on giving duties for the VP for example. I believe senate districts are a good idea and need to be debated.  I will consider as well to run for Speaker if I’m reelected.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 23, 2015

Assembly Rejects Bill To Swell Teachers' Ranks

A bill proposed by Assemblyman New Canadaland (Lab-ON) seems likely to be rejected by the Assembly, with the outgoing Democratic-Republican majority voting unanimously against the bill before relinquishing control of the legislature to the Labor-WSRP coalition. The bill, which would have required failing public schools to establish a 30-1 ratio between teachers and students and established merit bonuses based on a teacher evaluation system, was attacked by critics as ignoring the financial reality facing the region's schools. "I think most failing schools would love to hire additional teachers." said Assemblyman Shua (DR-NU), one of just two Assemblyman to be reelected in the January elections. "The question is whether they have the funds." Though New Canadaland provided a basic cost-analysis in response to these concerns, it was not enough to persuade his colleagues to back the measure. It remains unclear whether a similar piece of legislation will be introduced in the next Assembly.

Mideast Record-Courier Endorses Bore For President, Windjammer For Senate

With the next federal elections less than a month away, the Mideast Record-Courier is throwing its support behind the Bore/Bacon King ticket in the presidential race. Senator Bore needs no introduction to the people of Atlasia. His service in the Senate has shown him to be a committed public servant and statesman. His pragmatism, concern for the common man, and competent handling of the Senate as its Speaker for the last three months have proven him to be an excellent and fair administrator. On top of all this, he has put forward a compelling platform that, while imperfect, will certainly prevent the government from slipping into inactivity and monotony so long as he occupies the White House. Our only regret is that his election would deprive the Senate of an unusually able Speaker.
In a similar vein, the Record-Courier endorses incumbent Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer for reelection. Since being elected to the Senate three months ago, Senator Windjammer has introduced a train of bills that, while not astounding in their scope or quantity, do much to achieve real and practical benefits for the common Atlasian. His reelection platform is not a collection of vague principles and waffled anecdotes, but a list of specific, practical proposals to advocate for the plight of the people. While his tenure has not been without errors of judgement, he has shown a commitment both to his work and to the welfare of his constituents, and as such we hope the good people of the Mideast will return him to Nyman with due haste.

Fiery Rhetoric Challenges Existing Political Order In The Midwest

In a region where the personality of Labor firebrand TNF has dominated for nearly two years, the right flank is finally beginning to fight back. In the first speech of his campaign for Midwest governor, Federalist candidate Foucaulf heaped such scorn on the "closet communist" he claims have overrun the regional government that one might have suspected he was speaking in some other region, one whose citizens have not elected a self-avowed socialist to five terms in the Senate.
While conservative candidates in the Midwest have long used TNF's divisive language as a wedge issue in elections here, Foucaulf's campaign has so far been anything but conciliatory. Casting himself as the defender of the common man, the Minnesota Federalist tore into the opposition, claiming the policies of the Labor Party had brought about economic ruin. "Because of the government's nonsensical price controls, farmers have been shut out of business," he declared before a crowd of Nebraska farmers. "Due to the government's anti-business red tape, small business owners were driven out in madness. Due to the government's mandated wage levels, teachers are paid pittances while prices explode around them."
It is certainly an interesting strategy, and one that could well blow up in his face should moderates be turned off by the confrontational tactics that have long steered them away from the Laborites. Nevertheless, there remains a strong argument for a change in strategy when it comes to combatting liberal policies in the Mideast. While the conciliatory campaigns of Lumine Von Reuental (Fed-OH) and Cris (Fed-KS) won praise outside the region, this strategy has yet to result in the defeat of the Laborites at the polls. It remains to be seen whether this new aggressiveness on the part of Midwest conservatives is just the medicine they need, or a noose woven by their own hands.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 24-25, 2015

Senate Debates Federal Reserve Bill

A bill introduced by Northeast Regional Senator and Speaker Bore (Lab-RI) and backed by President Lumine Von Reuental (Fed-OH) that would transfer the responsibility of simulating the actions of the Federal Reserve from the Game Moderator to the Secretary of the Interior has aroused passions in the Senate, with leaders of the Labor party arguing vehemently against the proposal. While currently the Game Moderator is currently judge, jury, and executioner of the nation's monetary policy, the proposed bill would transfer the duty of determining the Federal Reserve's actions to the Secretary of the Interior, while the GM would continue to simulate the results of these actions.
The bill has met with resistance from some members of the Labor Party, particularly Northeast Representative Adam Griffin (Lab-NB), who has taken a large part in the debate despite not being a member of the Senate. Arguing that the Game Moderator's office has historically been much more stable than the Interior Department, Griffin vehemently attacked the measure, saying it would "literally make the position of GM weaker than that of [Secretary of the Interior]." Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer echoed his concerns, saying that "I'm not AGAINST reforms, I'm against basically stripping duties to an office. You're doing the same mistakes than the senate did when they voted to basically strip every duty of the VP: what was the result? An inactive office." These charges were rejected by Speaker Bore, who countered that "the GM remains, by a huge distance, the most powerful player in the game, so I'm not sure this can be seen as a way of stripping powers a way from it," and observed that the Game Moderator would retain control over the effects of the Secretary of the Interior's Actions.

Poll: Windjammer Trails Spiral As Senate Campaign Kicks Off

A survey administered by Based God Polling from January 21-24 shows former Speaker Spiral (DR-MO) slightly ahead of Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI) as the two begin their campaigns for the Mideast Regional Senate seat. Final results showed Spiral with a narrow lead over the incumbent Windjammer, with 42% to Windjammer's 32%. Twenty-six percent of respondents were either undecided or pledged to support a different candidate in the election. These results stood in contrast to an earlier poll run by the Mideast Record-Courier, which showed Senator Windjammer with a comfortable 53% lead in a three-way race against Spiral and former At-Large Senator Johanus Calvinus Libertas. While Atlasian polling is to be taken lightly, this seems to suggest a tight race in the offing, and one that could well decide whether the next president enters office with a supportive or combative Senate at his back.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 26, 2015

Governor Backs New Canadaland For Speaker

In a conciliatory gesture towards the liberals who now control the regional legislature, Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) has endorsed Assemblyman New Canadaland (Lab-ON) for Speaker of the Mideast Assembly, effectively ending whatever opposition might have emerged to the latter's candidacy. The short-term significance of this announcement is minimal: leftists hold a clear majority in the Assembly, and could have elected Canadaland speaker even if the governor had actively opposed it. Nevertheless, Tmthforu94's early and vocal support for the Ontario Laborite is indicative of a desire to work across the aisle with the opposition, a necessity with the regional government split between the Federalist executive and the Labor-controlled legislature.  

An Interview With Vice-Presidential Candidate Maxwell

As he continues his campaign for the Vice Presidency of the Republic of Atlasia, IDS Speaker Maxwell (DR-AL) took the time to talk with the Mideast Record-Courier about the upcoming election and the issues facing the current generation of Atlasians. By all counts an elder statesman, Maxwell has served in a multitude of offices over the years, from Senator to Attorney General to Emperor of the Imperial Dominion of the South. What follows is a transcript of our conversation:

Harry S Truman: With little less than a month to go before the election, some are already predicting victory for Senator Bore. What is your response to claims that the election is practically over?
Maxwell: While I understand their feeling, I feel it is a bit premature. Our ticket has put out a detailed policy agenda, and while I have a great deal of respect for our opponents, I've seen little of the same activity. I think voters will see that as us taking the initiative, and voters in the center and the on the center left will look at that positively. So to answer your question, I think the election result is a little more up in the air than people think.

HST: As the campaign enters its final weeks, what message will you bring to the Atlasian people?
M: Our message is that the people are tired of the same old Nyman, and we respond to that with an agenda that brings economic opportunity to people, brings regions into the conservation, and breaks up the stale politics that have held the government we've seen.

HST: There has been controversy of late over the proper role of the Vice President. How do you see yourself managing that office, and what kind of role will you play in advancing the administration's agenda?
M: I've seen the role used in a lot of capacities, and I think my approach to the role would be far more, how we say, behind the scenes than previous Vice Presidents. I would be something of a Senatorial and Regional ambassador for the President, asking for their needs, getting broad consensus, whipping votes, and attempting to bring forward our agenda. I've never been Vice President before, so I imagine the transition will be interesting, but I plan on keeping an active dialogue.

HST: It seems increasingly likely that a hypothetical Potus Administration would have to deal with a Senate of the opposite political persuasion. As the vice president has the unique role of being both a member of the executive branch as well as president of the senate, do you foresee yourself as acting as a sort of liaison between the executive and legislative branches?
M: Funny enough, I sort of answered that question earlier! And yes, that is the plan, and interestingly enough, I have experience in that role in my term as an At-Large Senator. My votes were strongly in the libertarian range, but I was leader during my term, negotiating bills, whipping votes, and being conciliatory toward other members. I think my approach is the approach of our campaign - principled but pragmatic. Standing for what we believe but working with the other side to get it done. I think I'll be especially effective role.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 27, 2015

SENATE PASSES CIVIL RIGHTS ACT

NYMAN, D.C.-After a long and divisive debate, the controversial Civil Rights Act of 2014 (CRA) has passed the Senate, with Labor and TPP Senators uniting to pass the heavily-amended bill. While the original proposal, introduced by Midwest Regional Senator TNF (Lab-KS), has been tempered by the Senate's more moderate members, who removed passages calling land "stolen" from Native Americans to be returned and classifying hate speech as terrorism, the bill continues to raise passions amongst the center-right. With the vote not officially closed, Mideast Assemblyman Shua (DR-NU) has taken the Senate floor to denounce the bill and President Lumine Von Reuental is preparing to call for a redraft, ensuring that the debate over what may prove to be the most consequential bill passed by the 65th Senate will continue.
Summary of the Civil Rights Act
As it currently stands, the CRA has already been heavily amend mended, with members of all parties working to produce a practical piece of legislation while preserving the author's original intent. The Act is divided into five sections, summarized below:
Section 1: The Senate will grant $150 million to the Secretary of the Interior, who will use these funds to establish a "program of reparations" for the descendants of slaves and Native Americans. Racial parity in juries and federal employment will be established.
Section 2: Payment for contraception and other birth control will be covered by the Interior Department. Gender bias in salaries, dress codes, and hirings is prohibited. Gender parity in juries will be established.
Section 3: The federal government will not, in anyway, show preference for heterosexuality over homosexuality, and will take action to prevent the bullying of and provide for applicable sex education for LGBTQ students. Transgender citizens will be allowed to use the bathrooms of their choice.
Section 4: The Senate will provide $25 million for a campaign to organize a nationwide anti-discrimination campaign.
Section 5: The Senate apologizes on behalf of the Republic of Atlasia for any and all discrimination committed by the federal government.
Objections to the CRA
Once it became clear that the Act had enough votes to pass the Senate, Mideast Assemblyman Shua traveled to Nyman to denounce its provisions before the Senate. Arguing that the bill flew in the face of reality, Shua forcefully condemned the law, particularly Section 2, which he says opens the door for inappropriate dress in school settings. "I don't understand what passes for centrism in Atlasia," he said in response to Senator TNF's claim that the bill is essentially a compromise  "I once thought that it was basically European Social Democracy but that's something far to the right of something like this. You want to pretend that history and society has left us with no statistical differences in interest and ability between people of different genders or ethnicity, and that any differences in hiring are solely the fault of the employer, rather than address the issue with education, and perhaps (gasp!) consider the possibility that their might be differences in what fields people decide to enter into.  You want to pretend people aren't affected by how people in their environment dress, and condemn anyone who thinks otherwise…. Honestly I can barely watch what the Senate does to run over the regions and civil society and still sustain any interest in Atlasia at any level."
Not all objections to the Act were peaceful. The Game Moderator's Office announced last night that threats had been made on the life of Senator TNF, and the Department of the Interior is closely monitoring the threat of armed retaliation against the bill's backers and minority groups. In response, TNF has called for supporters of the Act to form paramilitary groups to defend the CRA by force of arms, if necessary
More common was the response of Secretary of the Interior Hagrid Of The Deep, who said that while certain passages are troubling, "slandering" the entire Act is counterproductive. Saying that "a redraft altering the language in question could have a very real chance of passing," the Secretary urged patience on the part of his fellow conservatives, confident that more objectionable portions of the Act could yet be altered.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 28, 2015

Supporters, Opponents Of CRA Take Up Arms

With the arrest of the would-be assassin of Midwest Regional Senator TNF and the Interior Department on high alert for signs of unrest stemming from the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 2014, some members of the public are taking matters into their own hands. Within hours of the revelation of the plot on Senator TNF's life, the Labor firebrand called for supporters to take up arms as part of the Nat Turner Brigade (NTB), a paramilitary group whose stated purpose is to defend the working class from the "racist, bigoted, or other xenophobic elements upset by this bill." Opponents of the Act, led by Mideast Assemblyman Shua, promptly began taking up arms themselves under the banner of the "Mideast Matriot Militia" (MMM).
The situation continued to unravel from there as rumors that the MMM had been seen "brandishing guns and scaring the bejesus" out of Mideasterners competed with charges that TNF's attempted assassin was seen carrying "radical socialist" pamphlets, claims that Game Moderator Dr. Cynic has declared false. Hoping to keep the situation under control, President Lumine Von Reuental (Fed-OH) has called for the Attorney General's office to investigate the legality of these so-called independent militias. For their part, both the NTB and the MMM have announced their non-confrontational intentions, asserting that they will only use force in response to an outright attack. In such a charged atmosphere, however, it remains to be seen whether such statements can keep the peace, or whether a misunderstanding will throw the country into civil war.

Former President Unmasked

He is perhaps the most controversial figure ever to inhabit the presidency. Now, thanks to new evidence purportedly unearthed by At-Large Senator Bacon King (TPP-OC), opponents of former President Napoleon at long last have the satisfaction in knowing that their charges were, essentially, correct: the one-time chief executive was indeed a sock account of a poster known as Hamilton.
The revelation was particularly satisfying to former Attorney General Snowstalker, who was defeated by Napoleon in the latter's reelection bid. Snowstalker is now calling for the Senate to pass a resolution declaring him to have been the rightful President of Atlasia from October 2012 to February 2013, a suggestion that has won the support of President Lumine Von Reuental. It remains unclear what, if any, action is being taken against Napoleon himself.
CORRECTION: The Mideast Record-Courier has been notified that Napoleon has been banned from the forum.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Napoleon has been banned from the forum. That is the action that has been taken against him.

Noted. I have updated the article to reflect this development.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 29, 2015

Governor Introduces Bill To Expand High Speed Rail

Following the rejection of a similar bill by the previous Assembly, Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) has introduced legislation to expand high-speed rail services in the Mideast. Much more ambitious than the bill drafted by Speaker New Canadaland (Lab-ON) in the last session, the governor's proposal would construct three new rail lines connecting various cities throughout the region, at a cost of $45 billion. Construction would begin on these lines in March of this year. Under the proposed bill, private companies would be able to purchase the right to operate the tracks, subject to regular inspections by the Mideast government. With several Assemblymen having pledged expand high-speed rail during the last campaign, the measure seems likely to pass, with Speaker New Canadaland having opened debate earlier today.

Minimum Wage Debate Consumes All Levels Of Government

As the nation prepares to select the next Senate and chief executive, wages are weighing heavily on everyone's minds, with the federal government as well as the regions considering action to raise the minimum wage. In the Senate, Midwest Regional Senator TNF (Lab-KS) has introduced a bill that would gradually increase the minimum wage over the course of the next decade, culminating at $25 an hour in 2025. Unsurprisingly, the bill has drawn considerable criticism, particularly At-Large Senator Polnut (TPP-MA) and IDS Regional Senator North Carolina Yankee (F-NC), who argue that setting the minimum wage so far ahead would degrade the purchasing power of current wages at a time when inflation is already alarmingly high. Polnut has indicated that he would support a moderate increase of the minimum wage, with Pacific Regional Senator The Cranberry suggesting it be set at $15 an hour.
Meanwhile, in the Northeast, Lt. Governor and candidate for Senate MattVT (TPP-VT) has introduced a bill that would establish a $20 minimum wage in that region effective August 1, and a $25 minimum wage after 2020. The proposal has been met with ridicule from even the furthest-left politicians, with former Labor Party chairman Adam Griffin ridiculing the proposal in the lt. governor's campaign thread, leading Matt to state that the bill was intended to prompt debate rather than as a serious proposal, an assertion many on the right view dubiously. The Northeast Assembly has yet to bring the bill up for debate.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 30, 2015

Tmthforu94 Resigns

Less than a month after taking office as Governor of the Mideast Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) has resigned from office and deregistered as a citizen of the Republic of Atlasia. The governor's resignation was prompted by accusations that he had concealed the true identity of former President Napoleon, who was banned from the forum earlier this week after moderators confirmed that his account was a sock for banned poster Alexander Hamilton. Per the Mideast Constitution, Lt. Governor TDAS04 (Lab-VA) has assumed the governorship, and has nominated former Assemblyman Bmotely (DR-IN) for Lt. Governor.
The accusations that led to Tmthforu94's resignation were leveled by Al Sibboleth, founder of the Transcendental Democratic Party and, like Tmthforu94, a former President of the Republic. Northeast Representative and former Labor Party chairman Adam Griffin, Midwest Regional Senator TNF, and At-Large Senator Lief soon joined those calling for action to be taken against Tmthforu94, though Griffin later claimed that all had been in jest after Tmthforu94 deregistered. None of the accusers were residents of the Mideast. By contrast, several prominent Mideasterners, including Associate Justice TJ, Speaker New Canadaland, and former Assemblyman Bmotely expressed sympathy with the governor's position and lamented the outcome of the controversy. Following Tmthforu94's resignation, the Mideast Matriot Militia expressed its intention to protect the region's officeholders from future attacks.

Assembly Debates Illegal Immigrants' Bill Of Rights

A bill introduced by Speaker New Canadaland (Lab-ON) that would grant limited rights to illegal immigrants residing in the Mideast is currently before the Assembly. The bill, proposed as a replacement to the existing Mideast Right to Life Act, would grant illegal immigrants the right to received emergency medical care within the Mideast and to get a driver's license in the Mideast, as well as prevent the deportation of said persons if their country of origin is in a state of civil war. The bill would also prevent the detention of non-criminal illegal immigrants under 14 years of age for longer than 24 hours. While an amendment offered by Assemblyman Earl A. Washburn (WSRP-ON) would prevent the deportation of any illegal immigrant without their consent, this suggestion is unlikely to be adopted. Governor TDAS04 is yet to comment on the legislation.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 31-February 1, 2014

Dr. Cynic Resigns As GM

After a tenure of nearly two months, Game Moderator Dr. Cynic (Ind-PA) announced his resignation earlier today, ending what many have termed a "fantastic" tenure in office. Citing recent personal troubles, the former president and At-Large Senator explained that he would be unable to find time to continue his public duties, but that he hoped to return sometime in the future. Commenting on his term in office, Cynic said that "I did my best at this job that I could. I didn't accomplish all that I'd wanted, but I did try very hard at making this all work and I'm confidant that with the right person this job will continue to work. I thank you guys for giving me the opportunity to prove that this is a viable office." IDS Speaker Maxwell, Associate Justice Oakvale, and others commended Cynic for his service and wished him well in his future ventures.

Mideast Record-Courier Endorses Cranberry For Pacific Senate

With less than three weeks to go before the upcoming federal elections Pacific Regional Senator Theodore Cranberry (TPP-OR) has the support of the Mideast Record-Courier in his bid for reelection. Though the Record-Courier does not usually insert itself into the politics of other regions, we feel strongly that Senator Cranberry is the better candidate in this race and wish to extend to him our full endorsement. During his tenure in the Senate, the Senator has proved to be a pragmatic voice whose primary concern is for the welfare of his constituents. His proposals for his second term are specific, innovative, and fresh, rather than the tired platitudes of "game reform" and "bipartisanship" that so often constitute a campaign. Additionally, his admirable tenure as the 34th President of Atlasia during the late civil conflict is enough to mark him as one of the great statesmen of this age. We hope the people of the Pacific will be so wise as to return him to his post.