'Group of 15' Reps. Petition Byelle To Increase Aid To Darfur

Group of lawmakers upset over lackluster charity funding

MAVOCKE--Even without the backing of Assembly leaders, 15 Nationalist representatives signed a letter petitioning President Byelle to allocate more dollars to help aid the war-torn region of Darfur in Sudan.

The "group of 15," as they are being called by the media, were led by Rep. Melissa Chavez-Hollings (DMG) and Rep. Stephanie Juarez-Mickas (MON). The group held a press conference at the Capitol Friday morning, simultaneously calling for more aid and attacking the Byelle Administration for neglecting the Darfur crisis.

"This Administration has failed the people of Darfur, and has ignored the human suffering for too long," Chavez-Hollings said.

Rep. Juarez-Mickas added, "The Administration has provided, at best, dismal aid to Darfur and has portrayed a disinterest in the suffering of the people of Darfur." She added that the Grassadellan government could afford to send much more aid to foreign countries if "we didn't spend billions of dollars on Iraq and Afghanistan."

Currently, the Grassadellan government gives $50 million monthy to over 60 war-torn and impoverished countries, Sudan among them. But the group of 15 argues that $50 million dollars distributed to 60 countries means each country receives very little in actual aid dollars, on average, just over $830,000. They want to increase aid money to all countries, but especially to Sudan.

Collester defended its funding policies, saying the group's attacks were 'unwarranted' and 'without reason.'

Reacting to the group's comments, Byelle Press Secretary David Arnett pointed out the Administration gives $50 Million monthly to various war-torn countries. He also pointed out that federal aid to foreign countries must be approved by Congress before the President can approve it.

"If they have a problem with the amount of funding in Darfur, then they should talk to [Rep.] Paul Leitcher (Assembly Min. Ldr.) and [Rep.] Bruce Cardinelli (Ast. Min. Ldr.)--they shouldn't be attacking the president," he said.

"All foreign aid has to be approved by both bodies, so instead of attacking the president for no reason, they should direct their anger to their leaders in the Assembly and House," Arnett added.

For Dlg. Jhinny Addelson (N-DES), who was the only delegate to join the group of 15 in signing the letter, Arnett's rebuttle was more rhetoric.

"We've already heard how it's not the Administration's fault, that it's Congress' fault," she told Mavocke's Capitol newspaper. "But it's not. It's just as much the president's fault as it is Congress'. And enough of the excuses."

Rep. Melynda Jazz (N-LIA), called the Administration's funding a 'shame' and Rep. Laura Kinley (N-LIA) said it was 'inexcusable' for the Grassadellan government to not act.

While the group of 15 had the backing of many NAT members of Congress, it did not have the full blessing of the Nationalist Party, as many nationalists, especially older members of the party, believe domestic needs should come before foreign aid.

"This idea that we should send millions of dollars to other countries is ridiculous, and it goes against the basic founding principles of the Nationalist Party. That's why it's called the 'Nationalist Party', because the founders of our party believed we should focus more on the homeland, more on domestic issues than on war and involvement in foreign nations," Rep. Joe Carlin (N-WEL) told Starksmin television station WSTZ-TV.

The Conservative Party's reaction to the group of 15 was split. Some members called for a compromise, saying that both Congress and the president shared fault for neglecting the Sudan crisis.

"This is something that I think the Administration and Congress have both failed on, and instead of pointing the finger and blaming each other, we need to come together and realize that we have all, to an extent, ignored or neglected the issue, and we need to, in an all-partisan way, solve the issue," Dlg. Dale Fulbright (C-ARA) told reporters outside the House chambers.

Other more hard-line members argued that the government should give little if any aid to foreign countries when the needs of the Grassadellan people are not being fully met.

"What are we doing sending foreign aid other countries who, many of which, don't even appreciate our help, when we have Grassadellans who are homeless, hungry, living in poverty, uneducated, roads that need repaired, hospitals that need equipment, and troops in harm's way?" asked Rep. Bernard Kessing (C-CEA).

Rep. Sharon Dackadett (C-WEL) added, "the Grassadellan government should first be taking care of the needs of our own people, of the Grassadellan people, before we start helping other countries. It's not fair to our citizens to give their money away to foreign countries when we could use that money for so many other things here at home."

The remaining eleven members of the group of 15 included representatives Derrick Godbrey (POG), Jordan Gorgon (ARA), Alex Korchimney (POG), Steve Krotin (CEA), Jim Mahenas (POG), Stephanie Manning (LIA), Rick Martes (POG), Allan Shepard (CEA), Dahmariche Michaelikov (DMG), Sabrina Yioshi (TRI), and Destiny Ubanite (LIA). All of them sent out e-mails to their supporters, urging constituents to write letters to and phone members of Congress to lobby for increased aid to Sudan.