Slooter Leaves Traditionalist Party, Now A Conservative

NWP senator switches from Traditionalist Party

GRANTHAM, NWP--New Portsmouth Senator J. Isaak Slooter, who made history last year after becoming the first Traditionalist elected to the Senate, is now leaving the party that helped launch his political career.

Mr. Slooter made the switch official today, after filing papers with New Portsmouth Secretary of State Richard Crux's office at the state capitol in Yanceyburg.

Sources close to the senator say he had been mulling a party-switch for months, in part because his Traditionalist affiliation hurt him in the politically moderate state of New Portsmouth, where most current office-holders are Nationalists or moderate Conservatives.

Slooter was also troubled by some radical factions of the Traditionalist Party, according to the sources. He was especially concerned that radical Christian fundamentalists might hijack the party and give the Traditionalist brand a bad name.

But critics say Slooter made the switch because the Conservative Party wanted to regain the majority in the Senate. Before his defection, both the NAT Party and the CNS Party held 43 seats each, with the NAT officially holding the majority because Vice President Don James is a Nationalist (in the event of a tie in the Senate, the vice president decides which party should be in the majority). Now, with Slooter's admission to the party, the CNS will hold a one-seat majority, 44-43. And the party's desire to regain the majority is precisely the reason Sen. Slooter made the defection, opponents say.

"The only reason Senator Slooter made this decision was because the Conservatives want to steal the majority," Sen. James Owen-Wilson (N-REM) said. "The Conservatives begged for him to join them, and he caved in to their pressure, pure and simple."

Not surprisingly, Conservatives praised Slooter's decision to join their ranks.

"We're happy to have him," Sen. Evelynn Blankenship of Veroche told STAR News. "Senator Slooter is a man of principle and is an extraordinary leader, and I don't think there's one person in our party who does not welcome his addition."

Sen. Slooter did not personally comment on his defection, but in a written statement, the senator said he made the switch after "considering several issues," and he felt his "goals and vision can best be accomplished" by joining the CNS party. The statement also denied majority control played a part in his decision, saying the senator does not "let partisan politics play a role in [his] decision-making process."

Slooter's switch means the Conservatives will now seize the majority in the Senate. Sen. George Landers (CEA) and Sen. Ty Jaimeson (CEA) will hold the Majority and Assistant Majority Leader posts. NAT senators Shay Robertson (DMG) and Bruce Kellney (TRI) will hold the Minority and Assistant Minority Leader positions, respectively.

Though the CNS will now officially have control of the Senate, their one-seat majority is hardly a guarantee the party's agenda will get passed, as seven Conservative senators are members of the moderate "Sideliner's Club." They include: Chuck Danbury (ARA), Robert Maclan (ARA), Victoria Albright (CEA), Ayden Benning (NWP), Niles Gilcrest (VER), Dick Ammons (HVN), and Andre "Bourret" Magiscanti (HVN).

With so many CNS senators willing to cross over to the NAT side, it's possible President Menuhaeo may have enough support to pass his economic stimulus package, which he is expected to introduce in two weeks.

Sherber Sworn In As New BIE Senator

Conservatives and Nationalists now evenly split in Senate with 43 seats each

MAVOCKE, CEA--The balance of power in the Senate has been finalized, after Conservative candidate Driscoll Sherber was officially sworn in today as the new senator from Biereland.

Mr. Sherber was sworn in by Vice President Don James at 11:13 a.m. on the Senate floor. He was accompanied by his wife Emily.

Sherber defeated Democratic-Reformist Julie Grendhau 52.65%-47.35% in Friday's run-off election, which was called after a three-way race in December between Sherber, Grendhau, and incumbent David Parker (NAT) gave no candidate the necessary 45% to be certified the winner.

Though not affiliated with the Nationalist Party, Grendhau received backing from top Nationalists and party officials. Sherber received widespread support from the CNS Party, particularly the conservative wing of the party. A strong last-minute spending-spree by the CNS, as well as a parade of popular party figures into the campaign, helped put Sherber edge out the liberal but well-known environmentalist and activist Grendhau.

Driscoll's victory makes the Senate evenly split between Conservatives and Nationalists, with both parties holding 43 seats. The remaining four seats are held by three Democratic-Reformists and one Traditionalist.

Though the parties are numerically tied, the Nationalist Party officially holds the majority, as Vice President James is also a Nationalist. The Grassadellan Constitution states that when two or more parties hold an equal amount of seats, whichever party the vice president belongs to will win the majority. If the vice president is not a member of any of the tied parties, he or she may choose which party they wish to hold the majority.

The balance of power could change, however, if New Portsmouth Senator Isaak Slooter (TA) chooses to join the Conservative Party and leave the Traditionalist Party. The addition of Slooter would give the CNS a 44-43 advantage, a mere one-seat edge. Rumors about Slooter's potential party-swap have been circulating for months now, but the senator's office has declined to comment.

For his part, Senator Sherber said he doesn't care about holding the majority as much as fixing the economy.

"I'm here to do the work of the people, and the first item on the agenda is getting our economy back up to strength," Sherber said. "I'm honored the people of Biereland have given me this opportunity to serve them and our country."

Menuhaeo's Stimulus Plan Will Work, Sommerheim Says

Billionaire banker says president's plan is 'the best plan proposed so far'

MADAGEN, CEA--Billionaire businessman Steven Sommerheim says President Menuhaeo's stimulus plan to spur economic growth is the "best plan proposed so far," according to the GBC.

Mr. Sommerheim, who is the founder and CEO of Nexford Corp., told the GBC Wednesday the president's stimulus plan will help create jobs amidst the nation's struggling economy.

"This stimulus plan will take the money the government is spending, and invest it in things like infrastructure and public works programs," Sommerheim told the GBC's Jason Dent. "It also puts money back into the hands of the Grassadellan people, which will help stimulate our economy."

The president also has several allies in Congress. Among the most vocal supporters of the stimulus package are Sens. Brian Brookes (N-CEA), Paul LeBouse (N-KLN), and Grace Kemp (N-TRI), who have made several appearances on television and radio shows to lobby for the spending plan's passage.

"It's critical that we act and we act quickly," Brookes told the STAR Radio Network. "And in order for this to be a successful stimulus package, we have to provide spending provisions for the national government as well as state and local governments."

Senator LeBouse also urged approval of the spending bill by the Bodies.

"The Grassadellan people are hurting, and the government must come to their aid immediately. We cannot afford to wait. We must take action now," LeBouse told the National Press Federation (NPF).

But critics of the president's proposed stimulus plan, worth $650 billion, say the package is too expensive, and does not include enough tax cuts. Conservative legislators say the stimulus package also contains funding for questionable spending projects.

"Should we really be using this money for research for things like insects and riverbeds? No, we shouldn't," Sen. Sam Byelle (C-CAR), told STAR Radio. "We shouldn't be spending tax-payer dollars on projects and programs that aren't absolutely necessary to our economic strength," Byelle said.

Sen. Jhana Schueler (C-BIE) was also skeptical the spending bill will work, telling GNN's Marie Watson Wednesday "the chances of this bill creating a substantial amount of new jobs is very slim."

While some Nationalists in Congress have announced their approval of the bill, many have reserved comment on the bill, largely in part because the final amount of special project-spending has not been determined yet.

"If the bill has a lot of special project-spending (SPS), many Nationalists won't support it," an NAT source, who asked not to be identified because of party protocol, told GNN News.

Some Conservatives, such as Sen. Robert Maclan (ARA) and Victoria Albright (CEA), have crossed party lines in support of President Menuhaeo's plan. But most CNS senators remain opposed to the bill.

"I don't foresee a compromise on this bill unless the administration cuts back on SPS and inserts more tax cuts into the bill," Sen. Newton Jeffs (C-WIK) said Wednesday.

Finance Secretary Jay Goodling said he will work as a "deal broker" between the president and members of Congress.

"Part of my job as Finance Secretary is to reach a compromise on issues like this, and I expect that will be my role in the coming weeks," Goodling said at a press conference Tuesday.

Collester Press Secretary Adam Kolbert called the bill "vital to the nation's long-term economic viability," but said the president himself will not comment on the bill in the next few days.

Antonnage Creates PAC

Former delegate says PAC is not precursor to campaign

PROVINCETOWN, WIK--Former Sen. Marie Antonnage (C-POG) has created a new political action committee (PAC) that will focus on supporting conservative candidates in legislative and executive races nation-wide. But the former senator insists the PAC is not a step toward running for office herself.

The PAC, called "Common-Sense Conservatism," (CSC-PAC) will focus on endorsing and fundraising for candidates who support conservative principles on issues such as fiscal responsibility, military strength, national security, and economic policy. A spokeswoman for Senator Antonnage said the PAC will endorse candidates from all political parties, as long as the candidates' views match up with the organization's principles.

"CSC-PAC is focused on supporting common-sense politicians. It doesn't matter if you're a Conservative or a Nationalist or a Democratic-Reformist. If you support common-sense solutions to the problems our country is facing, we will help support you in the political arena," Jerri Adkins said.

The creation of CSC-PAC raises questions about Senator Antonnage, who vacated her Senate seat in POG last year to run for the Senate in her native-Wilkonshire. Antonnage lost to NAT Sylvea Stone in Wilkonshire's special election, and then lost again to NAT Sen. Tom O'Hearn. Recent rumors have suggested Antonnage, who remains popular in her former constituency POG, may make a third run to reclaim a seat in the Senate by holding a rematch with Stone in 2010. Other political insiders have suggested Antonnage may return to POG to run for the seat currently held by fellow Conservative Shannon Barbieri, who is not expected to seek reelection in 2010.

But Antonnage denied those rumors on GNN's Sunday Tea news program. When asked by host Allison Gerlach if she was using the PAC as a stepping-stone to running for the Senate, Ms. Antonnage down-played the organization's significance.

"I know a lot of people are saying this is a 'stepping-stone,' but just because I created a political action committee does not mean I am running for the Senate or for any other program," Antonnage said.

But sources within the CNS party say many party insiders are privately urging Antonnage to seek office in 2010.

"They want her back, because she was really an effective senator, and she has an ability to bring nationalists and conservatives together," one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told GNN News.

Antonnage's office has declined to comment further on the PAC. The senator will hold a ceremony in Provincetown Wednesday to welcome the inception of the organization.

Dozens Hurt In Brookings Train Derailment

Only minor injuries reported

BROOKINGS, BIE--More than two dozen people were taken to local hospitals Sunday evening when a light rail train derailed at an underground station in Brookings, a spokesman for the Brookings-Sebotnee Rail agency said.

The accident occurred at the Wortherton Street station, on the east side of downtown Brookings, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Emergency crews immediately descended on the scene, blocking off traffic to the area for over three hours.

Ron Senn, spokesman for Brookings-Sebotnee Rail, said 131 passengers were on-board the eight-car train at the time of the accident, 27 of which were sent to local hospitals, most for minor injuries. Senn told GNN News none of the injuries were life-threatening.

"To my knowledge, none of the 27 people injured in the accident are critically injured," Senn said.

Emergency crews confirm that 27 people were taken to area hospitals. According to Brookings Police, the most severe injuries were a concussion and a fractured leg. Most of the injured suffered smoke inhalation and mild abrasions, and almost all have been released.

Investigators from the Biereland Transportation Department are trying to determine the cause of the crash. Officials believe a malfunction in the train's hydraulics system may have led to the derailment, which left the front two cars off the track and the other six buckled or compressed in an accordion-style position.

The affected portion of the city's underground light rail system will be closed indefinitely, while officials continue their investigation and construction crews rebuild the line.