NAT forms coalition with D-R, Independent members
MAVOCKE--The Nationalist Party has successfully formed a coalition in the Senate, after more than a week of negotiations.
Democratic-Reformist Senators Sheila Crouwsky of POG and Julie Wynmyer of Carova, as well as newly-elected Independent Senator George Reedsworth of Trinton, have all agreed to join the NAT coalition.
The NAT currently holds 46 of the Senate's 95 seats. With the addition of Crouwsky, Wynmyer and Reedsworth, that gives the NAT 49 seats, enough to make a majority.
That means for the first time in ten years, the NAT will control the Senate, albeit narrowly. The Conservatives hold 44 seats, and Democratic-Reformist William J. Locke of Monomi and Conservative-turned-Independent Niles Gilcrest of Veroche have agreed to caucus with the CNS, giving the Senate a 49-46 split.
Crouwsky's liberal record meant it was a given she would join the NAT, as she has done in the past. But the NAT successfully persuaded Wynmyer, who previously caucused with the Conservatives, to join their ranks. And Reedsworth pledged during his campaign he would stick with the Conservative Party, even after losing out in the CNS primary election. But the veteran assemblyman-turned senator now says he has to "do what's right for the people of Trinton."
"The Nationalists offered me a valuable spot on the Senate Defense Committee. This is a very important position, both for me and for the people of my state. I owe it to the people of Trinton to best serve them, and I can do that by landing an influential seat on an important committee," Reedsworth said.
Wynmyer, whose conservative voting record made her an unlikely partner with the NAT, made clear she openly disagrees with the Nationalist Party on many issues.
"We don't agree on everything. I know that and they know that. We're walking into this with everything on the table. I've already told them that I will not vote with them on everything. In fact, there will be quite a bit that I vote Conservative on, because I am an independent-minded leader. I don't side with one party or the other. I think good ideas come from all parties, and I'm going to work with whichever party is most willing to give me and my state a chance," Wynmyer told the NPF.
The Nationalists also tried to convince Veroche Sen. Niles Gilcrest, an Independent who lost his re-election bid in the CNS primary but won the general election, to come over to their side. But Gilcrest, who has disenchanted many Conservatives, already promised he would caucus with the CNS, and told the GBC he would not go back on his word.
"I am a man of my word, and when I say I'm going to stay with the Conservatives, I mean that. I am a Conservative at heart and I believe their agenda is more in tune with what the people of Grassadellia and my home state of Veroche want," Gilcrest said.
The NAT will now have to elect a new Senate Majority Leader. Current Minority Leader Shay Robertson of Damoign will stand for election. Senators John Morandi of Lial, Paul LeBouse of Kalnier, Paul Leitcher of Wellington, Jean Chaveau of Damoign, and John Yannes of POG are all expected to contend for the position as well.
MAVOCKE--The Nationalist Party has successfully formed a coalition in the Senate, after more than a week of negotiations.
Democratic-Reformist Senators Sheila Crouwsky of POG and Julie Wynmyer of Carova, as well as newly-elected Independent Senator George Reedsworth of Trinton, have all agreed to join the NAT coalition.
The NAT currently holds 46 of the Senate's 95 seats. With the addition of Crouwsky, Wynmyer and Reedsworth, that gives the NAT 49 seats, enough to make a majority.
That means for the first time in ten years, the NAT will control the Senate, albeit narrowly. The Conservatives hold 44 seats, and Democratic-Reformist William J. Locke of Monomi and Conservative-turned-Independent Niles Gilcrest of Veroche have agreed to caucus with the CNS, giving the Senate a 49-46 split.
Crouwsky's liberal record meant it was a given she would join the NAT, as she has done in the past. But the NAT successfully persuaded Wynmyer, who previously caucused with the Conservatives, to join their ranks. And Reedsworth pledged during his campaign he would stick with the Conservative Party, even after losing out in the CNS primary election. But the veteran assemblyman-turned senator now says he has to "do what's right for the people of Trinton."
"The Nationalists offered me a valuable spot on the Senate Defense Committee. This is a very important position, both for me and for the people of my state. I owe it to the people of Trinton to best serve them, and I can do that by landing an influential seat on an important committee," Reedsworth said.
Wynmyer, whose conservative voting record made her an unlikely partner with the NAT, made clear she openly disagrees with the Nationalist Party on many issues.
"We don't agree on everything. I know that and they know that. We're walking into this with everything on the table. I've already told them that I will not vote with them on everything. In fact, there will be quite a bit that I vote Conservative on, because I am an independent-minded leader. I don't side with one party or the other. I think good ideas come from all parties, and I'm going to work with whichever party is most willing to give me and my state a chance," Wynmyer told the NPF.
The Nationalists also tried to convince Veroche Sen. Niles Gilcrest, an Independent who lost his re-election bid in the CNS primary but won the general election, to come over to their side. But Gilcrest, who has disenchanted many Conservatives, already promised he would caucus with the CNS, and told the GBC he would not go back on his word.
"I am a man of my word, and when I say I'm going to stay with the Conservatives, I mean that. I am a Conservative at heart and I believe their agenda is more in tune with what the people of Grassadellia and my home state of Veroche want," Gilcrest said.
The NAT will now have to elect a new Senate Majority Leader. Current Minority Leader Shay Robertson of Damoign will stand for election. Senators John Morandi of Lial, Paul LeBouse of Kalnier, Paul Leitcher of Wellington, Jean Chaveau of Damoign, and John Yannes of POG are all expected to contend for the position as well.
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