Washington 2017: The U.S. Political RP IC-Volume II (OPEN)

[Federal States of Xathuecia]

Scotty Marlowe @BeamMeUpScotty L.A.'s version of the Clean New Deal is going to mean helping reduce our carbon footprint while also uplifting low-income communities. For those reasons, expanding access to solar energy is a must! I plan to introduce a city resolution to provide government subsidies for L.A.'s low-income areas to make it feasible for these Angelenos to install rooftop panels.

Scotty Marlowe @BeamMeUpScotty This will cut their energy bills over time, allowing more of their money to stay in their pockets to help them make end's meet. It will also commence my administration's efforts to ensure that going green and reducing greenhouse emissions is not limited by your income.

Scotty Marlowe @BeamMeUpScotty In addition, I hope to pass a similar resolution to offer tax credits and subsidies to LAUSD schools for their administrations to install solar panels on their properties. The saved monies from the energy bills will help free up more funds to be reinvested into schools, especially helping low-income area schools were the funds can help hire more teachers and develop essential programs.

Scotty Marlowe @BeamMeUpScotty These proposals will seek to help not only take the money going to support the fossil fuel industry but to reinvest them back into communities who need it the most. And to meet my bold goal of helping Los Angeles reach 30% renewable energy by the year 2020. We can do it if we are willing to address climate change head on...this is our hour!

[Dentali]

(Image) Scotty Marlowe @BeamMeUpScotty L.A.'s version of the Clean New Deal is going to mean helping reduce our carbon footprint while also uplifting low-income communities. For those reasons, expanding access to solar energy is a must! I plan to introduce a city resolution to provide government subsidies for L.A.'s low-income areas to make it feasible for these Angelenos to install rooftop panels. (Image)

(Image) Scotty Marlowe @BeamMeUpScotty This will cut their energy bills over time, allowing more of their money to stay in their pockets to help them make end's meet. It will also commence my administration's efforts to ensure that going green and reducing greenhouse emissions is not limited by your income. (Image)

(Image) Scotty Marlowe @BeamMeUpScotty In addition, I hope to pass a similar resolution to offer tax credits and subsidies to LAUSD schools for their administrations to install solar panels on their properties. The saved monies from the energy bills will help free up more funds to be reinvested into schools, especially helping low-income area schools were the funds can help hire more teachers and develop essential programs. (Image)

(Image) Scotty Marlowe @BeamMeUpScotty These proposals will seek to help not only take the money going to support the fossil fuel industry but to reinvest them back into communities who need it the most. And to meet my bold goal of helping Los Angeles reach 30% renewable energy by the year 2020. We can do it if we are willing to address climate change head on...this is our hour! (Image)

Congressman Jason Samara
@JSam8

@BeamMeUpScotty the next time you are in Washington i'd love to talk with you how we can bring the Clean New Deal to the entire country.

[Tumblrena]

Honolulu, Hawaii

International Marketplace

1807

Saturday

1 July

2017

McGareth is in Honolulu for the weekend after the flight on Friday as usual but today is spending some time not alone with his girlfriend Katherine just arriving for her shore leave before the Fourth of July.

Their walking around Honolulu and letting Katherine resee the sights one more time is very casual but there is a tension in it that McGareth does not understand. Their conversation is normal but it does not have the liveliness or smoothness the it usually does and there is an awkwardness that keeps coming back up in lulls in conversation that makes it feel like it is a first date instead of a going out between two people who have been together for years. They exit the International Marketplace where McGareth purchased a small glass monkey figurine to give to Katherine and finally walking down the street Katharine turns to face her boyfriend.

"We need to talk Sam."

"OK. Go ahead." McGareth says in a normal tone not suspecting anything is wrong.

Katharine breaths out a long breath preparing herself but does not say anything as she tries to find the right words.

"Is something wrong?" McGareth asks.

"I don't know. Is something wrong?" Katharine asks meaningfully.

"I don't think so. Was it that shrimp?"

"So you don't see anything wrong."

"No. Do you?" McGareth frowns and briefly glances around wondering where she is going with this.

"I'm not talking about tonight. Do you think that there is something wrong here?" Katherine gestures between herself and her boyfriend.

"Is this about our relationship? I think it's been going great. I know that sometimes it can be long distance with your deployments but I think it is all going very well. The gaps are not the best but it is great to be with you on your shore leaves. Haven't you been enjoying them?" McGareth asks.

Katharine sighs deeply. "Yes, the shore leaves have been just fine. They've been great."

"Then what is the problem? To me it sounds like we have a great system going." McGareth says.

Katharine scowls. "A system, of course you would call it a system. A very efficient system to get you what you want all set up very nicely to work out just fantastically for you."

McGareth is still trying to catch up in the conversation but sees that it is escalating. He puts a hand on Katharine's shoulder.

"Let's not talk about this out here." He says glancing around. He uses the hand to guide her and him into a nearby department store. Katharine does not waste any time and swiftly and dexterously picks up a shirt off a rack and heads right for the changing rooms where McGareth follows her. He closes the door and locks it while she turns around to face him and continues.

"D*** it Sam. Your "system" is crap."

McGareth is defensive. "I thought this was our system and you have never had a problem with it before. We have been boyfriend and girlfriend for years like this and you have not complained. We have times together that are spaced apart but they are fun times when we're not. Why would this Senate election be making you unhappy? There is very little change except sometimes on some weekdays and I have taken off time with you and we have even had events out in the East."

"I never said that your election had anything to do with any of this, that is all just you assuming." Katharine says and continues.

"So fine, this has been great and fun and we've been doing it for years now, it has been over ten years since we met and you don't see a problem with that?" She asks.

"Why would I see a problem with that? You just said it has all been great and fun!" McGareth says indignantly.

"Of course you don't get it, you're so oblivious. I don't know how you got anything done as a detective. Your "system" isn't working."

"Well then what do you want from it?" McGareth asks.

"That right there. You just showed the problem. You should know what I want by now and should know me enough to know what I am looking for. I don't know if you are blind because you are really just oblivious or because you do not care about this any more than getting a steady hookup on a port call to try to find out." Katharine says cuttingly.

"Hey I remember there being two of us in this relationship." McGareth says now very defensively and partially accusingly.

"This is a "we" not an "I" and I think that we have both been enjoying us being together!" McGareth pauses as he tries to un-tonguetie his pronouns.

Katharine shakes her head definitively. "No Sam, this is not a "we" anymore. I'm pulling out. I can't do this anymore. I know that you could find a way to find me but don't. Don't even try to come back until you finally start looking at things from someone else's perspective besides your own and maybe then your "system" can actually turn into something real. But I doubt you'll even make it past step one."

Katharine pushes the shirt into McGareth's chest forcefully and unlocks the door of the changing room.

"Stop calling it a system, you are the only one calling it a system this is supposed to be a relationship!" McGareth says but Katharine turns the lock without looking back and walks out without another word leaving McGareth in the changing room alone with a woman's shirt in his hands still trying to figure out what has gone wrong.

[Dentali]

Glen Anderson Campaign Stop #35
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County



Amanda and Glen walked together in the Streets of Philadelphia, lighted by the lampposts lining the sidewalk, they just had dinner together and were now walking back to their hotel resisting the urge to hold hands.

A: “Your speech tomorrow”

G: “We said no talking shop”

A: “Glen your speech is going to be vital to the campaign”

G: “I know that, but thats tomorrow. This is one of our only nights for each other lets not talk work.”

A: “Healthcare is going to be THE ISSUE of the election, your healthcare plan can make or break you we need to talk about it.”

G: “Amanda we have been at this for months one more conversation isn’t going to help.”

Glen believed strongly in Conservative alternatives to problems championed by progressives. Yes the ACA was terrible but healthcare before then needed reform and the Republicans didn’t present an alternative, time and time again the progressives were the only ones talking about to solutions to real problems.

He would present his comprehensive healthcare plan at a policy meeting of Pennsylvania Republicans in Philadelphia, it was a collection of intellectuals, policy makers, writers, local politicians and conservative activists in the state and in the region, after he unveiled the policy in the speech the details would be posted on his website.

Hello thank you for hosting me today, i’ve been coming here for many years and I am honored with the opportunity to speak to you all. I am here today to unveil the details of “The Commonwealth Health Care Choices Plan” which has been crafted with great care without regards to party politics, it has input and review from experts from across the political spectrum and was developed using evidence based metrics. The goal is to provide the highest quality care and innovation at the lowest cost possible.

Health care reform should be a patient-centered, market-based alternative that empowers individuals to control the dollars and decisions regarding their health care. Our goal is lower costs, better access and expanded personal choice. This will not be a singular legislative event, a single measure. The first step is to stop the damages of Winstoncare.

Changing course will require our state to chart a new path that will guarantee robust personal choice and market competition; legalize affordable health insurance while protecting the poor and the sick; and allow health plans and medical professionals to pursue greater innovation, higher quality, and economic efficiency in care delivery.

The good news about the RLSA is that it allows us to restore state authority over critical regulations and gives us the ability to adjust insurance rules to our own market conditions. We can do things like reform nurse practitioner regulations to give them full practice authority which would drastically lower the prices for healthcare.

The first thing I can assure you all is that their will be no individual mandate requiring you get the insurance. Secondly I pledge that every state agency under my governorship will begin reinterpreting and reviewing existing regulations to promote choice and competition in the health care system. Association Health Plans, Limited Duration Insurance and Health Reimbursement Arrangements, will be focused on in particular.

We will eliminate all current spending schemes and instead use a flexible block grant system, at least half of the funding MUST be used for coverage of low income populations and the other half to support private coverage. We will use reinsurance programs and other similar mechanisms to help offset the costs of expensive medical conditions.

If you are on Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program you will be able to direct your funding to the private coverage of your choosing. And the grant program will include the Pro-Life Protections that prohibit the funding of abortion in CHIP unless in the cases of Rape, Incest or for the legitimate physical health of the mother.

We will not have a single-risk-pool requirement, and therefore we will have variation on product price. We however are not going to abandon those with expensive conditions, they will still receive extensive support, it will just not be in the same risk pool. This drastically lowers premiums in the insurance market.

The ACA limited age variation of premiums for adults to a maximum ratio of three-to-one. Meaning, for the same plan, an insurer is not permitted to charge a 64-year-old a rate that is more than three times the rate for a 19-year-old. Analysis has found that this federal requirement lowered premiums by 10 percent to 15 percent for those between 50 and 64 years of age, but increased premiums for younger adults by about one-third. We will ensure this is not the case in our health plan.

The ACA set the minimum share of premium income that an insurer must spend on claims costs. This federal requirement perversely discouraged insurers from spending money to limit claim payments. It also created a barrier to new insurers entering the market and to existing insurers expanding into new markets, because it did not account for the higher administrative costs associated with the initial years of such expansions. We will do away with such reckless regulations.
The Commonwealth Health Care Choices Plan would ensure that individuals and families have the final say in the type of coverage they receive. Citizens would have the ability to take the value of their state subsidy and apply it toward any private coverage for which they were otherwise eligible, such as a plan offered by an insurer, an employer, or an association, including health plans sponsored by professional or faith-based organizations, or health plans that included a direct primary care component.
Our state will commit to price transparency and quality measurements that are meaningful and easily understood. We will create an independent agency responsible to the consumers whose purpose will be to provide the most accurate up to date and accessible health care information possible. In short we are going to make health services more “shoppable”, and making the healthcare market more competitive helps the market overall.
In developing this plan we looked at examples from around the world. For example in Switzerland most Swiss purchase health savings accounts, giving the Swiss more consumer control than could ever be imagined in the U.S. Due to these consumer controls of health care purchasing and consistent cost-sharing, they pay 40 percent less for a comparable level of health care to the U.S., with consumers generally being responsible for 20 percent of the cost. A review of the Swiss health care system published in JAMA concluded, “Cost control may be attributed to the Swiss consumer’s significant role in health care payments and the resulting cost transparency.”
Singapore is arguably the best health care system, ranked sixth in the world in the WHO Quality of Care and second only to Hong Kong in efficiency while paying about one-fifth of what Americans pay for health care. Often referred to as a socialized health care system because everyone is required to purchase a Health Savings Account (HSA), it is also the most free-market oriented system in the world, as patients are aware of costs and can use their HSA money to shop around for the best value for their health. We will not be requiring people to purchase health insurance but we can learn a lot from their HSA system. The key to success of our system is the widespread use of HSAs, where consumers have ultimate control when combined with price transparency.
The model that works in other countries, utilizing HSAs for routine care combined with a high deductible plan for emergency coverage, and it is the kind of healthcare I want to help bring to Pennsylvania. Regulations would be needed that allow consumer choice, including price transparency, and prevent the grossly inflated arbitrary pricing of hospitals, laboratories and drug companies that are different depending on who is buying. Thus, requirements that those supplying the product or service post their prices and cannot charge different amounts to consumers based on insurance coverage or carrier will be needed.

We will reform our current HSA system in several ways, firstly we will increase the maximum annual HSA contribution limit for individuals from $3,050 to $9,000, and for families it will be raised from $6,150 to $18,000. Catch up contributions for individuals over 55 will be increased from $1,000 to $3,000, spouses will be able to make catch-up contributions to the same HSA. Additionally HSAs will be allowed to pay for healthcare premiums.

We will also be reforming Medicaid, placing a per capita-based cap on medicaid payments, and changing how we make decisions relating to Disproportionate Share Hospitals by changing the calculation from per Medicaid enrollee to per uninsured. Medicaid eligibility will be redetermined every 6 months for eligible individuals through the Medicaid expansion with an income over 133% of the FPL.

Those who are not disabled, elderly or pregnant must satisfy a work requirement as a condition for Medicaid. 20 hours a week will be required and defined as unsubsidized employment; subsidized private-sector employment; subsidized public-sector employment; work experience (including work associated with the refurbishing of publicly assisted housing) if sufficient private-sector employment is not available; on-the-job training; job search and job readiness assistance; community service programs; vocational educational training (not to exceed 12 months with respect to any individual); job skills training directly related to employment; education directly related to employment, in the case of a recipient who has not received a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency; satisfactory attendance at secondary school or a course of study leading to a certificate of general equivalence, in the case of a recipient who has not completed secondary school or received such a certificate; and the provision of child-care services to an individual who is participating in a community service program.

Those exempted from the work requirements include pregnant women for the duration of the pregnancy through the end of the month in which the 60 day postpartum period ends, those under 19 years of age, individuals who are the sole parent or caretaker of a child under the age of 6, a child with disabilities or an individual who is under the age of 20, the head of household who maintains satisfactory attendance in school or employment related education.

We also need to reform how we treat health related tax credits and selected coverage provisions. We need to reduce subsidies for nongroup health insurance, and change the income eligibility for premium credit income up to 350% FPL and only for individuals without access to employer sponsored coverage. We will be replacing the plan we use to determine the amount of credit with a benchmark plan of 58% and a premium that is the medium of all QHPs with a value of 58% in the local area. Anyone eligible for the tax credit may apply the credit towards purchasing a catastrophic plan.

A fund will be created that will make payments to specified health insurance issuers for the associated costs of covering high risk individuals. To qualify an issuer must offer sufficient minimum coverage on the exchange that is subject to title 1 mandates. Anyone in the individual market would be allowed to purchase a lower-premium health insurance plan including those with federal tax credit assistance.

Our reforms for Tax Credits make for a much more targeted system, that will help cut down the cost of purchasing insurance. Advancable and refundable credits will be adjusted for income, age and geography to help ensure those who need assistance can afford a quality plan.

When it comes to taxes we will be repealing or drastically reducing the costly Winstoncare taxes that contributed to premium increases and hurt life saving innovations. This includes taxes on health insurance, prescriptions, medical devices and ‘high cost’ employer plans. We will end penalty payments from employers and the uninsured, cut taxes on on manufactures and the excise taxes of the ACA, eliminate the individual mandate, cut the cadillac tax and the tax on employee health insurance premiums and health plan benefits. Taxes on over the counter medications will be cut, on prescription medication eliminated, medical devices and health insurance. And the tax on Chronic Care eliminated.

Now if a public health emergency is declared, like the opioid crisis…. State medical assistance expenditures will not be counted toward the per capita caps or block grant allocations while the emergency is ongoing. Additionally grants to support treatment and recovery services will be provided for individuals who have substance abuse problems over the next 8 years.

As governor this is the path I want to take with healthcare, a plan that provides the most coverage at the lowest cost, that provides choice and competition to consumers, that supports relies on real evidence based metrics to help pricing and providing the best quality care. This is not an overnight change, this is not going to be one bill, there is no magic wand we can wave to solve our healthcare problems but “The Commonwealth Health Care Choices Plan” will go a long way to reducing costs and increasing care in our state. Thank you, God bless.

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

Antonio De Nieto
@SFRep

---

"Moderate" Republican Glen Anderson admitted on live television that he is going to bring back the high risk pools. Anyone who has preexisting conditions will see their deductibles go up, their premiums skyrocket, and their insurance coverage be reduced to catastrophic coverage.

---

Antonio De Nieto
@SFRep

---

Medical insurance works by having people pay into the pool when they are healthy, and take from the pool when they are sick. The fact that Congressman Anderson does not understand that fundamental concept is very concerning.

---

Antonio De Nieto
@SFRep

---

Under his plan seniors would be unable to pay for higher insurance premiums or suffer drastically reduced coverage. Medical bankruptcy would be inevitable for many of them. That in turn would mean those citizens would lose everything that they spent their life working toward.

---

[Dentali]

Congressman Glen Anderson
@AndersonPA17

@SFRep thank you for your feedback, please allow me to elaborate. The high risk pools will be generously subsidized to ensure premiums and yearly out of pocket are comparable to people without pre-existing conditions. We are also going to make sure that what falls under ‘pre-existing conditions’ is narrow so people can’t be denied coverage or charged exorbitant fees for something they can't control. It will be similar to Maine’s invisible high-risk pool which cut premiums in half in 2011. I’d love to hear how Governor Brantley’s Healthcare plan handles pre-existing conditions.

[Dentali]

Glen Anderson Campaign Stop #37
Cherry Township, Sullivan County



“6,428 people?” Glen’s aide said as they sat in the back of the bus “That’s it? Why are we here?” Anderson gave a small smile while sipping coffee “every vote counts”, truth was when it came to the general election Anderson would win the County with little no no problem, and even if he didn’t it wouldn’t matter. These votes didn’t count and if he hadn’t pledged to visit all 67 counties in Pennsylvania he wouldn’t be here.

With the county be so rural and lightly populated it would be difficult to reach a large swath of the population so instead opted to visit several of the dairy farms in the area and the large private hunting club “Painter Den Inc.” where he assured the members that he supported the second amendment and the tradition of hunting, leaving out his personal distaste.

After spending the day traveling the County he gave a night time indoor rally at Cherry Township.

"Thank you all for being here today, and for caring enough about our great state to be involved in this effort to Get Pennsylvania Working for the better. This is an incredible turnout and its truly humbling.”

“Let me begin by introducing myself, I am Congressman Glen Anderson I was born in Lebanon and I have devoted my life to public service. Since I first start representing the 17th district in 2012 I have constantly asked myself, ‘how do I best serve my state?’ Searching for an answer to that question I have traveled to every corner of the state, from my alma mater Penn State, to the streets of Philadelphia, the rusted factories of Erie, to the farms of Lancaster I have consistently traveled and spoke to countless residents of our state, people from all walks of life about their concerns and hopes.”

“The common theme I've been hearing is frustration. People everywhere see a real disconnect between Harrisburg and the rest of Pennsylvania. We feel that not only are our elected leaders not solving the serious problems that face us, but that they are actually causing the problems, and making things worse.”

“The average Pennsylvanian sees a governor and a legislature willing to impose record tax increases on the rest of us that we don't need, don't want, and simply cannot afford.”

“We are perfectly situated to become the strongest state in the union, a economic powerhouse. 1/3rd of our nation’s population is within a 24 hour drive, we have a strong work ethic, our universities are leading advanced research that will change the way we live, and yet every day I see our state hemorrhaging jobs, businesses, and taxpayers at an alarming rate, with no discernible response, or action from Harrisburg other than imposing more taxes and stressing our economy to the breaking point.”

“Regardless of party the people of our state constantly tell me we are heading in the wrong direction, and through all my discussions, my travels across the state and country it has become abundantly clear that our state cannot change direction without changing governors, that is why I am running for governor, to get Pennsylvania working again, I refuse to accept the status quo, the politics as usual.”

“Let me tell you what i stand for... I’m proud to say that in during my tenure in congress, i’ve fought to expand healthcare to our first responders, I have championed education, supporting Education Savings Accounts and merit pay for teachers. Just this year I introduced bills in Congress designed to strengthen our pediatric workforce, to protect and encourage innovation for small businesses, to reform onerous regulations stifling the growth of our communities, and to start a grant program to rehabilitate our crumbling schools. I proudly introduced the “21st Century Agriculture Act of 2017” which will revolutionize how we farm and improving quality of life across the state. I’m Pro-Life, Pro-Free Speech, Pro-Second Amendment, Pro-Student, Pro-Small Business and Firmly against the bloated government and fiscal irresponsibility of Harrisburg.”

“As it stands today Harrisburg has 150,000 pages worth of regulations that impact business and every single citizen, we have a heroin and opioid crisis, we have a skilled labor crisis, we have an economy has stay flat for years under the current administration. And for every problem facing our state, the current administration seems to only find one solution… raise taxes.”

“Harrisburg looks out for itself not the state, from day one as governor I will push to cut property taxes, cut wasteful spending and work to create a more efficient government in Harrisburg that works for the people of our state. I pledge that as your governor I will begin a policy of zero based budgeting, we will track every dollar being spent and we will treat with respect every single one. Despite claims to the contrary I can tell you that Harrisburg does not have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem, and today I am calling on the state legislature to begin working on a taxpayer bill of rights.”

“We're standing up for the thousands of Pennsylvanians who are losing their pensions because of politics and incompetence. We're standing up for the Pennsylvanian’s who have lost their jobs and we're standing up for their families who are struggling to make ends meet. We're standing up for those thousands of small business owners who have closed their doors, and the thousands of others who are struggling just to keep them open.”

“I know the anxiety you all are feeling, I have a young daughter myself. She wants to grow up to be a dentist, and I want to not only make sure she can go to college and pursue her dream but that their will be good jobs and economic security when she graduates. Jobs will come from a healthy modernized economy not one built behind barriers to growth or handouts to a privileged few through corporate welfare. In congress I have made my first priority the economic security for families, that is something I will continue as governor, building a 21st century economy where people can work hard not just to get by but to thrive and give their children a better life then they had.”

“You feel like they live in the forgotten land, that no one understands what a blue-collar, working-class family has to go through in Pennsylvania today. You’re good, hard-working people, and ready for a change."

“A few weeks ago I was speaking with some of my fellow congress members from Florida. They told me of Dorothy Famiano and her kids Danielle and Nicholas. Nicholas was born with a condition called spina bifida and is confined to a wheelchair, Danielle has autism and cerebral palsy, and they were both in the foster care program. Dorothy looked at these kids and where others may have seen challenge raising children with special needs instead only saw love and adopted the pair. Today Danielle and Nicholas are thriving teenagers with lives more promising than anyone could have expected.”

“Dorothy deserves all the praise and credit in the world for her actions, but she had hardships raising these kids. The public school system didn’t work for them, there was no place to put them, placed in classrooms overfilled with students that had severe behavioral issues it was not a environment where they could learn or thrive. It wasn’t until Dorothy learned about the Gardiner Scholarship that things turned around. The scholarship was specifically for children with special needs, applying through the Step Up for Students program the Scholarship gave her the ability to homeschool her children, letting her teach her children at their own pace and meeting their needs, from there her kids blossomed and made great progress.”

“Dorothy said ‘They have gifts that aren’t necessarily discovered in a classroom setting. I saw that potential in them from the first time I met them. The success my children are enjoying is due to the fact the Gardiner Scholarship is geared towards each child’s strength. It’s the personalized learning experience that has made it so successful. A lot of people don’t understand this.’”

“Thousands of students in our state face the same challenges that Dorothy’s kids faced. Programs similar to the Gardiner Scholarship program could prove a turning point in the education and development for our children. We need Education Savings Accounts, programs where parents can provide children with the education that best suits them, tuition, special needs services, curriculum and more can be funded based on the individual needs of the kids. This is educational innovation, this is bringing closer to bringing education into the 21st century, people demand choice in every area of life, education should not be the exception.”

“Six States have already enacted ESA’s and families are extremely satisfied with the results, over a 90% satisfaction rate. Empowering parents is a necessity to improving education, and ESAs promise to improve the lives of student by letting parents choose what’s best for their child.”

“Pennsylvania was once the leader in education choice, in 2011 the tax credit cap for EITC scholarships here was $60 million, it served 38,000 students the most in the country, Florida served 29,000 students. Audits of the program have found it saves billions for taxpayers and provides better education for the students through school choice and empowering parents. Now Florida serves 107,000 students while Pennsylvania doesn’t serve half that many, and is forced to turn down thousands every year. The EITC should not be arbitrarily capped but should be based on demand. As governor I will pursue legislation to increase tax credits automatically if 90% of available credits were claimed in the previous year. I will not allow partisan political skirmishes disrupt valuable programs as we have seen too often in the past.”

“School Choice and Education Savings Accounts put choice back in the hands of parents, they provide an escape route from failing and violent schools, they save money and lead to smaller class sizes, they give lower income families the same options as upper income families, and they force schools to improve to attract students. Perhaps most importantly it rejects the notion of a “One-Size-Fits-All” education, it creates diverse schools that respond to the needs of the children instead of forcing children to respond to the needs of a rigid curriculum.”

“ For towns like this I wrote the Student Fiscal Literacy Act, supports schools that try and teach their students practical financial literacy, how to balance a checkbook, save for the future and make smart financial choices that let them pursue the American dream. Its for towns like this that I wrote legislation like the 21st Century Agriculture Act, which amends the tax code to reflect the modern realities of farming, lowering the cost of doing business and making things easier, a goal I will continue as your governor. ”

“For towns like this I authored the Save Local and Small Business Act, which rewrote regulations a rules governing businesses on main street, making it easier to do business, lowering taxes and increasing investment in the small businesses that need and deserve it the most. It reforms the worst parts of Dodd-Frank, that have so badly impacted small banks and businesses and made it easier for entrepreneurs to get loans.”

“For towns like this I wrote the Invent and Manufacture in America Act, which promotes and protects manufacturers in America, not just helping keep our job right here in Pennsylvania, but beginning the process of bringing them back home.”

“For kids like ours I wrote the Educational Facility Rehabilitation Act, a bill that will help ensure that kids don’t need to attend crumbling schools, schools without heat in the winter or air conditioning in the Summer, because schools should have to worry about teaching children, not whether the facilities are safe. For kids like ours I authored the Strengthening our Pediatric Workforce Act, which encourages doctors to enter into the field of children's health, a field that desperately needs more doctors.”

“As your governor my agenda will all works towards the prosperity of Pennsylvanians, not select corporations or special interests. I will push for policies that promote charter schools and quality education, doubling down on policies like your county has where residents may apply to attend cyber charter schools with no additional costs to parents. And when we send our children to college I will pursue a policy of openness and much needed transparency regarding tuition and what your children will get out of college.”

“On day one as governor I will declare a statewide disaster and state of emergency regarding the opioid crisis, this will enable us to take immediate measures to enhance response, increase access to treatment and save lives. It will be the first of its kind for a public health emergency in the state.

“Step one will be to create an Opioid Command Center located at PEMA. The Command will meet weekly and be responsible for coordinating all elements of our response to the crisis. Next we will expand access to the prescription drug monitoring program to ensure prescribers are in compliance with opioid regulations.”

“We must make Overdoses and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome as reportable conditions, so that prescribers know if a patient has a history with abuse, keeping prescribers informed and making sure data is available is vital to curbing future addiction. We must also give the DDAP further emergency purchase authorization, allowing us to purchase more lifesavings drugs. Other aspects of this include amending regulations so that EMTs can dispense naloxone, waiving regulations that keep pharmacists from interacting with other organizations that deal with at risk individuals. Make rescheduling of fentanyl derivatives permanent as long as the crisis continues.”

“We have a shortage of doctors certified for the Narcotic Treatment Program, we need to allow nurses and physician assistants to expedite initial intakes which will greatly speed up the certification process and provide more qualified doctors to fight the crisis. For the duration of the crisis we will waive ALL licensing requirements and fees for high-performing drug and alcohol treatment facilities.”

“We also need to start exploring any and every option to combat this crisis, a plan that addresses the crisis from the top down, start to finish. This is just the first step in addressing this crisis, I just hope the current governor finally realizes the severity of the crisis. Even now I am speaking with members of the Pennsylvania legislature to secure funding exclusively to fight this crisis and the greater crisis with addiction as a whole. Moving forward we need to ask ourselves 3 major questions What treatment programs are proven to be effective?‘How can we fast track the most effective programs? How can we educate people about the dangers of opioids?’”

“The same moral commitment that calls us to act on the Opioid Crisis calls us to move to protect the most vulnerable among us, the lives of the unborn. In the words of Ronald Reagan ‘I’ve noticed that everybody that is for abortion… has already been born’. I’ve heard some claim you can’t determine where a life begins, that its a matter of debate, well here is where I stand… if we don’t know when the unborn becomes a human life then we MUST opt in favor that it is a human life until someone proves it isnt. And as a life they are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

“As it stands our state levys one of the highest taxes on natural gas in the nation, and the democrats in harrisburg have tried to raise it higher every year. That hurt every one of those jobs pipelines like Mariner East has created, the permit delays, the fee increases on gas wells, raising a tax on gas sold to homes… the energy sector is one of our states most promising sectors, we shouldnt shackle it to the greed of bureaucrats in Harrisburg. As your governor I will fight every proposed tax increase, and do everything I can to relieve your regulatory and tax burden.”

“Not only that I am going to support research on how to make fossil fuels, natural gas, every form of energy, cleaner and more efficient, so you can do more business and bring home a bigger paycheck to your families. The future of energy is not more corporate welfare, its cutting the oppressive regulatory and tax burden so companies can pay more, hire more and expand to their full economic potential. We have a 21st century industry operating under a 1970s regulatory regime, changing this alone would make a huge difference in the industry.”

“Our current state government is too focused on doling out taxpayer cash and promulgating regulation than on fostering an environment for good-paying jobs and economic growth.”

“We don’t do enough… not nearly enough to support our farmers. I’m not talking about subsidizing farmers more i’m talking about farming smarter. The truth is the average farmer receives little to no actual support with the vast majority going to corporate farmers and massive land holders. Our farmers facing burdensome regulations, negative stereotypes, children fleeing the family business. As governor I will reform how we approach farming, I’ll make sure aid goes to the people who actually need it not corporate mega-farms. We will foster an environment of community, accountability and stewardship, we are seeing our small rural communities falling apart, their vibrant spirit becoming ghost towns in the same way our proud industrial towns turn to rust.

Our government federal, state and local saddle our farmers with excess paperwork, regulations and an increasingly burdensome bureaucracy. Big corporate farms set high barriers that small farms cont overcome, thats not a free market. As Governor I will cut back on the red tape that hurts so many, you will not need an army of lawyers to contend with a mountain of paperwork and regulation. We will deregulate locally produced foods, and work to exempt local sales from government licensure, permitting, certification, inspection, packaging, and labeling requirements, and applies to farmers’ markets as well as on-site stores at farms.

“As it stands the democratic leadership in Harrisburg is a relic, large scale standardization, control, spending and bureaucracy, things do not reflect a highly diverse society, a highly diverse population and a highly diverse state, instead we have an lumbering ‘one size fits all’ government that doesnt fit with the 21st century. With all our advantages jobs are growing at less than 1% a year, Pennsylvania unemployment increases while the rest of the country decreases. Business and entrepreneurship has been stifled by over taxation and regulation, an unbroken 45 year streak of tax increases. We need new solutions, new innovation not more of the same.”

“The policies of Harrisburg have resulted in companies like GE sending jobs to Texas, our wealth and factories overseas leaving thousands of Pennsylvanians out of work. The negligence of those in Harrisburg have seen the jobs of skilled craftsman and tradespeople moved thousands of miles away, it has devastated our middle class, it has devastated our nation. Staying on this path and continuing these policies of relentless taxation, and allowing our communities to deteriorate will keep our factories closed, our inner cities poor, and special interests in control.”

“Jobs will come from a healthy modernized economy not one built behind barriers to growth or handouts to a privileged few through corporate welfare. In congress I have made my first priority the economic security for families, that is something I will continue as governor, building a 21st century economy where people can work hard not just to get by but to thrive and give their children a better life then they had.”

“Under the absent leadership of the democrats an average family of four in our state now owes nearly $20,000 to pay off the state pension fund alone. Many of our school districts, our urban areas spend over $300,000 per high school graduates, half aren’t proficient in basic algebra, they can’t read at a high school level. And for all the accolades the democrats have received for increasing education funding, less than 30% has actually gone to teaching.”

“10 years ago democrats denied the existence of a pension crisis, 2 years ago Vilseck vetoed vital pension reforms, but because of the advocacy and had work of Pennsylvania citizens like you I have some good news... our Senate Majority Leader has introduced SB 1, and it is going to be a major turn around for our state. It moves us away from the unsustainable pension system to a system that provides choice for workers and stability for taxpayers. I have spoken with the leader at length about SB 1 and I am proud to fully endorse this legislation and I encourage all of you to contact your representatives and voice your support!”

“SB 1 is just one step in the right direction, we need to lower taxes of all forms, property, sales, income and whatever else overburden Pennsylvanians. Our budget deficit grows not because of a lack of revenue but because these high taxes, overregulation and a state government that continues to fund failing programs. As your governor I will institute an automatic sunset provision for under-performing programs and require the implementation of cost-reducing changes recommended by the IFO or Performance based Budget Board. We are going to introduce transparency measures and pass the taxpayer protection act to control spending and protect the hard earned money of families across the state.”

“We are going to become the most business friendly state in the nation, not through reckless corporate welfare that the current administration engages in but by actually creating a environment of growth, an environment where the American Dream can thrive. Our state has countless advantages, we have some of the largest, cheapest deposits of natural gas and coal in the world, we can utilize that to bring back the manufacturing jobs of years past we can become the global leader in manufacturing and energy exports once again. I refuse to accept Pennsylvania’s place at the bottom of the country for job growth and economic output, its time for that to end.”

“As your governor I will put an end to a lack of transparency in Harrisburg, the shadow budget, the lack of accountability. I am going to start a policy of job growth, education and fiscal responsibility. I will make blue collar communities like this one, ones that have been left behind by Winston and Harrisburg, my top priority unlike the democrats who have taken communities like yours for granted. How many years have democratic leaders made promises that never came to fruition? You all deserve economic strength and stability, accept nothing less.”

“Despite this lack of transparency, the state lawmakers are some of the best paid in the nation, the governor makes over $190,000 a year, the highest in the nation. I pledge to you today that as governor I will not take a dime of that salary until the salary is lowered! The lowest salary of a governor in the nation is $70,000, Maine, I call on the legislature to make it at least that low. All elected officials working for the state will have a pay freeze while I am governor until the budget is balanced.”

“I will do everything in my power to create an environment more friendly to business encouraging the growth of industries new and old. I am going to fight for the expansion of healthcare and higher education here, i’m going to fight for tax cuts for small businesses and across the board. As your governor I will be an advocate in Washington for the renegotiation of trade deals that are now outdated and costing jobs.”

“The policies of Harrisburg have resulted in plants like GE to send jobs and plants to Texas, our wealth and factories overseas leaving thousands of Pennsylvanians out of work. The negligence of those in Harrisburg have seen the jobs of skilled craftsman and tradespeople moved thousands of miles away, it has devastated our middle class, it has devastated our nation. Staying on this path and continuing these policies of relentless taxation, and allowing our communities to deteriorate will keep our factories closed, our inner cities poor, and special interests in control.”

“Ladies and gentlemen let’s have the economic resurgence of our state begin today. Lets send a message to Harrisburg a message that enough is enough and we need an economy that is growing not stagnant, it’s time to stop over-taxing, over-regulating, and crippling ourselves. It’s time to get Pennsylvania working again, I hope you join me, God bless America and God Bless the Great State of Pennsylvania, Thank You!.”

[The Orion Islands]

Wilson Twitter @KeepWyomingGreat
"The Progressives think China should be allowed to get away with their criminal activities! Even radical Democrats think that China is getting away with murder, both literally and figuratively. If you don't want China to rule the world, vote Republican!"

[Dentali]

Jason Samara Campaign Stop #30
Framingham, Middlesex County



It used to be that the democrats were the party of unity, that despite all their faults no matter what they covered for one another and defended one another. Despite the many deals and alliances Samara had made going into the election, despite the support from the DNC, years of service to the party, stellar record, and prolific successes writing legislation he saw little support from other politicians. This was disappointing certainly, but not wholly unexpected in this era of ‘every man for himself’ in the democratic party.

As such Samara was disheartened by the past few days where no one helped him out, even if he didn’t think it would impact him much in the long run it was still disappointing. He managed to pull himself out of his funk before his next campaign stop.

Samara arrived at Framingham via the MBTA Framingham/Worcester Line from South Station Boston. One the trip he took the opportunity to shake hands with passengers and ask how the trip could be improved for everyday commuters, listening to the concerns of the citizens and their potential solutions. He toured the ‘Golden Triangle’ going from shop to shop talking to owners about the current economic climate for small businesses and their single biggest concerns regarding owning or running a business and how their burden could be eased. He also paid specific attention to the immigrant communities in South Framingham and how detailed how he wanted to make the immigration process easier.

That night he gave a stump speech at a local townhall filled to the brim with people.

“Good Morning! What a crowd, it’s really an honor to be here thank you all for coming and for the warm welcome.”

“I’m Congressman Jason Samara, I am a man raised in Boston, Massachusetts. I grew up walking the Freedom trail, I grew up watching the South End of Boston go from dangerous and remote in the 80s flourish, I grew up jogging along the Charles river and rooting for the Red Sox. But I was born to two loving parents in Puerto Rico, my father was an immigrant and a psychiatrist, my mother was a social worker who devoted her life to helping people get back on their feet. When I was 2 my father passed away in an car accident and my mother took me to Boston to live with her mother. Times were hard, money was short, we relied on family, community and at times the government to get by. I am a product of public school, I grew up hearing stories of my family that fought for civil rights, of my uncles that marched next to Doctor King, who stood on the bridge at Selma, who marched on Washington and I took that to heart.”

“I dedicated my life and schooling to community outreach and service, I married my high school sweetheart and we have beautiful daughters. I was elected to Congress in 2010 becoming the first African American to represent the state, I have fought for welfare reform, consumer protections, providing affordable college and healthcare, LBGTQ rights, a woman’s right to choose and housing reform. I proudly stand by the work I have done for this state. As a Congressman I proudly voted against the RLSA, WAC and BBA. My parents and my grandmother are no longer with us today, but I know they look down on our work with pride.”

“My last name is Samara, a name that comes from half a world away. In America though your name should be no barrier to success, no matter your name or circumstances of birth, the color of your skin, no matter who you love or how you choose to worship... America should be a place where none of that matters. I stand here now proud of my heritage, knowing that I am just a part of the greater American story. I have a vision for America where there are no barriers to success - no matter what color you are, no matter where you're from, no matter how much money you have.”

“Thats where I come from, now let me tell you what I stand for. I stand for no PACs just people, I have pledged to no longer accept donations from corporate PACs, this is just the first step in Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform that is necessary for our growing Democracy. I stand for the scientific consensus that Climate Change is real, and that we must take steps to build a clean energy economy to make fuel and energy cheaper, better for the environment and free of our dependency on foreign countries.”

“I stand for those who serve are nation in uniform, and making sure that when they return to civilian life we are there to support them in the challenges they face. I stand for Expanding medical care and support services for our service members is a moral duty.”

“I stand for Universal Healthcare, Health Care is a Human Right, a moral responsibility. I will fight to make sure that insurance companies no longer turn people away for pre-existing conditions or discriminate against women. I will work hand in hand with our governor to craft and support a healthcare plan that covers all of Massachusetts so it can continue to be the national leader in coverage and innovation.”

“I stand for Equal Pay for Equal Work. An economy that works for everyone, a $15 minimum wage, affordable childcare, parental leave. No one who works full time should live in poverty and its time big business and the 1% paid its fair share.”

“I stand for LGBTQ equality, I go to Boston’s Pride Parade every year, I marched in DC and spoke on LGBTQ rights and progress. I will stand against any attempt to take away our progress, LGTBQ rights are human rights and we need an equality act to ban discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in employment, housing and other areas.”

“I stand for A God Given Right to Safety, the Minutemen Act showed that Congress cares more about handouts to Gun Manufacturers than safety for our people, and across the country children are paying the price. Gun Violence plagues our communities every day and as your Senator I will fight back against the epidemic, thoughts and prayers are not enough we need action to take dangerous weapons off our streets and out of the hands of dangerous individuals.”

“For most folks, one income isn't enough to raise a family and send your kids to college. Sometimes, two incomes aren't enough. It's harder to save. It's harder to retire. You're doing your part, you're meeting your responsibilities, but it always seems like you're treading water or falling behind.”

“I’m tired of waiting, waiting a decade for a pay raise while CEO pay is soaring, i’m tired of waiting for Republican Senators to act while more Americans fall into poverty, i’m tired of waiting for them to realize that their are kids with the knowledge and the drive to go to college and change the world but can’t because its not affordable. I’m tired of waiting and that’s why I am seeking the Democratic nomination for Senator of the great state of Massachusetts.”

“I am pro-immigrant, but I recognize not everyone trying to come into this nation has the best intentions, not everyone should be allowed into our nation. But a zero tolerance policy does not reflect our morality, turning away families looking for a better life, those fleeing poverty, violence and starvation… turning them away is not American.”

“America has always and should always be a haven for the oppressed, the vulnerable and the downtrodden. We cannot shirk that responsibility now. Our immigration policy must stop the criminalization of entire communities, the tearing apart of families, and the exploitation of new Americans. My immigration policy is grounded in putting the sanctity of families first, and will enforce civil, human and labor rights, continuing our tradition of embracing diversity letting it push our nation to new heights.”

“Those who enter the country illegally who do not have a criminal record should be given temporary amnesty and a simple path to citizenship. If an immigrant pays taxes they should receive the same benefits as citizens. We must dismantle our inhumane deportation programs and detention centers that tear families apart, replacing them with a system targeted on criminal activity besides crossing the border and make sure DHS agencies have oversight. We need a swift and fair legislative roadmap to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants. We must respect local communities, ensuring their positive interactions with law enforcement instead of forcing them to live in hiding out of fear. We must modernize the visa system, especially regarding family visas which has a massive backlog. We must reverse the criminalization of immigrants, no person is illegal and in most cases the act of an illegal border crossing is one of desperation not malice, we must recognize that.”

“We need to save our democracy, we need to systematically reform our nation, our politics. I pledged to take to corporate PAC money because I believe PACs come before people. Washington works great for the rich, for those with connections… companies and the ultra wealthy can spend billions to influence Congress and federal agencies… we need lobbying reform and we need it today.”

“Lobbying as we know it must end, everyone who lobbies MUST register, we must take Washington lobbyists out of the shadow, ban foreign governments from hiring lobbyists and shut down the ability of lobbyists to move freely in and out of government jobs. When running for federal office candidates should be required to put their tax returns online, while in office we need to keep Senators and Congressman from trading stocks and when they retire we need to ban them from becoming lobbyists.”

“We don’t just need to limit the power of corporations in politics we need to empower the people in our Republic. Politicians are supposed to compete for votes, not try and disqualify voters who don’t support them. Many laws and rules make it more difficult to vote, and practices like partisan gerrymandering keep your vote from counting as much as it should. We must eliminate rules that make voting more difficult, laws and rules that suppress votes especially in minority communities.”

“Democracy shouldn’t be for sale, so that is why we must fight the Citizens United decision, so that you do not need to suck up to rich donors and the washington elite in order to run for office. No more billionaire Super PACs.”

“Years ago I was proud to protest against the Iraq War, at a time when it wasn’t popular to do so. I believe that time has vindicated those who stood against it then, and going forward it is a lesson we must hold close. A strong military is important, it should be a deterrent so that we won’t have to use it, we must be vigilant against terrorists like ISIS and Hamas, but we cannot be the world’s policeman, we need to bring our troops home and strengthen our support for them as they transition into civilian life.”

“When we pursue foreign policy in the future, we should not solve problems with military might and intimidation first… we need to cut our bloated defense budget, take a stand against the military industrial complex that has a grip on our military policy. We need to reinvest our money and resources into diplomacy, standing by our global allies to advance our shared interests and advance the cause of global justice.”

“That fight for justice must continue at home too, our justice system promises equality under the law and America has one of the best justice systems in the world but we need to acknowledge its faults. We live in a nation where for the exact same crime minority americans are more likely than white americans to be arrested, charged and convicted. We live in a nation where teen with and small amount of pot and no intent to distribute can get thrown in jail.”

“We must keep a constant vigil on our justice system, to find what policies disproportionately affect our minority communities and end them. We must embrace community policing and the demilitarization of police, comprehensive reform to our sentencing laws and the complete decriminalization and legalization marijuana.”

“We must however crack down on those who profit off the destruction of our planet. Climate change ravages our planet, our people. It threatens to displace millions, droughts, floods, extreme storms and a changing environment that will wreak havoc on civilization. We need to double down our commitment to alternative and renewable energies, to end our dependence on fossil fuels, to make renewable clean energy affordable and practical.”

“We, the people of Massachusetts, the birthplace of the American Revolution, Birthplace to presidents and patriots, heroes of war and peace, a place of science and philosophy, a state that has ALWAYS pushed America forward. And we know the way forward don’t we? We know how to make our economy stronger and fairer, how to make our communities safer and education more affordable, how to make our retirement security and our healthcare the gold standard.”

“We know that we should not abandon our public education to benefit private and religious schools, but we must strengthen our public education. We know that inclusion and diversity make us stronger, that we must encourage new Americans to come here to build better lives. We know that we must protect members of the LGBTQ+ community, we know that ALL are created equal and must be protected as such under the law!”

“We start right here, right now by talking about the economy. An economy that works for too few at the expense of the many. A rigged game where wall street wins and main street loses, when bankers rig interest rates so you pay more for a house or a car thats a rigged game. When companies use tricks and loopholes to avoid taxes and don’t pay their fair share? Thats a rigged game, and when the top 1% has more than the bottom 99% IT’S A RIGGED GAME!”

“Close the Loopholes, lets tell American companies that if they want to benefit from our laws and our protection they need to bring those profits home. We need a fairer economy because the market the republicans claim is ‘free’ is just a game with loaded dice. We have seen wall street billionaires declare bankruptcy a half dozen times and get bailed out, but someone who can’t afford to pay a speeding ticket goes to jail. IT’S A RIGGED GAME. “

“Since 1978 CEOs have gotten paid over 900% more, workers are 65% more productive and they get 9% more. When America’s workers play a rigged game we all lose, when unions get busted and workers can’t organize? We lose... and when you don’t give people a livable wage we all lose. Basic decency and sound economics both bring you to the same conclusion: IT’S A RIGGED GAME thats why it’s time to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.”

“But if we are really going to create permanent lasting change we MUST support education. Now i’m not supporting teaching our kids how to better answer a multiple choice question on a test. I want to build real strong communities around schools, have teachers who are well-trained motivated and LOVE what they do. I want schools and teachers that really prepare our children not just for college but for life. We need to treat teachers with the respect they deserve and like the professionals they are!”

“The average student graduates with over $35,000 in debt, I want to make sure that every student gets the opportunity to go to college and that they can go to community college for free and when a student borrows money to go to college they get low rates.”

“The ACA was not perfect, it could have been improved BUT I would take the ACA over having tens of millions without healthcare, without a net, where the only time they see a doctor is in the emergency room. We must continue to improve healthcare, making sure coverage is truly universal and held to the highest standards. I will work hand in hand with our governor to get the best possible healthcare after the RLSA until we can finally repeal it.”

“Everybody deserves affordable healthcare, nobody should have to choose between filling a grocery cart or a prescription jar. The Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other programs that allow people to retire with dignity, that gives survivor benefits to their partners and families…. These are programs I will fight tooth and nail to defend, to make sure Social Security is there for you. It’s the least we can do.”

“One of the best tools we can use to reduce healthcare costs is a way to empower patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare. We need a tool that is comprehensive, that provides location specific price and quality information, not just a national average of the cost of services.”

“Hospitals should and must be MANDATED to publicly post their price lists in a machine readable format on their websites. In addition hospitals should be required to report directly to state and federal agencies so they can provide a comprehensive data set for consumers.”

“We must address that our current medical education system is not producing enough primary care physicians, and as we work towards healthcare reforms like patient centered medical homes and Accountable Care Organizations. One reason for that is that the Medicare physician payment policy greatly favors specialists and Primary Care Physicians have a massive gap in income. We must support loan forgiveness policies for medical students who pursue careers in primary care, and generally incentivizing med students who focus on primary care.”

“As we make peoples healthcare secure let us also secure our communities…. Mass Shootings capture headlines, but daily tragedies we see in towns and cities across the nation are just as tragic. Thirty Thousand Americans are killed by gun violence every year, the madness must end. I have given my thoughts and prayers to victims too many times but as great man once said ‘when you pray move your feet’. We need to move, we need to realize that we have options and ways to bring down gun violence without dismantling the second amendment which I respect. Ways to ensure criminals, terrorists and other dangerous individuals don’t get firearms. This is not about hunters, this is not about responsible gun owners looking to protect their family… This is about realizing that there is no good reason to own an assault rifle. If you buy a gun, no matter where or when, you should get a background check. The gun lobby owns many in Congress but they do not own the conscience of the American people.”

“As your Senator I will fight to ensure that no one who works full time will live in poverty, I will fight to raise the minimum wage, get better work scheduling, get paid family and medical leave, I will work towards giving every kid in America an opportunity to go to college without being buried under a mountain of debt, and for the debt that is owed now I will fight to make that burden easier.”

“As your Senator I will fight for retirement with dignity, an expansion of Social Security, Strengthening of Medicare and Retirement accounts, and to reform the ACA.”

“As your Senator I will fight against attempts to strip control of a woman’s body away from her. Defending a woman’s right to choose, supporting education and easier access to contraception is vital to promoting sexual health.”

“I grew up in a home full of strong women, I was raised by a single mom with the help of her mother. I have an incredible wife, I have 3 daughters I count myself blessed for every single day and I stand by my record fighting to give my girls a better life, a better country to call theirs. To make my mother proud and know that in heaven she is looking down and smiling on the work we do together.”

“I have supported a woman’s right to choose and have reproductive rights, I have fought for programs that empower women and young girls in this country and around the world, I have fought to help keep those who commit acts of violence against women accountable, I have fought against domestic abuse and for equal pay for equal work.”

“But I can do better… we can do better… we can always do better we can always go further and fight harder.”

“As long as women are thought of something less than, overworked and underpaid, just on their appearance and not their character, as long as they are subjected to violence and not to school… we cannot truly move forward.”

“There is no simple reform, no one magic pill, it is a revolution of the mind, heart and spirit. Of Policy and attitudes, of people willing to stand up to bigotry and discrimination. We must stand up to double standards and glass ceilings.”

“I am a religious man, and Christ said ‘he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone’, teaching us that only the faultless have the right to pass judgement on others. With this as in all things no one is faultless, this is a Democratic problem, this is a Republican problem, this is a Progressive problem and this is an American Problem. The question is do you stand fight for something better.”

“I want my daughters to be free from prejudice, to be treated with respect. In the coming days we will have battles to fight, battles for better healthcare, for equal pay, for a women’s control over her own reproductive health. When we see evil, when we see injustice it is our duty to speak out, it is my duty to speak out.”

“We need stronger laws to govern Wall Street, we need to keep the 1% accountable and when banks get too big they need to be broken up, the people of this country and this state deserve someone who will hold their feet to the fire and make sure they are accountable. We deserve someone who will support trade deals that don’t just favor the big corporations, trade deals that don’t leave you in the dirt and left behind as the gap between rich and poor widens and the middle class disappears.”

“In too many places the poor are getting poorer, families who need help will find essential services cut, they will find healthcare cut and they need to ‘pull themselves up by their bootstraps’ while the boot of the 1% is on their back. Americans trapped in poverty, no hope of a job or education, many turning to drugs and gangs. We as a nation cannot abandon them, and as your Senator I swear I will fight for them.”

“Call it ‘trickle down’, call it ‘supply side economics’ but its the same story, the shining city is for the privileged few not America as a whole. But democrats have always fought for a different vision, a vision of a nation where we pursue new frontiers in education, healthcare, and prosperity, a nation where we all move forward to that new frontier together, where no-one is left behind.”

"To this end I want to reform and improve the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the Child Tax Credit. My goal is to make work pay, the EITC and Child Tax Credit is great for increasing employment and labor force participation, but they can be improved. I want to make the Child Tax Credit fully refundable for families with children under 17, increase the phase in rate to 50 for families with children under the age of 6. This could lift over a million people out of poverty."

“President Roosevelt said that our right to liberty as Americans included the ‘the right of every family to a decent home.’ If we are going to fulfill that right for all American’s we must pursue housing that is safe, secure and affordable. Without a good home no one can thrive, participate fully in our economy, our society. Housing is a basic human need and we have a moral responsibility as a society to ensure it is met.”

“We need to protect families from being displaced, preserve rental housing using incentives that keep rents low paired with renovation and credits for energy efficiency. We need to facilitate permitting for adding rental units to larger existing homes, especially for elderly homeowners. We must expand community ownership models like co-housing and housing trust while encouraging the construction, financing and preservation of owner occupied multifamily houses, creating ways of financing for working individuals and families. We need 21st century regulatory reform that understands home-sharing, protecting the income generating function of homeowners and protecting rental opportunities. Home rule petitions must be expedited allowing communities to experiment and lower costs.”

“To my republican friends out there I want them to come to the table with us on this. Affordable housing is not charity, its not government welfare, this is one of the bottom rungs on the ladder to security and prosperity for our families and our communities. Good housing improves child and maternal health, leads to better school performance, better jobs, the ability to accumulate savings and contribute to the nation.”

“Our nation, our republic will not work if we do not get out there and fight for what we believe in. Politicians from the President to the local dog catcher need to hear from you, they hear plenty from the 1% and Wall Street, from Super-Pacs and giant corporations and those who can fill their pockets and campaign chests. If we don’t speak now, make our voices heard, our politicians will ONLY work for the wealthy few.”

“So while I am asking for your vote, but more importantly asking for your engagement. I hope that when election day comes you put a check mark next to my name on a ballot, but should you decide that you disagree I hope that you still get involved. Raise the level of debate and discourse, demand the highest standards not just from your elected officials but from those who elect them. Do not take your vote for granted, your country needs you, your nation needs you, and those who do not have the chance to vote need you.”

“Our state has a strong Irish tradition, and the Irish tell the story of a man reaching the gates of heaven asking to be let in, St. Peter says ‘of course just show us your scars’ to which the man replies ‘Scars? I have no scars’ St. Peter says ‘what a pity, was there nothing worth fighting for?”

“In the days to come we will accomplish much, we will push our state and our nation continually forward, but no progress worth making has ever been made with self sacrifice, personal suffering and sometimes even death. Find your truth, fight for it, pray and move your feet, show others the path forward by blazing the trail.”

“We are STRONGER TOGETHER, that means everyone who works hard has an equal shot at America’s promise, at joining the middle class and having a better life. We are STRONGER TOGETHER yet so many of our corporate and political leaders seem content to pursue their own self interest, leaving so many hard working Americans struggling and without a fair shot. So lets not give up now, abandon our dreams to dark apathy we are STRONGER TOGETHER and we can achieve the American Dream.”

“Together we can accomplish great things, I pray you join me, I pray you stand and march forward with me, and one day we will have built a country worthy of the principles we were founded on. Thank you, God bless America and God bless the Great State of Massachusetts.”

[Tallahassee News Station]

Kristen let out a long breath very slowly. "Of course he has. And I bet you need money."

"Every campaign does, I'm not hurting for funds but I still need the support... I still want to endorse you I just need to be up front with him about it first."

Kristen's stomach tumbled internally. "And if he doesn't want you to, this all gets called off?"

[Dentali]

"Every campaign does, I'm not hurting for funds but I still need the support... I still want to endorse you I just need to be up front with him about it first."

Kristen's stomach tumbled internally. "And if he doesn't want you to, this all gets called off?"

Anderson shook his head "I'll stand on principle, you're a good candidate and i'll support you. Just because he is offering me money doesn't change that, but I do owe him a heads up. Everything should be above the board."

[Tallahassee News Station]

Kristen's stomach tumbled internally. "And if he doesn't want you to, this all gets called off?"

Anderson shook his head "I'll stand on principle, you're a good candidate and i'll support you. Just because he is offering me money doesn't change that, but I do owe him a heads up. Everything should be above the board."

Kristen breathed out. "I really appreciate that. Not really because of the support, but just not pulling it away because of something with him or his say. That's happened to me more times than I can count already, and not just politically."

[Dentali]

Anderson shook his head "I'll stand on principle, you're a good candidate and i'll support you. Just because he is offering me money doesn't change that, but I do owe him a heads up. Everything should be above the board."

Kristen breathed out. "I really appreciate that. Not really because of the support, but just not pulling it away because of something with him or his say. That's happened to me more times than I can count already, and not just politically."

Glen softens a bit "Look I'm not going to pretend I know exactly what you're going through with that but i'm divorced too, and we have a kid. My ex and I need to deal with each other constantly because of that, so I do know what its like to not be able to get away from them in one way or another."

"Its hard, i'm just happy you're not letting it keep you down."

[Tallahassee News Station]

Kristen breathed out. "I really appreciate that. Not really because of the support, but just not pulling it away because of something with him or his say. That's happened to me more times than I can count already, and not just politically."

Glen softens a bit "Look I'm not going to pretend I know exactly what you're going through with that but i'm divorced too, and we have a kid. My ex and I need to deal with each other constantly because of that, so I do know what its like to not be able to get away from them in one way or another."

"Its hard, i'm just happy you're not letting it keep you down."

Kristen smiled bashfully. "I know. About your divorce, I mean. I guess this might sound a little weird but it was one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you. Not about it, I mean, but just having that same experience. I know it's not exactly the same, but well, there's not a whole lot of Republicans in Congress that have gone through that."

[Dentali]

Glen softens a bit "Look I'm not going to pretend I know exactly what you're going through with that but i'm divorced too, and we have a kid. My ex and I need to deal with each other constantly because of that, so I do know what its like to not be able to get away from them in one way or another."

"Its hard, i'm just happy you're not letting it keep you down."

Kristen smiled bashfully. "I know. About your divorce, I mean. I guess this might sound a little weird but it was one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you. Not about it, I mean, but just having that same experience. I know it's not exactly the same, but well, there's not a whole lot of Republicans in Congress that have gone through that."

"I couldn't be a good husband, father and congressman." Anderson said a bit ashamed "some people can, but I couldn't... one had to go." Anderson points to the couch "I sleep there 5 nights a week, i'm running for governor in part because I could see my daughter more than if I ran for Senate."

"Dirty secret around here is that marriage is hard and the same goes for religious fundamentalists in congress. People understand that sometimes things don't work out, not everyone will but enough do. People around here can be venomous on the floor of the house and to the tv cameras but friends in the cafeteria and gym. You going through a divorce especially one as public as yours will NEVER completely go away, that's just the truth. But you can get past it and overcome it. Remind them Reagan was divorced."

"Everyone has a past, everyone has dirt, I know dozens of Congressmen who go to AA regularly unbeknownst to their districts, people on both sides of the aisle. If you want my advice just be honest and upfront about it with other members of Congress if they ask about it. People are more understanding than you think, even if they aren't in Congress. HOWEVER do NOT talk to freshman about it, for the most part they do not understand the need to keep things private, the trust and discretion necessary for us to trust one another."

[Tallahassee News Station]

Kristen smiled bashfully. "I know. About your divorce, I mean. I guess this might sound a little weird but it was one of the reasons I wanted to talk to you. Not about it, I mean, but just having that same experience. I know it's not exactly the same, but well, there's not a whole lot of Republicans in Congress that have gone through that."

"I couldn't be a good husband, father and congressman." Anderson said a bit ashamed "some people can, but I couldn't... one had to go." Anderson points to the couch "I sleep there 5 nights a week, i'm running for governor in part because I could see my daughter more than if I ran for Senate."

"Dirty secret around here is that marriage is hard and the same goes for religious fundamentalists in congress. People understand that sometimes things don't work out, not everyone will but enough do. People around here can be venomous on the floor of the house and to the tv cameras but friends in the cafeteria and gym. You going through a divorce especially one as public as yours will NEVER completely go away, that's just the truth. But you can get past it and overcome it. Remind them Reagan was divorced."

"Everyone has a past, everyone has dirt, I know dozens of Congressmen who go to AA regularly unbeknownst to their districts, people on both sides of the aisle. If you want my advice just be honest and upfront about it with other members of Congress if they ask about it. People are more understanding than you think, even if they aren't in Congress. HOWEVER do NOT talk to freshman about it, for the most part they do not understand the need to keep things private, the trust and discretion necessary for us to trust one another."

Kristen smiled slightly. "I think being haughty enough that I say I'm equal enough to Reagan for that probably won't end very well for me with most people, but I appreciate the sentiment.

Honestly I really haven't and I don't think I really plan to be very upfront about it. I'm kind of surprising myself by talking as much about it as I am right now. That's not because I'm trying to be secretive about it, I just....well, it's in the past. I've tried to put it to rest. I know I never can, but it took me so long to personally move on from out from under that shadow, I don't know if I completely have even now, and it's something I don't have any appetite for dredging that part of my life back up even personally let alone politically"

[Dentali]

Kristen smiled slightly. "I think being haughty enough that I say I'm equal enough to Reagan for that probably won't end very well for me with most people, but I appreciate the sentiment.

Honestly I really haven't and I don't think I really plan to be very upfront about it. I'm kind of surprising myself by talking as much about it as I am right now. That's not because I'm trying to be secretive about it, I just....well, it's in the past. I've tried to put it to rest. I know I never can, but it took me so long to personally move on from out from under that shadow, I don't know if I completely have even now, and it's something I don't have any appetite for dredging that part of my life back up even personally let alone politically"

"Now that I think of it... If you get criticized for only serving one term in the house before running for the Senate, you could say Lincoln only served one before running for President."

"I'm not saying you should go into conversations leading with 'i am divorced', i'm saying if it comes up be upfront about it, don't deflect... I have 2 more questions for you, but i'd like to answer all yours first."

[Tallahassee News Station]

Kristen smiled slightly. "I think being haughty enough that I say I'm equal enough to Reagan for that probably won't end very well for me with most people, but I appreciate the sentiment.

Honestly I really haven't and I don't think I really plan to be very upfront about it. I'm kind of surprising myself by talking as much about it as I am right now. That's not because I'm trying to be secretive about it, I just....well, it's in the past. I've tried to put it to rest. I know I never can, but it took me so long to personally move on from out from under that shadow, I don't know if I completely have even now, and it's something I don't have any appetite for dredging that part of my life back up even personally let alone politically"

"Now that I think of it... If you get criticized for only serving one term in the house before running for the Senate, you could say Lincoln only served one before running for President."

"I'm not saying you should go into conversations leading with 'i am divorced', i'm saying if it comes up be upfront about it, don't deflect... I have 2 more questions for you, but i'd like to answer all yours first."

Kristen laughed lightly. "I think comparing myself to Lincoln would be the only way to one up the Reagan comparison. But honestly, I don't really think I should even get or bring up those light comparisons. I'm not a great man like either of them were, I don't have that kind of unique spark or intellect or courage that really drives someone like that. I'm just trying to do my own part to make a difference."

"I do have a few questions about just the technical side of some campaign stuff and advice, I don't know if you'd want me to ask those before or after"

[Dentali]

"Now that I think of it... If you get criticized for only serving one term in the house before running for the Senate, you could say Lincoln only served one before running for President."

"I'm not saying you should go into conversations leading with 'i am divorced', i'm saying if it comes up be upfront about it, don't deflect... I have 2 more questions for you, but i'd like to answer all yours first."

Kristen laughed lightly. "I think comparing myself to Lincoln would be the only way to one up the Reagan comparison. But honestly, I don't really think I should even get or bring up those light comparisons. I'm not a great man like either of them were, I don't have that kind of unique spark or intellect or courage that really drives someone like that. I'm just trying to do my own part to make a difference."

"I do have a few questions about just the technical side of some campaign stuff and advice, I don't know if you'd want me to ask those before or after"

"Go for it"

[Greater Arab State]

Constitution Gardens

“Good names, except Peter. You do not want to relate that poor child to fatty Armas. Very bad thing that would be. You should name him Donald. Donald is a very mighty and strong name.” Donald then do the furious dab.

Constitution Gardens

"I'd certainly consider it." Kramer said, smirking at Johnson's suggestion.

"Say, Representative, I'm terribly sorry how short notice this is but would you like to have dinner at my D.C. area residence today?" Kramer said, turning towards Johnson.

Constitution Gardens, Washington D.C.

Kramer straightened himself on the bench.

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

Fredrick Williams
@GovMS
The Chinese be doing the world a favor by enlightening the countries that are full of people(politicians) who are frankly too stupid to govern their own countries. Gov. Mondale's policies would only result in the Africans being trapped in further poverty.

---

[Tumblrena]

Sam McGareth
@Five-Oh

---

Wealthless Williams talking about other countries being too dumb to govern themselves and poor but he keeps Mississippi as the poorest state in America from stupidity!

Sam McGareth
@Five-Oh

---

Wealthless Williams is so dumb Mississippi GDP would increase by many percent very quickly if he resigned!

[Democratic Peoples republic of Kelvinsi]

Fredrick Williams
@GovMS
Mississippi's poverty is manufactured by NORTHERN ELITES, who want to shove down their gay agenda down the CHRISTIAN throats of Mississippians! We would rather die poor and hungry, than to have a gay takeover!

---

x

[Tallahassee News Station]

Kristen laughed lightly. "I think comparing myself to Lincoln would be the only way to one up the Reagan comparison. But honestly, I don't really think I should even get or bring up those light comparisons. I'm not a great man like either of them were, I don't have that kind of unique spark or intellect or courage that really drives someone like that. I'm just trying to do my own part to make a difference."

"I do have a few questions about just the technical side of some campaign stuff and advice, I don't know if you'd want me to ask those before or after"

"Go for it"

"It's really more generic than specific. You've dome this before a few times, what are the keys to running the actual campaign well outside the speeches and debates?"

[Dentali]

"Go for it"

"It's really more generic than specific. You've dome this before a few times, what are the keys to running the actual campaign well outside the speeches and debates?"

"You need to define yourself, right now youve been attack heavy. Attacks on opponent have their place but you risk turning voters off with a negative message. You need to show yourself as FOR something not just AGAINST something or someone."

"That being said at some point you need to stand up the President Reed, show you are not just a typical republican. In a state as blue as yours... you cant just tow the party line."

"Finally you need to actually be there, go into the communities listen to their concerns not just about the big stuff but the small stuff the nickel and dime stuff. If they complain about a pothole needing to be fixed tell them youll talk to the mayor or another local politician, have the mayor call them the next day promising to fix it. Things like that."