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

[Prolieum]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

"I've seen some of that concrete you're talking about," Eric replied. "I'm trying to find out just how concrete your 'one hundred percent' is."

"Now, this isn't some kind of trap I'm trying to spring on you," he assured. "This is just my trying to find out exactly where this issue is, and where what you've said about these consistent stances lines up with the way you described yourself in that national interview."

"As I see it, you told about your one hundred percent, but I'm not sure how that stands. If you went to one of those activists and said that you didn't want to make that baker bake that cake, they might think you were at maybe seventy-five percent. If it came to talking about bathrooms, then maybe its fifty percent. Conscience for adoption agencies comes up, and they might say its at twenty-five."

"When I look at it, I see a couple of reasons you might have given that number. The first is the one that makes me worry that you meant that number more than you've meant your positions, but maybe that's not how you have it. The second is that you want to sound like you're that much in even when you don't match up all the way. And if that's how....," Eric decided against the sentence.

"Well, those are the two ways I see it."

[Dentali]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

"I've seen some of that concrete you're talking about," Eric replied. "I'm trying to find out just how concrete your 'one hundred percent' is."

"Now, this isn't some kind of trap I'm trying to spring on you," he assured. "This is just my trying to find out exactly where this issue is, and where what you've said about these consistent stances lines up with the way you described yourself in that national interview."

"As I see it, you told about your one hundred percent, but I'm not sure how that stands. If you went to one of those activists and said that you didn't want to make that baker bake that cake, they might think you were at maybe seventy-five percent. If it came to talking about bathrooms, then maybe its fifty percent. Conscience for adoption agencies comes up, and they might say its at twenty-five."

"When I look at it, I see a couple of reasons you might have given that number. The first is the one that makes me worry that you meant that number more than you've meant your positions, but maybe that's not how you have it. The second is that you want to sound like you're that much in even when you don't match up all the way. And if that's how....," Eric decided against the sentence.

"Well, those are the two ways I see it."

"Apologies" Anderson said "If I made some implication I thought it was a trap I apologize, that was not my intention." Anderson clears his throat

"I am also sorry if that seemed misleading. I am 100% behind gay marriage, I am 100% behind the community having equal rights. But the way I see it no one has the right to infringe on another persons rights, such as the wedding cake. If you feel that was misleading that's my fault and I need to get better about communicating that. 100% was for emphasis not because of intent to mislead."

[Prolieum]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

"Hmm." Eric openly considered the comment.

"What do you think about Blake, then, about all those kinds of issues?"

[Dentali]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

"Hmm." Eric openly considered the comment.

"What do you think about Blake, then, about all those kinds of issues?"

"Blake?" Anderson said a bit confused "Which Blake?"

[Prolieum]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

Eric smiled slightly. "Just assuming everyone knows what I'm thinking about from just a last name, that might be age creeping up on me. Not the one in the House, I was talking about the one in this whole basketball thing."

[Dentali]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

Eric smiled slightly. "Just assuming everyone knows what I'm thinking about from just a last name, that might be age creeping up on me. Not the one in the House, I was talking about the one in this whole basketball thing."

"Oh" Anderson said his memory sparked "sorry if its not Penn State then sports isn't at the front of my mind." Anderson took a few moments to formulate a response

"Men and women clearly have biological differences, testosterone, height, weight, broader shoulders, greater circulating blood volume, resistance to dehydration, lung capacity, literal thicker skin, more hemoglobin in the blood... the list goes on."

"its a direct competitive advantage, I don't care as much about professional sports as I do high school and collegiate sports. Transgender Athletes competed in girls indoor track in Connecticut, they finished first and second, scholarships are on the line there."

"Long story short, you can't just proclaim yourself female and be able to compete against women, there must be some standards and having a penis and competing against a woman doesn't fit that standard. Its overreach on part of the trans community, empowering biological men to compete against women isnt progress or equality, its exploitation."

[Prolieum]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

"What wouldn't be overreach?" Eric asked.

[Dentali]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

"What wouldn't be overreach?" Eric asked.

"My general rule is that you have rights until you infringe on others. The Trans community has every right to compete in sports but when you are doing so to the detriment of women then its going too far. Honestly we need a more objective measure of how we distribute players, I was thinking about boxing and weight classes, you have heavy-weights, welter-weights etc, something more comprehensive than that for this issue obviously but i'm not the right person to create that. Bottom line just letting them compete alongside biological women, thats unacceptable and infringes on biological women competing."

[Prolieum]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

"You don't think that sex is an objective measure?" Eric questioned.

[Dentali]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

"You don't think that sex is an objective measure?" Eric questioned.

"No I certainly think it is an objective measure, just not the only factor that should be considered. If someone legitimately identifies as another gender than what they were born with, goes through all the legal and medical hoops and then is registered as that gender, then I believe in respecting that. But when we talk about athletic ability that involves more that the equipment between the legs, its about several chemical and biological factors that we now have the medical capability to change, at least to an extent."

"If we can get to a point where trans individuals are competing without a significant advantage then I would have no problem with them competing together. But we need a litmus test, especially when you have title 9 benefits on the line, or scholarships for high school girls. Long story short, in theory if a trans individual is competing without a biological advantage then I don't have an issue with them participating, but we certainly aren't there yet."

[Prolieum]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

Eric considered with the same steady gaze as before. "I'd like to know more about how your general rule plays out in practice. I'll ask it to you open-ended, might get more specific later, but what kind of rights-well, I'll tell you about how I hear it being said, that these rights go on, and they only really stop when there's a roadblock of someone else's rights, those roadblocks are the only limits. If I'm misrepresenting you, please correct me, but if not, I'd want to know about how extensive you think those roadblocks are."

[Dentali]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

Eric considered with the same steady gaze as before. "I'd like to know more about how your general rule plays out in practice. I'll ask it to you open-ended, might get more specific later, but what kind of rights-well, I'll tell you about how I hear it being said, that these rights go on, and they only really stop when there's a roadblock of someone else's rights, those roadblocks are the only limits. If I'm misrepresenting you, please correct me, but if not, I'd want to know about how extensive you think those roadblocks are."

"I want to ensure the highest amount of liberty and freedom with the minimum amount of interference. Take something like drunk driving, I believe someone has a right to drink till they are drunk, I believe someone has the right to drive, but they do not have the right to drive while drunk because they place a substantial risk on other people."

"I don't believe in a one size fits all approach to policy, its a principle and a general rule that guides my decisions, but its not the only factor. I don't believe Heroin should be legal because its so devastating, but by my general rule if it only effects the individual without impacting others I shouldn't mind it."

"I've been a Conservative for over 25 years, I am guiding by Conservative principles central to which are maximum liberty and minimal interference. That's my interpretation at least."

[Dentali]

Glen Anderson Campaign Stop #78
Bradford, McKean County



“Finally a larger county” Glen thought to himself as he drove past the “Welcome to McKean County” sign. The Wilds of Pennsylvania were sparsely populated and never a large priority for Anderson so the recent stretch of those counties had essentially been pushed back again and again. The past few days have been a bit rough and boring but he was beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. After the Wilds Anderson was going to hit the Poconos, he was savings them for last, pumping money and resources into laying the groundwork for his campaign there. It was more heavily populated and had a Republican majority, making them vital in the primary. Should he win the Poconos, Ramalan would be finished.

But for today Anderson was in McKean County. He started with something a bit different, it was a big county for fishing so he met with a local society of sportsman, both hunters and fisherman. For the hunters he gave his typical pro-gun speech, but for the fisherman he got up at the crack of dawn and went fishing with them, catching a small fish. He spent the day interacting with them like a normal guy without staff or any fanfare, he did post about it on social media and take some pictures but for the most part he just got to be a normal likeable guy. He couldn’t convince people he was a hunter, but a fisherman? That would be more doable.

Zeroing in on Bradford Anderson visited both Zippo and Cast, two companies that were the prime employers in the area. They suffered massive layoffs in the recession and were still recovering, Anderson visited the companies took a tour and gave a short speech to workers. Privately he met with the owners seeking donations and pitching him strong economic and deregulatory stances.

Finally Anderson gave a speech at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

"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.”

“We also must address the immigration crisis on our country’s southern border. In short we must reject universal amnesty and open border policies put forth by Democrats and Progressives, we must redouble our efforts to secure our border, end ‘catch and release’ combat criminal networks that cross our border daily, combat fraud and humanitarian abuses, and perhaps most importantly end the practice of human trafficking. Doing this will restore the integrity of our immigration laws while promoting sustainable growth and immigration.”

“We must transition into a merit based system, promoting skills and patriotism while responding to the needs of employers from farms to pharmacies. Congress must establish a point system by which in demand skills are emphasized, as well as financial resources and assets, educational achievement, professional credentials, job experience, and fluency in English. Additionally individual states should be given input in this process, the skills needed by Pennsylvania may not be the same as the skills needed in Mississippi so immigrants should be directed to where their skills are most in demand.”

“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!.”

[Prolieum]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

"I do want to ask more about that, talking about these specific kinds of issues, sex and all of that, but that's an interesting way of describing conservatism," Eric commented. "If I heard it outside of context, I'd call that the Libertarians' principle, or Liberty party, if that's who's advocating all that now."

[Dentali]

Gene Eric's Office, Harte Senate Office Building, Washington D.C.

"I do want to ask more about that, talking about these specific kinds of issues, sex and all of that, but that's an interesting way of describing conservatism," Eric commented. "If I heard it outside of context, I'd call that the Libertarians' principle, or Liberty party, if that's who's advocating all that now."

"Flores' Liberty party is borderline anarchist, in my opinion. I view Libertarianism as a sibling to Conservatism, born of Classical Liberalism. Our belief systems have overlap and I definitely have a few Libertarian tendencies when it comes to personal liberty, my stance on LGBTQ issues comes from that. But overall im a conservative, because in order to have the blessings of liberty you need to secure it."

"I believe our nation is more than a collection of individuals pursuing self interest. If its just self interest... there’s nothing to preserve, nothing to transmit, nothing that binds us together as a nation. Liberty is not just something to be enjoyed in the present moment. There must be a comprehensive order, a political and social framework that continues and delivers liberty to future generations."

"I believe in being both a free citizen AND a good citizen, the Liberty Party just believes in being a free citizen. We have a responsibility to raise and educate the next generation. This is why conservatives believe issues concerning life, marriage, and the family are political in nature, as they help preserve the conditions that make liberty possible."

"When it comes to issues like prostitution, abortion, illicit drug use, our borders... I don't think just in terms of personal liberty and the free market, I think about our collective values and what kind of society will be able to preserve personal liberty."

[Prolieum]

West Lafayette, Indiana

July 4th, 2017

"You're sure you won't come with me?"

The voice, a deep bartione, always had strength, but the concern that radiated through it was clear, even as the words carried the sting of guilt with them. Not just a "You're sure you don't want to come" that would leave open the option to decline without any bad feelings, but a with me adding a personal dimension to the question. She hated to disappoint her father, and she knew that if he told her to go, she'd be on her way, but a stronger, still lingering mix of fear and apprehension was still stronger, and she shook her head.

The middle-aged man hesitated a moment, then sat himself down on the edge of her bed, and turned to look at her as she sat near its head. The scene looked like it could have taken place twenty years ago. He was a little bit grayer, she was scarcely any larger, and the positions were the same as when she was a ten-year old.

"This would be the first time you ever missed the Stars and Stripes." The voice was softer, but sad, restating something both of them knew, but seemed worthy of lament, or just the opportunity for reflection. She nodded only slightly in acknowledgement.

"When we took you to the first one, I could still hold you with one hand," he reminisced, looking down his arm.

Anna cracked the slightest of smiles. "You probably still could."

He sized her up, and smiled back. "Maybe I can. Your old man is still strong as a bull, you know."

"Is this the part where you pound your chest, and then pretend to cough like you're dying?" she questioned.

Her father looked a bit wounded. "I don't do it that often."

Her smile returned. "I should start keeping track."

The conversation drifted off for a few moments, pleasantly so, and Anna dreaded it when it returned in the way she hoped it would not.

"Annie....you know I haven't wanted to press you. I don't want to press you now, I know it's been so hard. I just...I hope I can know when you're going to get past this. When you think you're ready to start, to start getting back into the world again."

"I'm not ready to talk about this, Dad." Her voice was not firm. It rarely was, and the tremor to it was too common in her speech, but what resolve she had, she put behind it.

"OK. If you're not ready, I can wait until you're ready. Just....when you think you are, when you think you might be...just let me know. I want to be there."

"I will," she replied quietly.

His smile was sad. "I should be getting ready to go out if we're going to get there ahead of time. Your mother's waiting, Phoebe's already out there, bouncing around....you're sure you won't...."

She shook her head, and he sighed.

Silence fell again, for several long moments, as Anna watched her father, head down, struggling with the feeling of impotency that so often plagued him when seeing his daughter so affected. He found her hand and squeezed it gently, enveloping the small fingers wholly within his own. He looked ready to say something more, but could not find the words. With a sad smile, he let her hand fall, and left the room, closing the door behind him to leave her to her solitude.

[Uttland]

Brooks notes Pepper.

“We arrived on the scene and she attempted to flee looking panicked and in a state of undress, despite numerous calls to stop. I pursued her while my partner went inside of the building over there. She drove into the desert in a separate vehicle, then slammed on the brakes and fled the vehicle, injuring herself in the process. I pursued on foot, she led me around for a bit, I tried the taser but she evaded, all the while I’m screaming for her to stop. She gets into this vehicle, I smash the window and attempt to remove her, she kicks it into reverse and drags me along with her, I was afraid I was going to be crushed. I was holding on but she smashed at my hands, I unloaded inside with my pepper spray trying to stop her, but I lost my grip and she ran over my hand.” She said, lifting up her seriously damaged hand that needed attending to. “Officer Lopez had come out by then, we both fired at the vehicle and, well...” she said, her eyes drifting back to the body.

“We’ve also got a man in that building with blunt force trauma wounds, Lopez is dealing with him right now.” She said.

"D*mmit girl, where'd you think she was going to go? Got a car that's older than I am and that road's the only one goin' up for forty miles, she didn't have nowhere to run, and you gunned her down." Pepper shook his head. "Go get the doc to wrap up that hand, I'll have a talk with this Lopez."

Officer Mark Lopez

Lopez saw the police officer, if that’s what one could call him, enter. He was still helping Mateo up when he entered, saying to the new man, “Hello, I’m assuming you’re back-up?”

[The World Capitalist Confederation]

"D*mmit girl, where'd you think she was going to go? Got a car that's older than I am and that road's the only one goin' up for forty miles, she didn't have nowhere to run, and you gunned her down." Pepper shook his head. "Go get the doc to wrap up that hand, I'll have a talk with this Lopez."

Officer Mark Lopez

Lopez saw the police officer, if that’s what one could call him, enter. He was still helping Mateo up when he entered, saying to the new man, “Hello, I’m assuming you’re back-up?”

"It's still hurts like hell, but what am I going to do about it?"

[Tallahassee News Station]

"D*mmit girl, where'd you think she was going to go? Got a car that's older than I am and that road's the only one goin' up for forty miles, she didn't have nowhere to run, and you gunned her down." Pepper shook his head. "Go get the doc to wrap up that hand, I'll have a talk with this Lopez."

Officer Mark Lopez

Lopez saw the police officer, if that’s what one could call him, enter. He was still helping Mateo up when he entered, saying to the new man, “Hello, I’m assuming you’re back-up?”

"That's right. Now why don't you tell me just what happened here and who this complainin feller is?"

[Uttland]

Officer Mark Lopez

Lopez saw the police officer, if that’s what one could call him, enter. He was still helping Mateo up when he entered, saying to the new man, “Hello, I’m assuming you’re back-up?”

"That's right. Now why don't you tell me just what happened here and who this complainin feller is?"

Officer Mark Lopez

Lopez felt it weird to describe the story of a man right next to him and breathing, but nonetheless did. “This man claims to be one Carlos Mateo from Palm Beach, Florida. I found him knocked out on the floor with a dented chair next to him, which is why I’m hoping the EMT can arrive here soon, is he by any chance?”

Lopez breathes in after his digression.

“Any how he claims he was here to meet with a representative of Senator Peña in this shack, and it seems he met with a prostitute, as he claims, instead. She allegedly knocked him out and took off running.”

[Tallahassee News Station]

"That's right. Now why don't you tell me just what happened here and who this complainin feller is?"

Officer Mark Lopez

Lopez felt it weird to describe the story of a man right next to him and breathing, but nonetheless did. “This man claims to be one Carlos Mateo from Palm Beach, Florida. I found him knocked out on the floor with a dented chair next to him, which is why I’m hoping the EMT can arrive here soon, is he by any chance?”

Lopez breathes in after his digression.

“Any how he claims he was here to meet with a representative of Senator Peña in this shack, and it seems he met with a prostitute, as he claims, instead. She allegedly knocked him out and took off running.”

"EMT's outside lookin at your partner. So you just came in here when you got on the scene and your partner did that shootin'?"

[Uttland]

Officer Mark Lopez

Lopez felt it weird to describe the story of a man right next to him and breathing, but nonetheless did. “This man claims to be one Carlos Mateo from Palm Beach, Florida. I found him knocked out on the floor with a dented chair next to him, which is why I’m hoping the EMT can arrive here soon, is he by any chance?”

Lopez breathes in after his digression.

“Any how he claims he was here to meet with a representative of Senator Peña in this shack, and it seems he met with a prostitute, as he claims, instead. She allegedly knocked him out and took off running.”

"EMT's outside lookin at your partner. So you just came in here when you got on the scene and your partner did that shootin'?"

Officer Mark Lopez

”No, no. My partner radioed in an emergency and I ran out; Mr. Mateo was still unconscious. I saw this woman in a car dashing around, my partner clinging to dear life from the wheel, her hand being crushed. The woman looked dazed. She stopped the car to release my partner, but after kept on going towards the road. I shot then after at the car.”

[Tallahassee News Station]

"EMT's outside lookin at your partner. So you just came in here when you got on the scene and your partner did that shootin'?"

Officer Mark Lopez

”No, no. My partner radioed in an emergency and I ran out; Mr. Mateo was still unconscious. I saw this woman in a car dashing around, my partner clinging to dear life from the wheel, her hand being crushed. The woman looked dazed. She stopped the car to release my partner, but after kept on going towards the road. I shot then after at the car.”

Pepper looked the young guy over. "How long you been with the force?"

[Uttland]

Officer Mark Lopez

”No, no. My partner radioed in an emergency and I ran out; Mr. Mateo was still unconscious. I saw this woman in a car dashing around, my partner clinging to dear life from the wheel, her hand being crushed. The woman looked dazed. She stopped the car to release my partner, but after kept on going towards the road. I shot then after at the car.”

Pepper looked the young guy over. "How long you been with the force?"

Officer Mark Lopez

”No more than a year, sir.” Lopez answered with some hesitance.

[Tallahassee News Station]

Pepper looked the young guy over. "How long you been with the force?"

Officer Mark Lopez

”No more than a year, sir.” Lopez answered with some hesitance.

"D*mn rookies." Pepper muttered. "Well you did what you did and that's just how it's going to have to be. Now lets take a look at this fellow here. What's your story son? Got a little more rough than the pay let you?"