LOTF: An American Political Roleplay (116th Congress)

[Lavan Tiri]

Think so. I wouldn't try and stop her. Let her get some airtime, keeps her seat safe. She's probably the only one who can hold it in our column.

Causing a rift in the party when we've got a bipartisan bill will put our seat in the Oval Office at risk. Dems are playing politics, we need to play lawmakers. Too many Americans face impending doom for these games.

Kim looked at Slater, looked at Augusta, looked back at Slater, and sent a note.

Then you try and stop her, Rick. She looks ready to skin Warrick alive and eat him

[Concerned American Workers]

---

Francince Sullivan (D-AK)
Senate Floor

---

Upon the recess, Francine quickly got up, reading the note from Dunbar, and sending her own quick one. As a staffer went to deliver it, the blonde woman was already out of the chamber. Sometimes there was no need to fight, but rather to flee. But she would be prepared to return if somehow this mess was sorted out.

How's Kansas this time of year?

[Jovuistan]

Causing a rift in the party when we've got a bipartisan bill will put our seat in the Oval Office at risk. Dems are playing politics, we need to play lawmakers. Too many Americans face impending doom for these games.

Kim looked at Slater, looked at Augusta, looked back at Slater, and sent a note.

Then you try and stop her, Rick. She looks ready to skin Warrick alive and eat him

Slater folded his arms with a frown as the gavel was hit. He wrote a quick note to Merriam.

Meet me in my office ASAP. -Rick

[Lavan Tiri]

---

Francince Sullivan (D-AK)
Senate Floor

---

Upon the recess, Francine quickly got up, reading the note from Dunbar, and sending her own quick one. As a staffer went to deliver it, the blonde woman was already out of the chamber. Sometimes there was no need to fight, but rather to flee. But she would be prepared to return if somehow this mess was sorted out.

How's Kansas this time of year?

The reply arrived on Frankie's desk after she left.

Flat, cold, and blood-red. Tell Volek to find someone serious to run against me, I'm bored.

[Echo Chamber Thought Police]

United States House of Representatives
Representative John Atang
[Democratic - 3rd District of the State of New York]
{Speaker pro Tempore}


'There being both a second and objections, one in the form of a quorum call, the motion will proceed to vote. Members of the House shall register their attendance with the electronic voting system, it should be a 15 minute process.'

[Jovuistan]

United States House of Representatives
Representative John Atang
[Democratic - 3rd District of the State of New York]
{Speaker pro Tempore}


'There being both a second and objections, one in the form of a quorum call, the motion will proceed to vote. Members of the House shall register their attendance with the electronic voting system, it should be a 15 minute process.'

Crawford immediately registered his attendance.

[Greater Arab State]

House Floor

House Minority Leader Volker registered his attendance.

[Alozia]

United States House of Representatives
Representative John Atang
[Democratic - 3rd District of the State of New York]
{Speaker pro Tempore}


'There being both a second and objections, one in the form of a quorum call, the motion will proceed to vote. Members of the House shall register their attendance with the electronic voting system, it should be a 15 minute process.'

Piotrowska registered her attendance.

[Greater Arab State]

House Floor

Representative Thomas Volker (R-MO-8): "Nay."

Soon after, a note was distributed to the House Republicans present on the House floor.

The vote for the DIRE Act is Nay.

[Louisianan]

United States House of Representatives
Representative John Atang
[Democratic - 3rd District of the State of New York]
{Speaker pro Tempore}


'There being both a second and objections, one in the form of a quorum call, the motion will proceed to vote. Members of the House shall register their attendance with the electronic voting system, it should be a 15 minute process.'

Linda registered her attendance

[Alozia]

United States House of Representatives
Representative Julia Piotrowska
[Democratic - Illinois' 5th congressional district]

"Aye."

[Jovuistan]

Rep. Phillip Crawford (D-KY3): "Aye!"

[New Cobastheia]

Representative Kathleen Nez
[Democratic - Arizona's 7th District]
[Assistant Speaker of the House of Representatives]

Nez ran out from the chamber to grab some papers from a staffer related to presenting DIRE before heading back in and registering her attendance.

"Aye!"

Representative Chip Renfus
[Republican - Mississippi’s 4th District]

Chip registered his attendance.

"Nay."

[Sarenium]

An aide to Howard Frankston scurried into the House Chamber, first speaking with Volker and explaining that their negotiators who had spent the week behind closed doors, had finally come to a consensus and compromise then doing the same with Simpson, then and as another Representative stood to vote, they ran over and spoke to Atang, "negotiators will have a deal by morning, but we can't have a deal if the House votes on DIRE. The Senate just recessed till 8AM, halt this vote, please, Representative."

The man's eyes looked tired, Atang could tell he was one of the negotiators, and his voice showed a sense of pride, conveying his sincerity in having come to agreement.

[Echo Chamber Thought Police]

An aide to Howard Frankston scurried into the House Chamber, first speaking with Volker and explaining that their negotiators who had spent the week behind closed doors, had finally come to a consensus and compromise then doing the same with Simpson, then and as another Representative stood to vote, they ran over and spoke to Atang, "negotiators will have a deal by morning, but we can't have a deal if the House votes on DIRE. The Senate just recessed till 8AM, halt this vote, please, Representative."

The man's eyes looked tired, Atang could tell he was one of the negotiators, and his voice showed a sense of pride, conveying his sincerity in having come to agreement.

Atang nodded.

'Okay, okay. Will do.'

[Echo Chamber Thought Police]

United States House of Representatives
Representative John Atang
[Democratic - 3rd District of the State of New York]
{Speaker pro Tempore}


Atang banged his gavel.

'Upon recent developments regarding the current legislation, the House will stand in recess until 8AM tomorrow morning.'

[Dentali]

SENATE FLOOR

Gardner: I am submitting the follow bill for consideration

OOC: Given the complexity required in this bill we are simplifying the actual writing.

Bill Proposal Sheet

Official Name: American Assistance and Relief Act of 2020 Nickname: AARA[/size]

Senate Sponsors: Robert Warrick Jr (R-IN), Levi Murphy (DFL-MN), Andrew Gardner (R-GA), Richard Slater (R-AR), Gordon Callahan (D-AL), Rebecca Trelawney (R-IN), Marcus Bateson (R-TN), Everett Colbert (R-UT), Greg Kost (R-FL), Michelle Brown (R-WY), Tim Westra (D-NJ), Karel Volek (D-NY), Sean Kelly (D-RI), Jillian Dayton (D-VA), Suraj Shah (D-TX), Francine Sullivan (D-AK), Erika Goldman (D-CT), Rafael Navarro (D-CA), Nickolai Dernilski (D-OH), Buster Bunker (D-CA), James Moore (D-MI)

House Sponsors: Thomas Volker (R-MO-8), Jay Dietrich (R-AK-AL), Crawford Clay (R-TX-4), John Ruler (R-IA-4), Linda Lazare (D-TX-7), Carrie Simone (D-NY-12), Representative Philip Crawford (D-KY-3), Representative John Atang (D-NY-3), Representative Ibrahim Simpson (D-CA-33), Representative Julia Piotrowska (D-IL-5), Mac Faulhaber (D-TN-9), Linda Lazare (D-TX-7), Fiona Lowell (D-WI-3), Malcom Douglas (D-NJ-9), Kathleen Nez (D-AZ-7)



Section 1: A grant program is established under the Secretary of the Labor to provide aid to improve and modernize state unemployment systems. Funds allocated may be used to update existing records, improve distribution, hire new workers and in general prevent disruption of service, delays in payment of benefits, and prevent waste, fraud and abuse.

Section 1A: $2 billion is allocated to this bill in the fiscal year 2020. Any leftover funds must be used in 2021 or returned to the Treasury. No single grant may exceed $45 million in the year 2020.

Section 1B: Individual states must apply for the grant based on the total unemployment in their state, total state population, and the specific needs of the state unemployment systems.

Section 2: The Federal Unemployment benefit is increased by a further $600 per week for the 21 weeks after the passage of this bill, with a cap of 95% of previous earnings.

Section 2A: 20 weeks after the passage of this bill Congress will hold a vote on the extension of this benefit for another 21 weeks.

Section 3: A Small Business Disaster Loan Assistance program is established and managed by the Small Business Administration. This program will allow small business owners, including agricultural businesses and nonprofits, to apply for loans to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occured.

Section 3A: $20 billion is allocated for fiscal year 2020 to carry out this section of the bill.

Section 3B: The loan payment is deferred for one year and interest does not accrue for 5 years. The interest rate for businesses is fixed at 1% and the interest rate for non-profits fixed at .75%. No loan to any single small business or non-profit may exceed $1 million.

Section 3C: An Additional $10 billion is allocated for fiscal year 2020 to small businesses where state government agree to provide matching funds.

Section 3D: 10% of all funding in this section must be allocated to counties which have had a poverty level of 20% or higher for the past 30 years or more.

Section 4: The Employee Retention Tax Credit is hereby created. This tax credit is intended to offset up to 50% of the wages of employees of businesses up to a limit of $10,000. For small businesses with under 100 employees up to 80% of wages may be upset up to $14,000.

Section 4A: Businesses must certify a 50% decline in gross receipts from the same calendar quarter of 2019 in order to qualify for this program.

Section 4B: The Employee Retention Tax Credit or ERTC, is a fully refundable tax credit applying to wages paid after March 1st, 2020 and before January 1st, 2021.

Section 4C: 6 Months after the passage of this bill Congress will have the option of extending this program to July 1st, 2021.

Section 5: All individuals whose principal residence is within a declared disaster zone have a 60 day mandatory tax payment extension.

Section 6: From March 1st, 2020 to June 1st, 2020 the Payroll tax rate for all individuals living within the United States is 0%. From June 1st, 2020 to August 1st, 2020 the payroll tax for all individuals living within the United States is 2%. From August 1st, 2020 to October 1st, 2020 the payroll tax for all individuals living within the United States is 4%. From October 1st, 2020 to January 1st, 2021 the payroll tax for all individuals living within the United States is 6%. Following January 1st, 2021 the payroll tax rate returns to the level it was at February 1st, 2020.

Section 7: All public K-12 schools in the United States are eligible for individual grants in fiscal year 2020 not exceeding $100,000 per school, to be administered by the Department of Education. Grants must be distributed based on total student population and the rate of revenue per pupil.

Section 7A: $20 billion is allocated for the grant program established in this section. Any funds not used in fiscal year 2020 may be allocated in fiscal year 2021.

Section 7B: 10% of all funding in this section must be allocated to counties which have had a poverty level of 20% or higher for the past 30 years or more.


Section 8: Direct Checks to all Americans making under $65,000 a year or $130,000 for couples filing jointly. 1 week after passage of this bill qualifying Americans will receive a check of $250 with an additional $100 per dependent. 3 weeks after the passage of this bill, qualifying Americans will receive a check of $750 with an additional $100 per dependent.

Section 8A: $250 billion is allocated for this section in fiscal year 2020.

Section 9: Individuals within the meaning of section 1312 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and who are not eligible under title XVIII of the Medicare program, and whose primary residence is in an area with not more than 3 health insurance issuers, are qualified for the Medicare Exchange Health Plan whose goal is to provide access to quality healthcare for all enrollees.

Section 9A: The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall make available the Medicare Health Plan in priority areas for both individual and small group markets for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Section 9B: The Secretary shall establish premiums for the health plan to cover the full cost of offering such plans, including administrative costs. Such premiums shall vary geographically and between the small group market and the individual market in accordance with differences in the cost of providing such coverage. If, for any plan year, the amount collected in premiums exceeds the amount required for health care benefits and administrative costs in that plan year, such excess amounts shall remain available to the Secretary to administer the health plan and finance beneficiary costs in subsequent years.

Section 9C: The Secretary shall reimburse health care providers items and services at rates determined for equivalent items and services under the Medicare fee-for-service program.

Section 9D: Prescription Drugs payment rates shall be at a rate negotiated by the Secretary in conjunction with title XVIII

Section 9E: The Secretary may utilize innovative payment methods, including value-based payment arrangements, in making payments for items and services (including prescription drugs) furnished under the health plan.

Section 9F: $30,000,000,000 is appropriated for this section in fiscal year 2020.

Section 10: All Americans who have lost employment or have had hours cut compared to last fiscal quarter since March 1st, 2020 and who fail to pay rent may not be evicted from residences until at least three months following the implementation of this bill.

Section 11: A Grant program is established for all Colleges, Universities, and private educational institutions for fiscal year 2020. Grants will be awarded according to size of the institution and the institution must produce evidence of a loss in gross receipts of 25% or more compared to the same fiscal quarter in 2019. Grants will be awarded in amounts not exceeding $100,000 per institution and will be paid out in installments over the next 4 years on the condition the institution does not raise tuition or cancel scholarship programs in the next 4 years.

Section 11A: 10% of all funding in this section must be allocated to counties which have had a poverty level of 20% or higher for the past 30 years or more.

Section 11B: $10 billion is allocated to this section.

Section 12: The grant funding for The Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance is increased to by $1 billion to $4.75 billion to help respond to home energy needs surrounding the national crisis.

Section 12A: 10% of all funding in this section must be allocated to counties which have had a poverty level of 20% or higher for the past 30 years or more.

Section 13: STRESS TESTING

Section 13A: Federal Reserve regulators are instructed to conduct extensive stress tests and examine financial accounts in accordance with their duties under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Section 13B: Such stress tests will apply to the ten largest health insurance companies as determined by the Secretary of Health and Urban Development.

Section 13C: The results of said stress tests will be disclosed to the President, Congress, and the public at a date not later than 3 months after the enactment of this section.

Section 14: Expansion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Section 14A: Maximum Benefit Increase.—In general.--Beginning the first month that begins not less than 25 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the value of benefits determined by operators of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and consolidated block grants for Puerto Rico and American Samoa shall be calculated using 110 percent of the June 2008 value of the published "thrifty food plan" of 2019. For the first two months after the enactment of this bill the work requirements are dropped completely and then phased back in over six months following the enactment of this bill.

Section 14B: Funding.—There are appropriated to the Secretary out of funds of the Treasury not otherwise appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.


This bill is then honorably presented to The Senate for consideration in order to provide immediate financial relief to the American people and is backed by Robert Warrick Jr (R-IN), Levi Murphy (DFL-MN), Andrew Gardner (R-GA), Richard Slater (R-AR), Gordon Callahan (D-AL), Rebecca Trelawney (R-IN), Marcus Bateson (R-TN), Everett Colbert (R-UT), Greg Kost (R-FL), Michelle Brown (R-WY), Tim Westra (D-NJ), Karel Volek (D-NY), Sean Kelly (D-RI), Jillian Dayton (D-VA), Suraj Shah (D-TX), Francine Sullivan (D-AK), Erika Goldman (D-CT), Rafael Navarro (D-CA), Nickolai Dernilski (D-OH), Buster Bunker (D-CA), James Moore (D-MI), Thomas Volker (R-MO-8), Jay Dietrich (R-AK), Crawford Clay (R-TX-4), John Ruler (R-IA-4), Linda Lazare (D-TX-7), Carrie Simone (D-NY-12), Representative Philip Crawford (D-KY-3), Representative John Atang (D-NY-3), Representative Ibrahim Simpson (D-CA-33), Representative Julia Piotrowska (D-IL-5), Mac Faulhaber (D-TN-9), Linda Lazare (D-TX-7), Fiona Lowell (D-WI-3), Malcom Douglas (D-NJ-9), and Kathleen Nez (D-AZ-7) on March 28th, 2020

Do Not Remove: 1337

[Dentali]

SENATE FLOOR

Gardner: I motion to withdraw the First American Rescue Package and then take up the American Assistance and Relief Act of 2020 also known as AARA

[Greater Arab State]

Senate Floor

Senator Rebecca Trelawney (R-IN): “Seconded.”

[Dentali]

SENATE FLOOR

Gardner: I motion to withdraw the First American Rescue Package and then take up the American Assistance and Relief Act of 2020 also known as AARA

Warrick: No opposed, the motion passes. Senator Gardner has the floor.

Gardner: I motion to vote on the legislation without debate

Warrick: All in favor?

[The Orion Islands]

Senator Colbert didn't like what he felt like he had to do, but it was the only responsible thing to protect Social Security and Medicare.
"Mr. President, I object to the motion to vote on the legislation without debate and I move to amend the bill by striking Section 6."

[Dentali]

Senator Colbert didn't like what he felt like he had to do, but it was the only responsible thing to protect Social Security and Medicare.
"Mr. President, I object to the motion to vote on the legislation without debate and I move to amend the bill by striking Section 6."

Warrick gave Colbert a death stare for a few seconds to allow him to reconsider and then motioned an aide to go to Colbert

President: I’m sorry Senator Colbert, I missed that can you please repeat yourself?

[The Orion Islands]

Senator Colbert didn't like what he felt like he had to do, but it was the only responsible thing to protect Social Security and Medicare.
"Mr. President, I object to the motion to vote on the legislation without debate and I move to amend the bill by striking Section 6."

Warrick gave Colbert a death stare for a few seconds to allow him to reconsider and then motioned an aide to go to Colbert

President: I’m sorry Senator Colbert, I missed that can you please repeat yourself?

Senator Colbert: "Sorry, I drop my objection, withdraw my motion, and I second the motion from the Gentleman from Georgia."

[Dentali]

President: The Senate will now vote on the legislation

[The Orion Islands]

Senator Colbert: "Mr. President, I vote aye."