America the Beautiful: An American Political RP (IC)

[New Cobastheia]

Laying down the law was arguably one of the biggest reasons that Hertzog was hesitant to pursue a higher position in leadership for all those years. His style was much less confrontation and much more cooperation. Maybe it was just his personality, maybe it's just what happens when confrontation meant a higher chance of critical failure and cooperation meant a higher chance of getting to go up again in his previous career. Regardless, for the situation the Caucus found itself it, it'd be better that Hertzog were to met with the freshman Senator himself now rather than sicking the Whip or Obradovic on him or waiting for him to become an actual problem.

Not wanting to keep him waiting too long with his secretary, shortly after Roger's arrived Hertzog would open up the door to his private office. Upon walking in Rogers would find Hertzog standing off to the side at a Keurig waiting for his drink to finish brewing. Hearing him walk in, Hertzog turned around and calmly asked, "Senator Rogers, what brings you to my office this evening?"

William held out the note he had received from Hertzog earlier in the day.

"Good evening Senator. The note you sent earlier is what brings me to your office. I assume you have business you would like to discuss?"

"And I assume you're smart enough to know what business I want to talk about?"

[Velahor]

William held out the note he had received from Hertzog earlier in the day.

"Good evening Senator. The note you sent earlier is what brings me to your office. I assume you have business you would like to discuss?"

"And I assume you're smart enough to know what business I want to talk about?"

Rogers walked into the room and took in his surroundings.

"I can think of two items of business in specific. First, I voted against your amendment on the EFA. We can definitely talk about that. Second, I think you probably want to talk about my support of MARKET, since it seems like everybody wants to talk about that today. So what is it?"

[New Cobastheia]

"And I assume you're smart enough to know what business I want to talk about?"

Rogers walked into the room and took in his surroundings.

"I can think of two items of business in specific. First, I voted against your amendment on the EFA. We can definitely talk about that. Second, I think you probably want to talk about my support of MARKET, since it seems like everybody wants to talk about that today. So what is it?"

"Both actually, take a seat," He said as he motioned over to his desk, "Care for anything to drink?"

[Velahor]

Rogers walked into the room and took in his surroundings.

"I can think of two items of business in specific. First, I voted against your amendment on the EFA. We can definitely talk about that. Second, I think you probably want to talk about my support of MARKET, since it seems like everybody wants to talk about that today. So what is it?"

"Both actually, take a seat," He said as he motioned over to his desk, "Care for anything to drink?"

“Coffee. Black. Thank you,” said Rogers as he took a seat.

[The Orion Islands]

"Well thank you for your appreciation of the Defense of the Pacific Act. And as for BUILD, it would expand some federal programs that focus on improving the supply of affordable housing. Park City, Greater Salt Lake, housing costs are up, cost of livings going up, people need some relief. Now, I did submit an amendment that would have ensured that each state got funds proportional to their population to ensure that New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago got all the money. I hear Gaspard likes the bill, and I think a few other Republicans would be in favor, but Deborah Freyer was threatening a filibuster. I'd like to hear your opinion."

“Look… in your position in a different time? I might support it, deregulation of the housing market to expand the supply of housing is a good idea. The problem is in this one of the worst economic crisis In history and people are going to be fighting for every dollar… and frankly this bill by and large is going to blue states whose bad housing policies have created this crisis… and I wouldn’t disagree with that assessment… and frankly giving them money to do the right thing and make good policy for their people ticks me off.”

Richardson exhaled and leaned back “but is that reason to let people suffer? No… listen this bill isn’t passing as written or with the amendment proposed… that’s just the reality… However if you withdraw the bill and come back in two months or so with a version that gives something more to the red states? Then I can take the case to Volker and O’Hall…
I’ll advocate for your bill but right now this just isn’t a fight you can win, or the party wants.”

Colbert listened intently.
“Alright, BUILD is off the agenda for now. Anything else you wanted to discuss?”

[New Cobastheia]

"Both actually, take a seat," He said as he motioned over to his desk, "Care for anything to drink?"

“Coffee. Black. Thank you,” said Rogers as he took a seat.

Hertzog started the machine up again to make Rogers coffee while he finished up his own cup. Bringing them over, he handed Rogers a UMich mug while he took a sip from one of his many NASA mugs.

"Let's start with the amendment. Now, why did you vote against it? I don't know about you, but when someone seconds all my motions I assume they're on the same side as me."

[Velahor]

“Coffee. Black. Thank you,” said Rogers as he took a seat.

Hertzog started the machine up again to make Rogers coffee while he finished up his own cup. Bringing them over, he handed Rogers a UMich mug while he took a sip from one of his many NASA mugs.

"Let's start with the amendment. Now, why did you vote against it? I don't know about you, but when someone seconds all my motions I assume they're on the same side as me."

"Well...I like seeing the Senate move smoothly. I'm not going to leave the majority leader hanging for a second."

Rogers took a sip of the hot coffee then waited for it to cool a bit.

"But you gotta admit, that amendment wasn't perfect. If it hadn't singled out the 'East North Central division' to get two hubs, I would have been right on board. It was all a little brazen, especially when there's census bureau divisions with more land area and higher populations than the one your state is in. And if this bill is intended to curb Chinese influence, it'd make sense to have the region with 2 hubs be a more western one."

"I didn't really know how I felt bringing that up in the Senate, the idea didn't really sit well with me to argue that with you in front of everyone. So since there was no whip, I figured I would just vote no on it."

[New Cobastheia]

Hertzog started the machine up again to make Rogers coffee while he finished up his own cup. Bringing them over, he handed Rogers a UMich mug while he took a sip from one of his many NASA mugs.

"Let's start with the amendment. Now, why did you vote against it? I don't know about you, but when someone seconds all my motions I assume they're on the same side as me."

"Well...I like seeing the Senate move smoothly. I'm not going to leave the majority leader hanging for a second."

Rogers took a sip of the hot coffee then waited for it to cool a bit.

"But you gotta admit, that amendment wasn't perfect. If it hadn't singled out the 'East North Central division' to get two hubs, I would have been right on board. It was all a little brazen, especially when there's census bureau divisions with more land area and higher populations than the one your state is in. And if this bill is intended to curb Chinese influence, it'd make sense to have the region with 2 hubs be a more western one."

"I didn't really know how I felt bringing that up in the Senate, the idea didn't really sit well with me to argue that with you in front of everyone. So since there was no whip, I figured I would just vote no on it."

"It's not like you didn't have the chance, if I'd get a note from a member of the caucus about my own amendment I'd respond. And it's not like I was unamendable to my own amendment, I would've been happy to drop it and put up a new one with 2 going to my region and 2 going to yours. You had plenty of chances to let me know before it was put up for a vote, but you didn't... How come?"

[Dentali]

“Look… in your position in a different time? I might support it, deregulation of the housing market to expand the supply of housing is a good idea. The problem is in this one of the worst economic crisis In history and people are going to be fighting for every dollar… and frankly this bill by and large is going to blue states whose bad housing policies have created this crisis… and I wouldn’t disagree with that assessment… and frankly giving them money to do the right thing and make good policy for their people ticks me off.”

Richardson exhaled and leaned back “but is that reason to let people suffer? No… listen this bill isn’t passing as written or with the amendment proposed… that’s just the reality… However if you withdraw the bill and come back in two months or so with a version that gives something more to the red states? Then I can take the case to Volker and O’Hall…
I’ll advocate for your bill but right now this just isn’t a fight you can win, or the party wants.”

Colbert listened intently.
“Alright, BUILD is off the agenda for now. Anything else you wanted to discuss?”

"That's all I wanted to discuss specifically.... But tell me what are your thought on the infrastructure bill? Do you have anything you want to see in it? Top or bottomline numbers?"

[Dentali]

.

[Alozia]

Joe Abrahms
@AbrahmsJoe
abrahms.house.gov | Trenton, NJ

---

The Equality Act is a step towards ensuring the American Dream for everyone. I am proud to introduce it in the 117th Congress.

Let's make it happen, let's #putitontheagenda !

[Gordano and Lysandus]

(Image)
Joe Abrahms
@AbrahmsJoe
abrahms.house.gov | Trenton, NJ

---

The Equality Act is a step towards ensuring the American Dream for everyone. I am proud to introduce it in the 117th Congress.

Let's make it happen, let's #putitontheagenda !

Liked and retweeted by @SpeakerSimone.

[Velahor]

"Well...I like seeing the Senate move smoothly. I'm not going to leave the majority leader hanging for a second."

Rogers took a sip of the hot coffee then waited for it to cool a bit.

"But you gotta admit, that amendment wasn't perfect. If it hadn't singled out the 'East North Central division' to get two hubs, I would have been right on board. It was all a little brazen, especially when there's census bureau divisions with more land area and higher populations than the one your state is in. And if this bill is intended to curb Chinese influence, it'd make sense to have the region with 2 hubs be a more western one."

"I didn't really know how I felt bringing that up in the Senate, the idea didn't really sit well with me to argue that with you in front of everyone. So since there was no whip, I figured I would just vote no on it."

"It's not like you didn't have the chance, if I'd get a note from a member of the caucus about my own amendment I'd respond. And it's not like I was unamendable to my own amendment, I would've been happy to drop it and put up a new one with 2 going to my region and 2 going to yours. You had plenty of chances to let me know before it was put up for a vote, but you didn't... How come?"

Rogers took on a bit of a look of defeat as he relaxed his body in the chair.

"Uhhh...so really...I'm not sure. I think I was distracted thinking about MARKET. And I was a little nervous. I guess I've never had to do that before, telling the leaders that I'm not on board with their amendment. I just didn't know how to go about it and kinda froze."

He paused to drink a little coffee.

"It won't happen again though. You're the majority leader...if you want to hear from me ahead of time when I have a problem with what's on the agenda...it's my responsibility to make sure it happens."

[Yaruqo]

(Image)
Joe Abrahms
@AbrahmsJoe
abrahms.house.gov | Trenton, NJ

---

The Equality Act is a step towards ensuring the American Dream for everyone. I am proud to introduce it in the 117th Congress.

Let's make it happen, let's #putitontheagenda !

*Liked and retweeted by @RepMillerKS*

[Jovuistan]

(Image)
Joe Abrahms
@AbrahmsJoe
abrahms.house.gov | Trenton, NJ

---

The Equality Act is a step towards ensuring the American Dream for everyone. I am proud to introduce it in the 117th Congress.

Let's make it happen, let's #putitontheagenda !

Liked and retweeted by Phillip Crawford.

[Lavan Tiri]

Senator Max O'Halloran
Senate Minority Leader

Max, after the Oval Office meeting, headed back to Capitol Hill, sat behind his desk, and stared at a wall for several minutes. Duncan entered the room, shuffling through paperwork.

"Hey boss man, got some stuff for you to look at--"

"Do you think Diane Paulson has massive jugs?"

Duncan turned around and left.

[Deblar]

(Image)
Joe Abrahms
@AbrahmsJoe
abrahms.house.gov | Trenton, NJ

---

The Equality Act is a step towards ensuring the American Dream for everyone. I am proud to introduce it in the 117th Congress.

Let's make it happen, let's #putitontheagenda !

Liked and retweeted by @HugoFitzgeraldTX

[Newne Carriebean7]

Representative Durant is pictured disembarking the train with Representative Paulson
Capitol Hill
Office of Representative Maxine Durant (Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District)
February 3rd, 2021

Durant was wearing her traditional red dress. In place of a cigarette which a previous office holder of the 50's might have utilized was a bottle of Coca-Cola that she absentmindedly took sips from while pouring over the various new bills that had been introduced while she was sleeping apparently. That shitty motel she was just able to afford (or just bad with cash in general) had a blackout, so she wasn't able to turn on the C-SPAN, PBS or MSNBC, which just so happened to be all the hotel had to offer in terms of channels. She should've kicked herself that '20 dollars a night' was too good to be true. Oh, how she longed to spend some more time in her home district, getting a feel for her people, but no, she was here in her office musing over whatever the hell the House Docket was filled up with.

Thoughts pondered her head as she pulled open a drawer and dusted off the physical newspaper that she had five-finger discounted herself when the newspaper boy was distracted by a roaring sports car that tore up the side roads in her native Mississippi. She made note of the seven blue and red wailing enforcers of the peace that came after the man. The poor racer forgot where he had been going and hit a tree. His car had been in better shape than the hospital had to work with. But, if some dumb son of a bitch was helping the medical industry in this time of economic calamity, she supported the idiot hitting the tree. It meant that for one more night the Doctors and Physicians would easily be able to have the peace of mind not having to worry about their next month's boat payment.

Turning her attention to the Document, she took note of the Wisconsin Senate Race. On one corner was that.. damned Dairy Dan. While normally she would abhor bipartisanship or even looking at the 'democrats', her recent behavior(and the consequences incurred on her by GOP party leadership) made her re-think some things. She did like a divided-government after all. A Republican controlled House and a Democratic controlled Senate did lend itself to begrudging bipartisanship...or endless partisan gridlock. For as partisan as her bones were, she was starting to learn what 'working with the other-side felt like'. Sure, Donal hadn't proposed any real bills to the floor of the House yet, but a share animosity of the communist American Relief Act did earn him some conservative points on her team. And, as much as he acted goofy, she did find that charming in a way. Not the-run off and divorce your husband-kind of way, but the-maybe we could get a cup of coca cola while hashing out legislative paperwork- kind of way. After all, pouring over legislation together in his or her office as almost as romantic as going to Olive Garden. Hell, maybe they could order Olive Garden and have it delivered to her office. It wasn't hard to miss. What other southern representative is still attached to an emblem of succession, state's rights and treason in that order? And a woman no doubt! Ok, that last part might have been some lingering crumbs of the more mysoginistic past, where women were expected to be seen, not heard. A lot like children actually!

Then Durant turned to the opponent, a Congressman Boyd. She had forgotten his first name, but knew he worked in Congress, given his name, and that he was a man, given the title at the end of 'congress'. Yeah, Durant wasnt too smart, but she hadn't had a full 32 oz Big Gulp of tooth decay and general dopamine rush to the cranium. Either that or she was just stupid, she honestly couldn't tell at this point. Yawning in-between another swig of her caffeinated drink of choice, she flipped the page over in the Article. There was a way of vengeance, but she needed it to be crafty, not as blunt as giving the finger to House Fuher Volker in the Hallway. She had to have more class than that. In fact, maybe Congressmen Boyd and Donal could both come over here and they'd have an energetic discussion, order some pizzas from whatever greasy spoon didn't make them really sick and some bipartisanship (and grease stains) would end up being written into hefty pages of fresh legislation that she would at least get credit for. That would show her constituents she was really giving a damn and not some bullshit "Washin-tin' insida."

Her phone vibrated as she finally found something to go after. That Joe feller from New Jersey talked about the Equality Act. Christ, what a bunch of communist bullshit, this time it wasn't just a fellow Republican, she was actually going to go after the enemy this time. Hell, maybe President Dick Richardson would recommend her the thanks of congress in the partisan jihad that was occurring! With her mind made up, she logged into her twitter account and sent a small item off at Joe.

Maxine Durant
@MaxineDurant2
Durant.house.gov | Cedar Grove, MS
Norry (my CoS) just got me a copy of the so-called "Equality Act". I trust that the Speaker will make the right decision an keep it OFF the agenda when we've got more pressing concerns in Washintin. Dealing with the rights of the 2nd Amendment are far more important than 'equality'. The only way we can be equal is equal access to responsible gun ownership, and that is something I intend to fight for while your Representative. (1/2)

---

That's not to say I'm fully against it, I'm all for feminism, so long as it's either conservative feminisms or trying to get rid of some mysoginistic attitudes that the country has. (P.S. NOT BABY KILLING) But, I will have a nice discussion with my constituents about this bill, and will eagerly await to reply to their e-mails personally before I vote on the House Floor for the day.
(2/2)

---

[Madrinpoor]

(Image)
Joe Abrahms
@AbrahmsJoe
abrahms.house.gov | Trenton, NJ

---

The Equality Act is a step towards ensuring the American Dream for everyone. I am proud to introduce it in the 117th Congress.

Let's make it happen, let's #putitontheagenda !

Liked and retweeted by @FrankLoloma

[The Orion Islands]

Colbert listened intently.
“Alright, BUILD is off the agenda for now. Anything else you wanted to discuss?”

"That's all I wanted to discuss specifically.... But tell me what are your thought on the infrastructure bill? Do you have anything you want to see in it? Top or bottomline numbers?"

"Well, I don't have a specific number in mind, but just make sure Utah gets some benefits. And I was thinking rural infrastructure, better roads, rural broadband and 5G, and perhaps some money thrown in to help develop more of a domestic oil industry in states like Utah, so we are not dependent on the OPEC cartel and the Russians. You know, China's making a big push to develop her domestic oil, there is no reason why America shouldn't be doing the same."

[The Sarangtus Lands]

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
February 2nd, 2021

The two hour flight from Washington to Wisconsin was a pain in the ass. Especially when she had to pull out enough cash from her ATM in order to afford the plane ticket and the return date. A small thought raced through her head, being stuck in there like her chances at re-election next year. "I can't believe I'm doing this just to spite Dairy Dan.." She chuckled affably at the thought as she de-boarded the plane, taking her small suitcase of a few personal belongings, some clothes, a small confederate flag and what she had drunkenly described going through customs (not out loud thankfully) as "just some weapons grade nuclear plutonium" that was simply her purse filled with pretzel crumbs, sticks of minty "grandma-caliber" gum and some three year old make-up kit that she either neglected to throw away out of stubbornness, nostalgia or ignorance.

Walking out of the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, she was greeted with a far chillier air than she had been expecting. A small hand drove through the increasingly itchy dandruff heavy brown mop that adorned her head. She glanced at her arms to notice a series of goosebumps. She shivered shortly after the realization. God damn it to hell. Why couldn't god have just moved Wisconsin down a few degrees south to the equator. Sure, it would've been a massively disruptive event for a large hand to push an entire state, but she was cold DAMNIT!

Hailing a yellowish-greenish looking Taxi that she had arranged to pick her up from the airport (at the criminally high price of 115 per person. She knew she shouldn't've checked the box on the application that made her sexual identity as a bag of luggage, just to make fun of those weird men who became women suddenly. Back in her day, they had a place for that. It was the guillotine, or maybe that was for sodomy? She couldn't say for sure, but she knew it wasn't legal. She glanced down at her phone to brush up on the Wisconsin Senate Race that was already unfolding. Reading the article out loud to herself in the comfort of the only slightly soiled back seat of the Sprite colored (and sponsored, apparently) Ford cab, she grimaced.

"Y'all mean that us G O P fellers have gots a choice between a goddamned communist that wants the ARA to pass n' is a former bizeness man, competin' 'gainst a feller that's more to my likin. This here, Chris feller. But, I don't really see him havin' as much as what a crazy communist has in my own district, chance in winnin' wise."

She pondered the political calculations in her head. On one hand, openly spitting at the face of her perceived 'revolutionary socalist bastards' of Thomas (and by a far lesser extent, Whip Dumbo from Montana) did make the bee's turn into her knees. But, on the other hand, she'd rather not fuel the man so much that he might become a spoiler that could end up having the elephant businessman win by a plurality come the primary. Wait? was there even a GOP primary.. She briefly turned the physical Wall Street Journal newspaper about the race she had brought with her on the plane for consultation. While it may seem odd that someone in 2021 was still actively getting her information from a Newspaper, considering her livelihood was made in the newspaper prior to her joining the MS state senate and as a member of the House, her old-fashioned decison actually makes more sense with that context put forth.

For Maxine, reading a newspaper was almost as fun as shooting a gun at a paper cut out of Speaker Volker. Almost as fun, a close second actually. She mused through the paper at hand and made sure to highlight the section at the bottom with a trusty yellowish orange sharpie.

'More candidates are expected to jump in for the short primary season and the question of who the nominee will be is far from decided.'

She needed to play her cards right. If she swung blindly on twitter, then her careful calculation would be cast out the window. While not a real fan of the ARA, she at least tried a more 'reasonable' proposal than the 'cash throwing' train-wreck in motion that the GOP was willing to bring out from the station. She wasn't expecting a vote on her bill any-time soon (lest the speaker get a light-bulb and try to sink her bill without her being present in the Capitol for anything). It wasn't like she had much going on for Mississippians at the moment, so she felt justified in taking a brief break, letting hapless Norrington deal with the mobs of angry reporters (and constituents) that would try to tear him limb from limb politically. Hell, so long as it wasn't her neck on the chopping block, she was fine with what she was going to do.

The Taxi-cab came to a halt outside a home. She glanced at her phone and noticed a private Twitter DM from Congressman Boyd.

Taking a picture outside, she hastily replied in a Twitter DM to Congressman Boyd:

@HeartlandDemocrat
I think now is a good time to meet rn. Just arrived about 45 min ago in WI. Nice state btw. We'll talk about the upcoming senate race soon enough. See you then m8. Oh, and you left your blinds open, nice piano.

@MaxineDurant

That's not my house, that's my neighbour's. I love it when he plays jazz on the piano late in the night though, helps me go to sleep.

[Dentali]

"That's all I wanted to discuss specifically.... But tell me what are your thought on the infrastructure bill? Do you have anything you want to see in it? Top or bottomline numbers?"

"Well, I don't have a specific number in mind, but just make sure Utah gets some benefits. And I was thinking rural infrastructure, better roads, rural broadband and 5G, and perhaps some money thrown in to help develop more of a domestic oil industry in states like Utah, so we are not dependent on the OPEC cartel and the Russians. You know, China's making a big push to develop her domestic oil, there is no reason why America shouldn't be doing the same."

“So if I came out with a $5 trillion bill you wouldn’t have any issue?”

[The Orion Islands]

"Well, I don't have a specific number in mind, but just make sure Utah gets some benefits. And I was thinking rural infrastructure, better roads, rural broadband and 5G, and perhaps some money thrown in to help develop more of a domestic oil industry in states like Utah, so we are not dependent on the OPEC cartel and the Russians. You know, China's making a big push to develop her domestic oil, there is no reason why America shouldn't be doing the same."

“So if I came out with a $5 trillion bill you wouldn’t have any issue?”

"Anything beyond $2 trillion would not fly, I should have said that. But we need major investments in the areas I mentioned."

[Velahor]

Diane Paulson
@DianeForMaine
paulson.house.gov | Presque Isle, ME

---

There is no justification for treating powder cocaine different than crack cocaine offenses. The only notable difference between the two is that crack cocaine has historically been used in inner-city communities and powder cocaine in affluent neighborhoods and the suburbs. I'm very glad to have a bipartisan team of sponsors on board to eliminate the sentencing disparity through the LEAP Act.

[Gordano and Lysandus]

(Image)
Diane Paulson
@DianeForMaine
paulson.house.gov | Presque Isle, ME

---

There is no justification for treating powder cocaine different than crack cocaine offenses. The only notable difference between the two is that crack cocaine has historically been used in inner-city communities and powder cocaine in affluent neighborhoods and the suburbs. I'm very glad to have a bipartisan team of sponsors on board to eliminate the sentencing disparity through the LEAP Act.

Liked and retweeted by @SpeakerSimone and @SenatorObradovic.