American space explorers have discovered a new planet recently which they have named Pacifica. The explorers have claimed the watery world on behalf of the United States of America. However the US government has not taken action to physically claim the planet but a survery ship will be launched at the end of the month. In the meantime, the explorers have already landed on an island and raised the American flag.
Conservatives want to claim and annex the entire planet to the United States but liberals want to share Pacifica with other nations. Federal policy does not prohibit states from establishing their own colonies on newly discovered or colonized worlds.
One Congressman has said he intends to introduce a law to ban non Americans from landing on or colonizing Pacifica.
Pacifica is about twice the size of earth and is mostly water with large and small islands. The explorers are still looking for signs of native life.
The states of California, New York, Iraq, Panama, Texas, Liberia, and Florida commented they will soon send their own survey teams to stake out claims regardless of what the federal government does.
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Secretary of State Kellington began sending messages to America's allies, both on earth and off earth informing them of the discovery and the US government has not yet taken official action but that the states had already begun preparing to establish claims. She asked for their input on whether Pacifica should be shared.
