DMH

2015 Year in Review California - California on Tuesday became the largest state in the country to require schoolchildren to receive vaccinationsunless there are medical reasons not to do so, as Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation that ended exemptions for personal or religious reasons. Mr. Brown, a Democrat, signed the bill after it was passed by significant margins in the State Legislature. The new law was the subject of a long and heated debate in reaction to a strong movement among some parents who refuse to vaccinate their children against infectious diseases like measles. “The science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious and dangerous diseases,” Mr. Brown said in a statement. “While it is true that no medical intervention is without risk, the evidence shows that immunization powerfully benefits and protects the community.” Two other states, West Virginia and Mississippi, have similar vaccination requirements. Despite overwhelming evidence that vaccines are an essential public health measure, the number of unvaccinated children in California has been rising, partly because personal and religious exemptions have been easy to obtain. Doctors say that parents who decline vaccines for their children, taking heart from the fact that most other children are immunized and unlikely to spread diseases like measles, have helped create pockets of dangerously low immunity levels in particular schools and communities. An outbreak of measles in California this year, which began at Disneyland, was attributed in part to diseases being spread by children who had not been vaccinated. Colorado - A gun battle erupted inside a Planned Parenthood center here on Friday when a man armed with an assault-style rifle opened fire and began shooting at officers as they rushed to the scene. The authorities reported that three people were killed, a police officer and two civilians, and nine were wounded before the suspect finally surrendered more than five hours after the first shots were fired. A police official in Colorado Springs identified the man in custody as Robert Lewis Dear. The police did not describe the motives of the 57-year-old gunman. For hours on Friday, officers traded gunfire with him inside the clinic before they were able to shout to the man and persuade him to give up, according to Lt. Catherine Buckley, a police spokeswoman. “The perpetrator is in custody,” Mayor John Suthers said at an evening news conference. “There is a huge crime scene that has to be processed,” he said, “and we have to determine how many victims there are.” Lieutenant Buckley said the gunman had brought several suspicious items to the clinic, and investigators were trying to determine whether they were explosives. The shooting came at a time when Planned Parenthood has been criticized because of surreptitious videos made by anti-abortion groups of officials discussing using fetal organs for research. It transformed a shopping area near the clinic into chaos as snow fell and gunshots rang through the parking lot. Black-clad tactical officers stood guard with guns in hand, ambulances lined up and dozens of shoppers and employees were ordered to stay away from windows and lock their businesses’ doors. Delaware - Delaware governor Jack Markell has signed into law a bill decriminalising possession and private use of small amounts of marijuana. The move follows the lead of nearly 20 states that have eased penalties for personal consumption, state media reported on Thursday. Individuals in Delware will be allowed to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and to use it privately without facing criminal sanctions. Police could still confiscate the drug, according to Delaware Online, the News Journal. The statute also will reduce the penalty for using marijuana in a public place to a $100 civil fine. Under previous Delaware law, simple marijuana possession was a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of $1,150. The law will take effect in six months’ time. Markell, a Democrat, signed the measure almost immediately after the state senate, voting along party lines, gave it final legislative approval. According to the Journal, the Democratic-backed bill cleared the state legislature without a single Republican vote in either the house or senate. Not counting Delaware, 17 states have passed laws to decriminalize personal marijuana use and possession in small amounts, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, a lobbying group. Delaware is one of 23 states, along with the District of Columbia, that allow the use of pot for medical reasons. Voters in Colorado, Washington state, Oregon, Alaska and Washington DC have approved ballot measures legalising cannabis for adult recreational use. Illinois - Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the former White House chief of staff whose cutting personality and centrist policies earned him the nickname “Mayor 1 Percent” among his critics, was re-elected mayor of Chicago on Tuesday, surviving a challenge from Jesus G. Garcia, a county commissioner who was seeking to become the city’s first Latino mayor. With 98 percent of precincts counted, Mr. Emanuel led Mr. Garcia 56 percent to 44 percent. For Mr. Emanuel, 55, it was a narrow escape from what could have been an embarrassing loss to Mr. Garcia, a feisty former alderman and community organizer who for months hammered Mr. Emanuel for closing dozens of public schools and claimed the mayor ignored the working class and poor in the nation’s third-largest city. But Mr. Emanuel fought back by asserting that Mr. Garcia was unqualified for the job and its immense responsibilities, including confronting Chicago’s staggering debt, stubbornly high crime rate and unfunded pension liabilities. The race was closely watched nationally as a test of Democratic centrists by the party’s liberal wing, which has been resurgent with the victory of Mayor Bill de Blasio in New York City and the national prominence of Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. At his campaign celebration, surrounded by his wife, Amy Rule; his daughters and son; and his brothers, Ariel and Ezekiel, Mr. Emanuel praised Mr. Garcia as “a good man” who loves Chicago, then thanked voters for giving him “a second term and a second chance.” “I have had the good fortune to serve two presidents. I’ve had the fortune of being elected to Congress,” he said. “Being mayor of the city of Chicago is the greatest job I’ve ever had and the greatest job in the world.” “To all the voters, I want to thank you for putting me through my paces,” Mr. Emanuel continued. “I will be a better mayor because of that.” Indiana - In Indiana, legislators passed a series of changes on Thursday that, while not outlawing anti-gay discrimination, clarified that the religious freedom law does not authorize such discrimination. Lawmakers in Arkansas, acting at the urging of the governor, passed a measure that is nearly identical to the federal Religious Freedom and Restoration Act — and thus narrower in scope than the initial bill — but does not directly address discrimination. While liberal critics said the new versions did not go far enough to prevent discrimination, and some social conservatives saw the measures as needlessly watered down, many lawmakers considered the changes to be acceptable compromises. After the Indiana legislature approved its legislation last week, an array of major companies and associations, as well as political and entertainment figures around the country, offered harsh criticism. Some state governments said they would curtail travel to Indiana, and some boycott efforts began, prompting state business leaders to demand changes. After long, anguished debates Thursday, the Indiana House of Representative voted, 66 to 30, and the Senate by 34 to 16, to amend the law, and Gov. Mike Pence signed the revision. Kentucky - A Kentucky county clerk who has become a symbol of religious opposition to same-sex marriage was jailed Thursday after defying a federal court order to issue licenses to gay couples. The clerk, Kim Davis of Rowan County, Ky., was ordered detained for contempt of court and later rejected a proposal to allow her deputies to process same-sex marriage licenses that could have prompted her release. Instead, on a day when one of Ms. Davis’s lawyers said she would not retreat from or modify her stand despite a Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, Judge David L. Bunning of United States District Court secured commitments from five of Ms. Davis’s deputies to begin providing the licenses. At least two couples planned to seek marriage licenses Friday. “The court cannot condone the willful disobedience of its lawfully issued order,” Judge Bunning said. “If you give people the opportunity to choose which orders they follow, that’s what potentially causes problems.” The judge’s decision to jail Ms. Davis, a 49-year-old Democrat who was elected last year, immediately intensified the attention focused on her, a longtime government worker who is one of three of Kentucky’s 120 county clerks who contend that their religious beliefs keep them from recognizing same-sex nuptials. Within hours of Ms. Davis’s imprisonment, prominent Republicans declared their support for her, a sign that her case was becoming an increasingly charged cause for Christian conservatives. Massachusetts - Two years after bombs in two backpacks transformed the Boston Marathon from a sunny rite of spring to a smoky battlefield with bodies dismembered, a federal jury on Friday condemned Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death for his role in the 2013 attack. In a sweeping rejection of the defense case, the jury found that death was the appropriate punishment for six of 17 capital counts — all six related to Mr. Tsarnaev’s planting of a pressure-cooker bomb on Boylston Street, which his lawyers never disputed. Mr. Tsarnaev, 21, stood stone-faced in court, his hands folded in front of him, as the verdict was read, his lawyers standing grimly at his side. Immediate reaction was mostly subdued.“Happy is not the word I would use,” said Karen Brassard, who suffered grievous leg injuries in the bombing. “There’s nothing happy about having to take somebody’s life. I’m satisfied, I’m grateful that they came to that conclusion, because for me I think it was the just conclusion.” The bombings two years ago turned one of this city’s most cherished athletic events into a grim tragedy — the worst terrorist attack on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001. Three people were killed, and 17 people lost at least one leg. More than 240 others sustained serious injuries. Last month, after deliberating for 11 hours, the jury found Mr. Tsarnaev guilty of all 30 charges against him in connection with the bombings and the death a few days later of a fourth person, an M.I.T. police officer. The same jury spent 14 hours over three days deliberating the sentence. Maryland - When a young black man named Freddie Gray died of a spinal cord injury in April, after a widely circulated cellphone video showing him being dragged screaming into a police transport van, a theory emerged: He was brutalized by officers, who gave him an intentional “rough ride” that left him with a broken neck. Now a jury is considering the fate of William G. Porter, the first of six Baltimore officers charged in Mr. Gray’s death. On Monday, lawyers delivered closing arguments; a prosecutor, dangling a bloodstained seatbelt, called the van a “casket on wheels,” while a defense lawyer urged jurors to put “cold hard facts” before emotion. It is Baltimore’s highest-profile trial in years, playing out against the backdrop of an intense national debate over race and policing. But the Gray case is murkier than those in Chicago and South Carolina where video showed a white officer shooting an unarmed black man. While prosecution and defense lawyers agree that Mr. Gray suffered a debilitating injury inside the van, there is no recording showing what happened. And the fact that six officers have been charged — and are being tried separately — has complicated matters because not all the evidence is coming out at once. As the city awaits a verdict, there is unease and fear of a repeat of the riots that erupted in April on the day of Mr. Gray’s funeral. Students left a high school en masse that day in response to a call on social media for a “purge,” a reference to a horror film in which laws are suspended for one day a year. The stakes are especially high for Marilyn Mosby, the state’s attorney for the City of Baltimore, who charged the six officers — an act that some say spared the city from further violence, but that defenders of the police characterized as the work of an overzealous prosecutor. On Monday, dressed in a pink coat, Ms. Mosby sat in the courtroom as Mr. Murtha took aim at her, though not by name. Missouri - Months of student and faculty protests over racial tensions and other issues that all but paralyzed the University of Missouri campus culminated Monday in an extraordinary coup for the demonstrators, as the president of the university system resigned and the chancellor of the flagship campus here said he would step down to a less prominent role at the end of the year. The threat of a boycott by the Missouri football team dealt the highest-profile blow to the president, Timothy M. Wolfe, and the chancellor, R. Bowen Loftin, but anger at the administration had been growing since August, when the university said it would stop paying for health insurance for graduate teaching and research assistants. It reversed course, but not before the graduate assistants held demonstrations, threatened a walkout, took the first steps toward forming a union and joined forces with students demonstrating against racism. Then the university came under fire from Republicans for ties its medical schools and medical center had to Planned Parenthood. The university severed those ties, drawing criticism from Democrats that it had caved in to political pressure. But it was charges of persistent racism, particularly complaints of racial epithets hurled at the student body president, who is black, that sparked the strongest reactions, along with complaints that the administration did not take the problem seriously enough. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, said, “Tim Wolfe’s resignation was a necessary step toward healing and reconciliation on the University of Missouri campus, and I appreciate his decision to do so.” Many of the students and faculty members who took part in demonstrations had also been inspired by the protest movement sparked last year in Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis, after a white police officer there killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black man, and they were experienced at using social media in organizing. They saw themselves as part of a continuum of activism linking Ferguson, other deaths at the hands of police, protests on campuses around the country and the Black Lives Matter movement. Nebraska - Nebraska on Wednesday became the first conservative state in more than 40 years to abolish the death penalty, with lawmakers defying their Republican governor, Pete Ricketts, a staunch supporter of capital punishment who had lobbied vigorously against banning it. After more than two hours of emotional speeches at the Capitol here, the Legislature, by a 30-to-19 vote that cut across party lines, overrode the governor’s veto of a bill repealing the state’s death penalty law. After the repeal measure passed, by just enough votes to overcome the veto, dozens of spectators in the balcony burst into celebration. The vote capped a monthslong battle that pitted most lawmakers in the unicameral Legislature against the governor, many law enforcement officials and some family members of murder victims whose killers are on death row. The Legislature approved the repeal bill three times this year, each time by a veto-proof majority, before sending it to Mr. Ricketts’s desk. Adding to the drama, two senators who had previously voted for repeal switched to support the governor at the last minute. Opponents of the death penalty here were able to build a coalition that spanned the ideological spectrum by winning the support of Republican legislators who said they believed capital punishment was inefficient, expensive and out of place with their party’s values, as well as that of lawmakers who cited religious or moral reasons for supporting the repeal. Nebraska joins 18 other states and Washington, D.C., in banning the death penalty. Though it is not clear that other Republican-dominated states will follow Nebraska’s example, Wednesday’s vote came at a time when liberals and conservatives have been finding common ground on a range of criminal justice issues in Washington and around the country. Oregon - Governor John Kitzhaber, long regarded as a wily survivor of Oregon politics, resigned Friday amid a spiraling crisis that included a criminal investigation of the role that his fiancée played in his administration and crumbling support from his Democratic Party colleagues. It was a steep and rapid fall for Mr. Kitzhaber, 67, a former emergency room doctor who won an unprecedented fourth term as governor in November. His resignation means that Kate Brown, the Oregon secretary of state and a fellow Democrat, will become governor, in accordance with the succession plan in the state Constitution. Even during the recent election, Mr. Kitzhaber had been plagued by questions about his fiancée, Cylvia Hayes, with whom he lives in the governor’s mansion, and whether she had violated ethics rules or criminal laws in advising him about clean energy issues while serving as a consultant on the topic. Before November’s election and after, he repeatedly denied any wrongdoing by Ms. Hayes, 47, or his office, and pledged cooperation in the various inquiries, including one initiated this month by the state’s attorney general, Ellen Rosenblum, also a Democrat, which could result in criminal charges. But in the last few days, some senior Democrats in the heavily Democratic state abandoned him and called for his resignation, piling on with some Republicans, who had criticized him as an ineffective leader even before the scandals. Ms. Brown, 54, the secretary of state, was among those who distanced herself, releasing a statement on Thursday describing what she said was a “bizarre” meeting she had had with Mr. Kitzhaber — saying that he had asked her to rush back to Oregon from a conference in Washington, D.C., this week to speak privately with him. But once in the meeting, Ms. Brown said, she found him confused or uncertain about why she had come. South Carolina - They pooled by the thousands in the scorching July heat — white and black, old and young, civil rights veterans and everyday Southerners who grew up with the symbols and assumptions of the racial order of the South. They waited quietly at first, but eventually erupted into spontaneous chants of “Take it down!” And when the red and blue Confederate battle flag was finally, permanently lowered here from its place of honor on the grounds of the South Carolina State House, they chanted again: “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” The banishment of perhaps the most conspicuous and polarizing symbol of the Old South from the seat of South Carolina government Friday morning was the culmination of decades of racially charged political skirmishes. At issue were vexing questions about how a state that was first to secede from the Union — and then later raised the battle flag in 1962 when white Southerners were resisting calls for integration — should honor its Confederate past. It was a conversation that seemed like it might never end here, until it was hurried to a resolution by unspeakable horror: the massacre of nine black churchgoers in downtown Charleston last month, and a gathering sense of outrage and offense that was felt even by many white conservatives who had previously supported the flag. The arrest of the alleged gunman, 21-year-old Dylann Roof, who posed proudly with the flag and apparently posted a long racist manifesto online before the massacre, was the flag’s final undoing. Virginia - Bob McDonnell, the former governor of Virginia who was convicted in September on corruption charges, was sentenced to 24 months in prison on Tuesday in one of the most spectacular falls of a statewide official in the history of the commonwealth. Mr. McDonnell, 60, whose lawyers had argued for community service in lieu of prison time, was sentenced by Judge James R. Spencer of Federal District Court, who after a lengthy discourse on sentencing guidelines and the nature of guilt and remorse concluded that “a price must be paid.” Judge Spencer said he found the situation heartbreaking and the crimes confounding. But “unlike Pontius Pilate,” he said, “I can’t wash my hands of it all.” The sentence was more than Mr. McDonnell — whose name was once floated as a possible candidate for the White House — had hoped for. But it was far less than the 10 to 12 years recommended by the federal probation office and the six and a half years later sought by prosecutors. Mr. McDonnell will face two years of supervision upon release. Washington - When she moved into her uncle’s basement in the largely white town of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 2004, Rachel A. Dolezal was still blond and pale-skinned and identified herself as a white woman — one who had left a black husband and had a biracial child. But within a few years, her already deep commitment to black causes and culture intensified. Co-workers and relatives began hearing from her or others that her background was mixed-race — and even that she had called herself black. Many of them questioned the way she described herself, while others accepted it at face value. No one seems to have made an issue of it, but most people saw in her a force of personality that made her a strong and passionate advocate at the Human Rights Education Institute in Coeur d’Alene, where she began working soon afterward. “It’s really impressive what she accomplished, bringing a lot of energy to these places,” her uncle, Daniel A. Dolezal, recalled in a telephone interview on Tuesday, speaking of the human rights group as well as the N.A.A.C.P. chapter in Spokane, which she later rose to lead. He recalled her journey from being a down-on-her-luck single mother who took part-time teaching jobs, tried to sell her artwork, and worked in the camera store he owns in Coeur d’Alene, in a part of the Idaho panhandle that was once the headquarters of Aryan Nations, the white supremacist group. Her story has set off a national debate about the very meaning of racial identity, with some people applauding her message and goals and many others deploring her methods and actions. It was one thing for Ms. Dolezal to identify with, appreciate and even partake in black culture, some critics said, but it was another thing for her to try to become black, going so far as to change her physical appearance. Wisconsin - The Supreme Court on Monday turned away a challenge to a Wisconsin law that requires prospective voters to provide photo identification before casting their ballots. Officials in Wisconsin said they would not enforce the law in the next election, on April 7, but would require compliance in later ones. The April election includes contests for judicial seats and local offices. “Absentee ballots are already in the hands of voters, therefore, the law cannot be implemented for the April 7 election,” Attorney General Brad Schimel said in a statement. “The voter ID law will be in place for future elections — this decision is final.” Dale Ho, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Voting Rights Project, said the group would continue to fight. “We’re pleased the state has agreed with the A.C.L.U.’s position that imposing a new restriction on voters in the midst of an election is a recipe for disaster,” he said in a statement. “For now, the voters of Wisconsin will be able to cast their ballots free from the burdens placed on them by this law. But this should be the case for voters permanently, not just for one election.” The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the case was a surprise, as the court last year temporarily blocked the law for the November election, and voters were not required to show photo identifications in order to vote. The Wisconsin law, one of the strictest in the nation, was enacted in 2011 but had been mostly blocked by various courts. It requires prospective voters to show a current or recently expired Wisconsin driver’s license or a similar identification issued to people who do not drive, a military ID, a United States passport, a tribal ID, a recent naturalization certificate or some Wisconsin student IDs. 2015 Gubernatorial Elections - Kentucky Republicans saw themselves back in control of the governorship after eight years of Democrat Steve Beshear as businessman Matt Bevin defeated Democratic State Attorney General Jack Conway 52.5% - 43.8%. Mississippi Republicans held onto the governorship with a commanding 66.2% victory for incumbent Republican Governor Phil Bryant over truck driver Robert Grey's 32.4%. Not all was lost for Democrats as Louisiana became an improbable decisive 56.1% victory for Louisiana House Minority Leader John Bel Edwards over Senator David Vitter's 43.9%, who had previously been caught in an infamous D.C. prostitution scandal. (credit to various 2015 RL news articles)

Stateside covers local and state political news across the United States.

2015 Year in Review Music - The Grammy for Record of the Year went to Mark Robinson and Bruno Mars' 'Uptown Funk' and Album of the Year went to Taylor Swift's '1989'. The Grammy for Best New Artist went to Megan Trainor and Best Rap Album went to Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly'. The CMA's Entertainer of the Year was Luke Bryan and Album of the Year went to Christ Stapleton's 'Traveler' . The top two placements on the Rolling Stone 50 Best Albums of 2015 was Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' in the number 1 spot and Adele's '25' taking second. Television - 'NCIS' was the most-watched television series in 2015 with 'Big Bang Theory' and 'Empire' in the top five. The Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series was 'VEEP' and the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series was 'Game of Thrones'. The Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series was a milestone for television as Jeffrey Tambor won for his portrayal of a trans woman in 'Transparent' produced by Amazon. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series was Viola Davis for "How to Get Away with Murder' and Peter Dinklage won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister in 'Game of Thrones'. Cinema - Leonardo DiCaprio finally won the Academy Award for Best Actor for "The Revenant' and Best Picture went to the masterful storytelling film on the journalists who exposed sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in the form of 'Spotlight'. Best Actress was won by Brie Larson for 'Room' and Disney went home with another Academy Award with their Best Animated Picture Award for 'Inside Out'. The Best Foreign Language Picture stoking thought-provoking conversation about a Hungarian prisoner at Auschwitz went to 'Son of Saul' and Best Documentary sparked attention towards Pakistan's honor killings with 'A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness'. Sports - Super Bowl XLIX was played on February 1, 2015 and was won by the New England Patriots over the Seattle Seahawks by a vote of 28-24. The Super Bowl Halftime Show was Katy Perry, featuring Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott, and the Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. The 2014–15 NBA season was won by the Golden State Warriors over the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2 with Season MVP being Stephen Curry. The Kansas City Royals emerged as the World Series Champions of the MLB over the New York Mets for the 2014-2015 season. The Stanley Cup went to the Chicago Blackhawks for the NHL and the 2015 British Open was won by American Zach Johnson. Athletes around the world are gearing up for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pop Culture - 'Hotline Bling' by Drake was the defining song of the summer and the Lee Daniel's created 'Empire' quickly became one of the most-watched on television. Amy Schumer has found herself at the peak of her comedy career and 'Fifty Shades of Grey' sparked controversy from conservative family organizations. Taylor Swift's '1989' World Tour was a resounding success, with many wondering if she could achieve an even more successful tour in eight years, and 'Hamilton' depicting the life of Treasury Secretary and revolutionary Alexander Hamilton quickly became a Broadway sensation and boosted the stardom of Lin Manuel Miranda. The death of Jon Snow in 'Game of Thrones' shocked fans worldwide and Caitlyn Jenner introduced herself to the world as a transgender woman. Netflix is on the rise as streaming platforms become more popular and 'Star Wars The Force Awakes' brings fans to the theaters all around the globe in a resurgence for the franchise. TIME Magazine's Person of the Year was German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Nobel Peace Prize went to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet. Social Media - Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp continued to dominate as the three most used apps globally. Snapchat is in its infancy while Pinterest and Tumblr find strong followings. YouTube has continued to grow exponentially and both Vine and Instagram becomes hits with young people. GIFs, Emojis, and filters become available across various platforms. Social media usage is on the rise across all demographics. In Memoriam - Stuart Scott (age 49), Natalie Cole (age 65), Leonard Nimoy (age 83), Beau Biden (age 46), Fred Thompson (age 73), Bobbi Kristina Brown (age 22), Mario Cuomo (age 82), Alex Rocco (age 79), Omar Sharif (age 83), Bob Simon (age 73), Christopher Lee (age 93), B.B. King (age 89), Suzanne Crough (age 52), Ben E. King (age 76), Lesley Gore (age 68), 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper (age 61), Julian Bond (age 75), Yogi Berra (age 90), Scott Weiland (age 48), Helmut Schmidt (age 96), Denis Healy (age 98), Wes Craven (age 76), Saud al-Faisal (age 75), Lee Kuan Yew (age 91), King Abdullah (age 90).

Rolling Stone covers pop culture, sports, and entertainment in the United States and internationally,

The Character Tier & Groundwork Points System is back! I am glad to be reviving a tweaked GPs System for Reset 18. Part of being a Senator is being able to be a mover and shaker at the local level just as much as at the federal. The GPs System allows players to use points in order to influence their faction in states, propose legislation, intrigued statewide referendum, and other opportunities to shape the wider world around you. Engagement with this system will bring rewards to your characters and expand their notoriety and influence. Some of your potential decisions may even impact election season and beyond. Players will all begin at Tier II in the Character Tier System which awards you all with 25 GPs to spend in Q1 & Q2 of 2017 before you receive your next 25 GPs for Q3 and Q4. Players are allowed to save and spend as many GPs as they wish to as GPs do carry over if unused. Players can use the character tier system to grow their influence, bring in more cash, and build strong relations that could boost your statewide approval ratings. Players will post their GP spending in their respective party GP spending areas. These posts will be hidden until the AB has responded to the request. Spending points has the potential to be useful or detrimental depending on how much you are paying attention to the scenario you create as a result of your spending. You control the trajectory of your character and their impact on the IG world. Below I have linked the Character Tier & Groundwork Points System for R18:

R18 Democratic GP Spending

R18 Republican GP Spending

HOW IT WORKS One important aspect to remember is that this is something new and is bound to be subject for change and sometimes on the fly or even retcons. I would ask all of you to be patient when it comes to this and view it as the opportunity to try something new and to be vocal with constructive criticism and suggestions. You are not obligated to use your GPs if you choose not to. What it does: Basically, you receive bonuses or penalties on a number of things, as you advance through the tiers, or maybe even get knocked back if you screw up. Your placement in the Character Tier System (CTS) is subject to change upwards and downwards at the discretion of the Administrative Board, based on your actions. As you take part in the CTS, you also accumulate Groundwork Points (GPs) which you can use for a number of things at a certain cost. How to advance: Again, your placement in the tier is at the discretion of the Administrative Board, based on what you yourself are doing in-game. There is no set timeline for how fast you can advance and you may even be set back, if you screw up bad enough. What you can do in order to advance/improve your chances to advance is: Actively Legislate/Pass Legislation: This is a no brainer and is basically what you are doing right now anyway. Maintain a Active Profile Media Presence: I am talking about being active in your Press Office, doing interviews, writing editorials, doing tours throughout your states, giving speeches, the whole shebang. I will not be taking Twitter into account. Playing to Your Faction: This one is a bit tricky to navigate, but for example a progressive Democrat voting for concealed carrying laws will receive some bewildered looks and may hold you back, if you pull such stunts too often. Climbing Up the Leadership Ladder: Someone who holds a powerful position in Congress has a higher chance of being placed, well, higher. But it's not a given if to automatically advance to another tier if previous to your election, you have done jack nothing. Winning an Election: That one should be easy to grasp. You win an election, it boost your seniority and your chance to advance to the next tier. Spending GPs on Certain Actions: The more honorable way to improve your chances of moving up in the world of the CTS. Responding to "Events": From time to time, an "event" will pop up for you in your state. Be advised, that a) you will have to respond in a timely manner and b) that you do not have an automatic right to get such an event. They can be quick events (like writing a letter to a Government Department on behalf of a constituent), require you to acquire funds for a certain pork project or for example have you taking part in something happening in your state. The player will normally be notified of the event. Sometimes, a hint might be placed in a news story. If you miss it or do not react to it, the chance is lost. How to keep track: The Administrative Board will open a new subforum in the Character Activities Forum with an official list of Players with their respective Character Tier via Goggle Sheet. Players will post when they want to spend the GPs within their party's respective area, albeit the post will be hidden until deemed no longer necessary by the AB. The AB will maintain a separate master sheet that will track spending GPs. WHAT YOU CAN SPEND YOUR GPs ON Below are the actions you can "purchase" with your GPs. Please be advised, that some of the effects mentioned are general guidelines and not set in stone. They are simply meant to give you a feeling if what you are doing has a chance of having an effect. It is also not meant for you to be able to do everything all the time with your GPs, they are a resource to be budgeted and not political mana without end. You can receive GPs throughout the IG year at the discretion of the AB. Player Options: Introduce State Legislation: The way it works is that you tell the Administrative Board, that you want your homestate to consider xyz legislation. You give a rough outline of what the bill should do (for example "right to work legislation" or "a bill which strips all inmates of their right to get fed every day") and post it in your party GP spending location. Introducing the legislation has nothing to do with the bill being passed. It only means that it will be considered. Chances of passage are of course based on the content, the "nature" of the state party (aka dominant faction) and other things. Be warned, though, that a player whose party does not control a trifecta in his homestate will sometimes have a very tough time having the legislation being successfully considered. GPs COST HOMESTATE 2 3/3 Control 4 2/3 Control 6 1/3 or 0/3 Control NOT-HOMESTATE 3 3/3 Control 7 2/3 Control 9 1/3 or 0/3 Control Improve Outcome of State Legislation: You will be able to boost the chances of state legislation you introduced. The less control your party holds, the less likely it is that your bill will pass. Do note, though, that also PRs and in-character rallies in support of state legislation will contribute to the chances of the outcome of state legislation, too. GPs COST HOMESTATE 3 3/3 Control 6 2/3 Control 9 1/3 or 0/3 Control NOT-HOMESTATE 6 3/3 Control 10 2/3 Control 14 1/3 or 0/3 Control Impair Outcome of State Legislation: When a state considers new legislation being bought with GPs, the Administrative Board will state so in a short news blip. Players now have an opportunity to impair the outcome via PRs, in-character rallies/events or by spending GPs. GPs COST HOMESTATE 3 3/3 Control 6 2/3 Control 9 1/3 or 0/3 Control NOT-HOMESTATE 6 3/3 Control 10 2/3 Control 14 1/3 or 0/3 Control Introduce Statewide Referendum: The way it works is that you tell the Administrative Board, that you want your homestate to consider xyz referendum. You give a rough outline of what the referendum should do (for example "reproductive rights referendum" or "parental rights proposition") and post it in your party GP spending location. Introducing the referendum has nothing to do with the refendum being passed. It only means that it will be considered. Chances of passage are of course based on the content, the "nature" of the state (aka dominant party) and other things. Be warned, though, that a player whose party does not control a trifecta in their homestate will sometimes have a very tough time having the referendum being successfully considered. Referendums, if implemented strategically, can increase turnout for a particular faction in statewide races and can potentially even shape electoral outcomes. GPs COST HOMESTATE 8 3/3 Control 10 2/3 Control 12 1/3 or 0/3 Control NOT-HOMESTATE 10 3/3 Control 12 2/3 Control 14 1/3 or 0/3 Control Boost State Faction Influence: Players may choose to spend GPs on influencing their state in favor of their faction. It is worth noting that this is geared towards influencing the faction affiliation of the state legislature, representatives, and gubernatorial candidates aligned with the party of the player. GPs COST HOMESTATE 4 Small Boost 7 Medium Boost 9 High Boost NOT-HOMESTATE 6 Small Boost 9 Medium Boost 12 High Boost Advance Character Tier: You can pay GPs to de-facto advance a character tier. GP COST TO ADVANCE TO 25 Tier I 30 Tier II 60 Tier III 75 Tier IV THE CHARACTER TIERS Below are the Character Tiers. Be advised, that most players will propably spend most of their time in Tiers II and III. I is where most players will probably fall within, whereas Tier 0 and Tier IV are tough to reach. Your character tier will correspond to more IVS/XP. TIER 0: "THE PARIAH" (10 GPs/y) You are the pariah of your state and your state's party. Basically, your own voters would prefer you taking a long walk off a short pier, never to be seen again. People expect less than nothing from you. As a result, your approval rating is penalized, your have lower background fundraising, and fewer GPs to spend. Oh, and you receive a penalty for your starting polling in an election. The upside to all of this is, that you can't fall any lower and have nowhere to go but up. TIER I: "THE PEASANT" (15 GPs/y) So you are a United States Senator. Congratulations. Problem is, that people don't know you. Voters might vaguely remember that they checked the ballot for someone with your name but wouldn't remember you if you shook their hands ten minutes ago. As a result, you get no approval rating bonus and your background fundraising and GP are nothing much to talk about. You have to work the state to get noticed, so get going. TIER II: "THE COUNT" (25 GPs/y) You seem to have acquired the hint of a power base in your state. At least people will remember that you successfully ran for the United States Senate and that you propably are in Washington D.C., hopefully doing your job. As a result, you get no approval rating bonus, your background fundraising is at the baseline, and your GP is adequate. You are on the right track, but still have a long way to go. TIER III: "THE DUKE" (35 GPs/y) You are recognized and noticed in your state. The work you're doing is appreciated and people generally like what you're doing. As a result, you receive a slight approval rating bonus, your background fundraising is higher, and you receive a larger GP set. There even is a small boost to your starting poll in a state election. This is where you are usually sitting at, at the peak of your power. TIER IV: "THE GOD-KING" (40 GPs/y) You are not only a force to be reckoned with, you are THE force in your state. Where you walk, the earth crumbles and the mighty tremble, as you gracefully beckon them to approach your ivory throne. As a result, you receive a worthy approval rating bonus, your background fundraising is significantly higher, and you receive a hefty GP set. At the beginning of an election, you receive a boost in your starting poll. Be careful, though, for the mighty can fall quite low and a major misstep could have catastrophic consequences not only, for you, but for your state party as well. TIER VP: "VPOTUS" (35 GPs/y) This tier is reserved for the player serving as Vice President of the United States. They will be able to engage in the character tier system through this reserved tier that allows them to the ability to operate within the system if they choose to do so. They will received a larger GP set to accommodate the prestige that comes with the Office of the Vice Presidency. Their home state advantage will correspond to the state their character is from. TIER P: "POTUS" (45 GPs/y) This tier is reserved for the player serving as President of the United States. They will be able to engage in the character tier system through this reserved tier that allows them to the ability to operate within the system if they choose to do so. They will received a hefty GP set to accommodate the prestige that comes with the Office of the Presidency. Their home state advantage will correspond to the state their character is from. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS A running tally of frequently asked questions for quick reference and clarifications. "Will GPs carry over to the next year": Yes. "How often are GPs awarded automatically in a IG year": The start of Quarter 1 and Quarter 3. "Can GPs be transferred to other players or the party": No. "How many pieces of legislation can I propose per quarter": A maximum of twice per Quarter. "How often can I influence state faction influence": A maximum of twice per IG year. "How many referendum can I propose in an IG year": Twice per IG year.

Sign-ins are open! We providing two links below: one is for POTUS mini-game rules leading into the 2016 primary race. The AB will be carrying over the rules from the last round, courtesy of the magnificent @Ollie. Thank you Ollie. The other is the POTUS Registration. If you have questions, use the ⁠technical-requests forum to keep it all consolidated in one place.

2016 Presidential Election Mini-Game Rules Welcome to the 2016 Presidential election mini-game! This will be a simple system with one turn where you may spend Action Points (AP) to perform different actions leading up to January 1st, 2016. Think of this as groundwork for beginning the true campaign and leading up to the first three primaries/caucuses. There will be one turn in this mini-game and the full calendar is posted above on the forum header. You will post a thread in this forum to submit your turns; all turn submissions will remain private. REMINDER: 2016 is 2016. 2016 is a different world from 2024. The AB will judge rounds accordingly. The AB will also be assuming BOTH parties are starting with Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. Action Points Every contender will have 30 action points to begin each turn. Any unspent action points do not roll over to the next turn. You may spend action points in any of the following areas below to complete your turn. Fundraising Fundraising is one of the key barometers for candidates strength and how well they'll likely do in the election. This is because money is required for key campaign infrastructure (staff, offices, travel, etc.) along with advertisements. There are three options for spending AP on fundraising. You may only pick one each round. Example Submission Galas (4 AP) Target: Defense Industry Focus: I support committing further funding for the F-35 Lightning II, doubling production. And we will expand our defense support of our allies in Ukraine, Israel, and across Europe. Light Fundraising (4 AP) Light fundraising includes emails, putting together a donor list for the future, and soliciting donations other ways through your campaign website. This is the bare minimum for raising funds prior to a campaign launch. For emails, you'll want to target more generally (e.g., grassroots donors, progressive democrats, MAGA Republicans, etc.) Galas, High End Events (8 AP) Galas and high end events, along with regular emailing/website solicitations, will be held. For this option, you're going to want to target more specifically than you would for emails. (e.g., telecommunications, oil industry, unions, etc.) Maximum Fundraising (16 AP) This is the maximum amount of fundraising you can do in a turn. This means all hands on deck with emailing, galas, soliciting donations through your website, and making phone calls for large donations. You can choose how you wish to target here for max impact from your chosen donor base. Courting Endorsements and Mega Donors Endorsements play an important role in every primary. There is a reason Democratic candidates meet with The New York Times every four years or Republican candidates seek out endorsements from some of the largest donors in their circles. With that said, every endorsement request will cost (4 AP) and must include 1-2 sentences on why you think that person/organization/newspaper should support your campaign for President. Keep in mind, however, you may attempt to court an endorsement from anyone. News Media The media plays a big role in visibility for candidates, improving name recognition, and making headlines. There are three options for attempting to gain more recognition for your campaign, explaining your policy ideas, and hitting home your talking points. This is similar to the known Spin Zone, tailored for the campaign system. Standard Cable Hit (2 AP) This is a standard short interview on one of the major paid-television networks (CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, etc.) where you'll use the time to talk about the key themes you intend to hit on your campaign. You're limited to 2-3 talking points here. This will cost x AP. Spreading the Message (4 AP) This is similar to the standard cable hit, except that you'll also have allies/staffers going across to other networks spreading your talking points/themes as well. Full Court Press (12 AP) Your team will put forward a full court press to spread your talking points/themes. They'll book you on popular podcasts, cable news, late night talk shows, or wherever else you might wish to go. This is the max you can spend in order to increase your name recognition and get your talking points out in the world. On the Attack Do you see another candidate as a threat and want to knock them down a peg? See a vulnerability in their record, their policy positions? Then let the media know, plant the story, and go on the attack. You can leak a story in the media or have surrogates of your own go on the attack against the candidate in the press. This will cost (8 AP). Example Submission On the Attack (x AP) Senator Jacob Olliver (R-CA) vetoed legislation that would have expanded gun rights during her time as Governor. Caroline Jefferson clearly doesn't care about voters second amendment rights. Barnstorming Do you want to barnstorm a certain early primary state to spread your key themes, tailor them to the state you're visiting, while shaking hands and kissing babies? Here's your chance. You can visit any of the primary states you wish (see the calendar, here) and use any of your themes/talking points you wish. This will cost (2 AP) for every location you visit. Example Submission Locations IA: Des Moines (2AP), Iowa City (2AP), Ames (2AP) NH: Concord (2AP) Targets: Young Voters, Rural Voters - Jacob Olliver is the best candidate in this race because he has promised, on day one, to push Congress to forgive $40,000 in student loans, lifting the financial burden on millions of American's. - Jacob Olliver cares about rural infrastructure and will invest $100 billion into healthcare, education, and road infrastructure for rural areas across Iowa in desperate need of it. Example Turn Below is an example of what a turn submission might look like. Keep in mind, this is just an example, and likely shouldn't be used for any true submission. Results How you spend your time in this mini-game, ultimately, will help determine your standing in pre-polls prior to the initial three primaries/caucuses, along with how the media views you. If you spent all your time barnstorming in Iowa, you may have an advantage there, but your opponent may have spent a lot more time fundraising giving them an upperhand for their warchest, and vice versa.

VGS R18 Election Announcements

State of the States (2017 - Present) Alabama Governor: Robert Bentley (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Alaska Governor: Bill Walker (I) Legislature - (R)/(R) Arizona Governor: Doug Ducey (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Arkansas Governor: Asa Hutchinson (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) California Governor: Jerry Brown (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) Colorado Governor: John Hickenlooper (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) Connecticut Governor: Dannel Malloy (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) Delaware Governor: Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) Florida Governor: Rick Scott (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Georgia Governor: Nathan Deal (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Hawaii Governor: David Ige (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) Idaho Governor: Butch Otter (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Illinois Governor: Bruce Rauner (R) Legislature - (D)/(D) Indiana Governor: John Gregg (D) Legislature - (R)/(R) Iowa Governor: Terry Branstad (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Kansas Governor: Sam Brownback (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Kentucky Governor: Matt Bevin (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Louisiana Governor: John Bel Edwards (D) Legislature - (R)/(R) Maine Governor: Paul LePage (R) Legislature - (D)/(D) Maryland Governor: Larry Hogan (R) Legislature - (D)/(D) Massachusetts Governor: Charlie Baker (R) Legislature - (D)/(D) Michigan Governor: Rick Snyder (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Minnesota Governor: Mark Dayton (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) Mississippi Governor: Phil Bryant (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Missouri Governor: Catherine Hanaway (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Montana Governor: Steve Bullock (D) Legislature - (R)/(R) Nebraska Governor: Pete Ricketts (R) Legislature - (R) Nevada Governor: Brian Sandoval (R) Legislature - (R)/(D) New Hampshire Governor: Chris Sununu (R) Legislature - (D)/(D) New Jersey Governor: Chris Christie (R) Legislature - (D)/(D) New Mexico Governor: Susana Martinez (R) Legislature - (D)/(D) New York Governor: Andrew Cuomo (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) North Carolina Governor: Pat McCrory (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) North Dakota Governor: Wayne Stenehjem (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Ohio Governor: John Kasich (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Oklahoma Governor: Mary Fallin (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Oregon Governor: Kate Brown (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) Pennsylvania Governor: Tom Wolf (D) Legislature - (R)/(R) Rhode Island Governor: Gina Raimondo (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) South Carolina Governor: Henry McMaster (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) South Dakota Governor: Dennis Daugaard (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Tennessee Governor: Bill Haslam (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Texas Governor: Greg Abbott (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Utah Governor: Gary Herbert (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Vermont Governor: Peter Welch (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) Virginia Governor: Terry McAuliffe (D) Legislature - (R)/(R) Washington Governor: Jay Inslee (D) Legislature - (D)/(D) West Virginia Governor: Jim Justice (D) Legislature - (R)/(R) Wisconsin Governor: Scott Walker (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Wyoming Governor: Matt Mead (R) Legislature - (R)/(R) Major U.S. Cities (2017 - Present) Washington D.C. Mayor: Muriel Bowser (D) New York City (NY) Mayor: Bill de Blasio (D) Los Angeles (CA) Mayor: Eric Garcetti (D) Chicago (IL) Mayor: Rahm Emanuel (D) Houston (TX) Mayor: Amanda Edwards (D) Atlanta (GA) Mayor: Kasim Reed (D) Phoenix (AZ) Mayor: Greg Stanton (D) Philadelphia (PA) Mayor: Jim Kenney (D) San Antonio (TX) Mayor: Ivy Taylor (D) San Diego (CA) Mayor: Kevin Faulconer (R) Dallas (TX) Mayor: Mike Rawlings (D) Jacksonville (FL) Mayor: Lenny Curry (R) San Francisco (CA) Mayor: Ed Lee (D)

VGS R18 CHARACTER CREATION STATION The character creation system is devised to help players come up with realistic, competitive biographies. As always, you may elaborate with a detailed biography after providing the requested information. Each person gets 100 points as a baseline. Please calculate your biography's points and list them in your sign-in post. Name: Choose a name. Seat: Choose your Senate seat based off of the Senate Roster Party: Be a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent caucusing with either of them as long as it matches your seat. (If you wish to play an Independent that does not currently hold the seat please contact the AB.) Avatar: Your avatar, of course, is a real person. Let us know who that person is so that the AB knows who you are when we're writing articles. As we have entered the AI age, AI creations are also accepted so long as they are realistic. Major Caucus: Choose your major based on your character's beliefs. (One character can only be a member of one major caucus) Democratic Blue Dog Coalition - Tale as old as time, Blue Dogs are the moderate Democrats that promote strong defense, fiscal responsibility, and finding bipartisan consensus. (examples: Joe Manchin, Henry Cuellar, Steve Bullock) New Democrats - The bridge between the Blue Dogs and Progressives, the New Democrats were brought to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s thanks to figures like Gary Hart, Bob Kerrey, and Bill Clinton. Liberal on domestic, social, and economic policy, though averse to the extremes of the progressive left. (examples: Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris) Progressive Democrats - The most left leaning Democrats, views here can range from progressive to outright socialist on economic, and generally dovish on foreign policy. Generally, more distrustful of the GOP and working with them than the other two Democratic caucuses. (examples: Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Russ Feingold) Republican Mainstreet Partnership - The present and still effective center to center-right faction of the Republican Party. Where the mavericks and dealmakers live. Socially moderate, economically center-right, strong on national defense. (examples: John Kasich, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski) Study Committee - The bridge between the moderates and hardcore conservatives. Filled with Reaganites, Compassionate Conservatives, and party-line supporters, among others. (examples: Steve Scalise, John Thune, Marco Rubio) Freedom Caucus - The most conservative wing of the Republican Party, the Freedom Caucus has become the home of Tea Partiers, right-wing Libertarians, and a burgeoning conservative populist movement.(examples: Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Donald Trump) GENDER: Male: 0 Points Female: 5 Points Non-Binary/Transgender: 70 Points (40 Points for Democrats) AGE: 39 years or younger: 20 Points 40-44 years old: 10 Points 45-49 years old: 5 Points 50-65 years old: 0 Points 66-70: -5 Points 71-75: -10 Points 75 or older: -15 Points SEXUALITY: Straight, married with < 3 children: -5 Points Straight, married with > 3 children: 0 Points Straight, unmarried, no children: 5 Points Straight, unmarried, with children: 15 Points for Republicans, 10 Points for Democrats Straight, divorced, with or without children: 15 Points Openly Homosexual: 40 Points for Republicans, 25 Points for Democrats RACE/ANCESTRY: White/Caucasian: 0 Points Black: 15 Points for Republicans, 5 Points for Democrats Hispanic/Latino: 10 Points for Republicans (5 if Cuban), 5 Points for Democrats Sephardic/Ashkenazi/Mizrahi: 10 Points Asian/Pacific Islander: 10 Points for Republicans, 5 Points for Democrats (0 points for Pacific Islander in HI) Arab: 25 Points for Republicans, 10 Points for Democrats RELIGION: Evangelical or Mainline Protestant: 0 Points Roman Catholic: 0 Points Jewish: 5 Points Mormon: 15 Points (0 points in UT, ID, WY, AZ) Greek or Russian Orthodox: 15 Points Jehovah's Witness or Other Christians: 20 Points Atheist: 25 Points for Republicans, 15 Points for Democrats Muslim: 30 Points for Republicans 25 Points for Democrats Buddhist: 20 Points for Republicans, 10 Points for Democrats Hindu: 25 Points for Republicans, 20 Points for Democrats Other Religion: 35 Points EDUCATIONAL HISTORY: No College Degree: 5 points College Degree at Public University: 0 Points College Degree at Private University (non-Ivy level) or Public Ivy: 5 Points College Degree at Top University: 10 Points Master's Degree (incl. JD): 10 Points (add 5 for Private University, 10 for Top) Doctoral Degree: 15 Points (add 5 for Private University, 10 for Top) Click on Spoiler below for University lists. SOCIOECONOMIC HISTORY: Super-Rich (Top 1%): 5 Points Top 5%: -10 points Upper Class: -5 points Middle Class: 0 points Working Class: 10 points Child of Immigrant: 15 points Immigrant: 20 points CAREER HISTORY: Appointed Judge: 15 points (You must have at least 15 years experience as a lawyer first) Activist: 10 points Artist: 10 points Astronaut: 25 points Athlete: 15 points Blue-collar management: 15 points Blue-collar worker: 10 points Business Associate: 10 points Business Executive: 20 points CEO: 30 points (no Fortune 500 companies) Doctor: 10 points Emergency Services: 15 points Entrepreneur/Business Founder: 30 points Foreign Service: 20 points Ivy League Professor: 30 points (Must hold Doctoral Degree) Lawyer: 10 points (To start your own firm, add 5 points) Police Officer: 5 points Police Captain: 10 points State trooper: 10 points Enlisted Military: 0 Points Commissioned Officer (O-1 to O-5): 10 Points Non-Commissioned Officers (E-5 and above): 5 Points Senior Commissioned Officer (O-5 or O-6: 20 Points General/Flag Officer (O-7+): 40 points Nurse: 5 points (10 if male) Pilot: 5 points Local Political Staffer: 1 points State Political Staffer: 5 points Federal Political Staffer: 10 points Print Journalist: 5 points Private School Administration: 15 points Private School Professor: 15 points (Must hold Doctoral Degree) Private School Subject Teacher: 15 points Public School Administration: 15 points Public School Professor: 10 points (Must hold Doctoral Degree) Public School Subject Teacher: 15 points Radio Host: 10 points Religious Ministry: 20 points Social Worker: 5 points (10 if Republican) Spouse of Famous Person: 30 Points (must receive AB approval first) Teacher working with Disadvantaged Students: 30 points Television Host: 15 points To become well-known in your field, double your points. If your chosen career is not listed here, please contact an admin. AWARDS AND EXTRAS: Published an academic book (for Professors only): 10 points Published a book: 10 points Major cultural award: 15 points Major academic award: 25 points Major military award, Non Medal of Honor (must have Military career): 10 points Medal of Honor (must have Military career): 25 points Related to a Famous Politician or Person: 20 Points (must receive AB approval first) POLITICAL EXPERIENCE HISTORY: NOTE: Should you hold any prior political experience, you will in general inherit the legislative record - but not the personal record - of the RL person you are replacing. If you are replacing a partisan official (i.e. Governor, U.S. House Member, U.S. Senator), you must match the party of that officeholder for the period that they were in office (i.e., if you were Governor of Pennsylvania from 2003-2011, you would be replacing Ed Rendell and therefore must be a Democrat). Senate Terms: 5 points (Not counting your current term) Senate Subcommittee Chair/RM: 3 points per Congress (you must have served at least 1 term in the Senate before assuming this role) Senate Committee Chair/RM: 5 points per Congress (you must have served at least 2 terms in the Senate and 3 Congresses as a Subcommittee Chair/RM before assuming this role) House of Representatives Terms: 3 points (not counting your current term) House of Representatives Subcommittee Chair/RM: 2 point per Congress House of Representatives Committee Chair/RM: 4 points per Congress (you must have served at least 5 terms in the House and 2 Congresses as a Subcommittee Chair/RM before assuming this role) State Legislature Term: 2 points for upper house, 1 point for lower house State Supreme Court: 5 points per term State Row Office (excl. Lt. Gov.): 5 points per term Lieutenant Governor: 8 points per term Governor: 20 points per term Cabinet: 20 points per Presidential term Sub-Cabinet: 10 points per Presidential term City Council (population <50,000): 1 point per term City Council (population >50,000): 2 points per term City Council (population >100,000): 3 points per term Mayor (population <50,000): 2 points per term Mayor (population >50,000): 3 points per term Mayor (population >100,000): 5 points per term Mayor (population >250,000): 10 points per term Local Judge: 2 points per term KEY VOTES: Each Congress that you were a US Senator or a US Congressman you must list how you voted on the Key votes listed by congress on the next post. For 5 points per vote you can add another key vote that goes against how your party or your character in general voted on a bill as long as it does not break the following rules: 1) The vote was not on a unanimous by your party (ie no votes the other way abstentions do not count) 2) Your key vote will not change the results of the vote. Buying a key-vote outlines to the AB and other Players that your vote came with the leg work from either your character, opposition party, or the media to make sure that the vote is remembered, and there for subsequent campaigning on it will be more a position where the media and people remember how you voted. Key votes: While votes that are older matter less, for being campaigned against, going to far liberal or conservative for your state based on the votes can hurt your ARs even today. Only listed back to the 96th Congress if you served before that please message an admin to get Key votes. 96th Congress 1979-1981 Both: Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 97th Congress 1981-1983 Both: Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 98th Congress 1983-1985 (Republicans who want to oppose this bill should say they voted nay on the house version and abstained on the final vote.) Both: Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act of 1983 99th Congress 1985-1987 Republicans: Tax Reform Act of 1986 Democrats: Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 100th Congress 1987-1989: Republicans: Civil Liberties Act of 1988 Democrats: McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act 101th Congress 1989-1991: Republicans: Civil Rights Act of 1990 Democrats: Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 102th Congress 1991-1993: (This is a really boring congress, have an easy one) Both: Former Soviet Union Demilitarization Act of 1992 103th Congress 1993-1995: Both: North American Free Trade Agreement 104th Congress 1995-1997: Republicans: Helms–Burton Act Democrats: Defense of Marriage Act 105th Congress 1997-1999: Republicans: Balanced Budget Act of 199 Democrats: Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 106th Congress 1999-2001: Republicans: Legal Immigration Family Equity Act Democrats: Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act 107th Congress 2001-2003: Republicans: Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act Democrats: Homeland Security Act of 2002 108th Congress 2003-2005: Republicans: Intelligence_Reform_and_Terrorism_Prevention_Act Democrats: Unborn Victims of Violence Act 109th Congress 2005-2007: Republicans: Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement Democrats: Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act 110th Congress 2007-2009 Republicans: Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 976) Democrats: Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008 111th Congress 2009-2011 Republicans: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 Democrats: Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 112th Congress 2011-2013 Republicans: American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 Democrats: United States–Colombia Free Trade Agreement 113th Congress 2013-2015 Both: Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Both: Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 114th Congress 2015-2017 Both: Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015

VGS R18 GAME ROSTER (2017 - Present) Executive Leadership of the United States President of the United States: Doug Murphy (D-WI) Vice President of the United States: Jereh Ford (D-TN) Federal Party Leadership DNC Chairman: Nolan Stokes (D-MD) DNC Vice-Chairman: Anney Iyal (D-WA) DSCC Chairman: TBD DCCC Chairman: Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) DGA Chairman: John Bel Edwards (D-LA) RNC Chairman: Tom Donelson (R-TX) RNC Vice-Chairman: TBD NRSC Chairman: TBD NRCC Chairman: Roger Williams (R-TX) RGA Chair: Bill Haslam (R-TN) U.S. House of Representatives (232 R - 202 D) Speaker of the House: Paul Ryan (R-WI) House Majority Leader: Jim Jordan (R-OH) House Majority Whip: Steve Scalise (R-LA) Republican Conference Chair: Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) House Minority Leader: Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) House Minority Whip: Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Democratic Conference Chair: Joe Crowley (D-NY) U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice: John Roberts Associate Justice: Anthony Kennedy Associate Justice: Clarence Thomas Associate Justice: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Associate Justice: Stephen Breyer Associate Justice: Samuel Alito Associate Justice: Sonia Sotomayor Associate Justice: Elena Kagan Associate Justice: VACANT U.S. Senate (50 D - 49 R) Senate Majority Leader: Diego Everhart (D-PA) Senate Majority Whip: Camilo deSonido (I-CA) President Pro Tempore: Heather James (D-WA) Senate Minority Leader: Clifford Fleming (R-AL) Senate Minority Whip: April Kelly (R-AL) Alabama 2. Clifford Fleming (R) 3. April Kelly (R) Alaska 2. Dan Sullivan (R) 3. Lisa Murkowski (R) Arizona 1. Llyod Bishop (R) 3. Kimberly Atkins (R) Arkansas 2. Tom Cotton (R) 3. John Boozman (R) California 1. Camilo deSonido (I/D) 3. Taylor Kennedy (D) Colorado 2. Cory Gardner (R) 3. Michael Bennet (D) Connecticut 1. Chris Murphy (D) 3. Richard Blumenthal (D) Delaware 1. Tom Carper (D) 2. Chris Coons (D) Florida 1. Bill Nelson (D) 3. Erica Smith (D) Georgia 2. Barak Mofaz (R) 3. Tarik J. Lee (R) Hawaii 1. Mazie Hirono (D) 3. Brian Schatz (D) Idaho 2. Jim Risch (R) 3. Mike Crapo (R) Illinois 2. Edgar Villanueva (D) 3. Dan Lipinski (D) Indiana 1. John Carlsen (D) 3. Todd Young (R) Iowa 2. Joni Ernst (R) 3. James Cambridge (R) Kansas 2. Pat Roberts (R) 3. Jerry Moran (R) Kentucky 2. Mitch McConnell (R) 3. Kyle Van Horn (R) Louisiana 2. Douglas Butcher (R) 3. John Kennedy (R) Maine 1. Angus King (I-D) 2. Susan Collins (R) Maryland 1. Ben Cardin (D) 3. Nolan A. Stokes (D) Massachusetts 1. Elizabeth Warren (D) 2. Nathan Cohen (D) Michigan 1. Debbie Stabenow (D) 2. Alex Fakhouri (D) Minnesota 1. Amy Klobuchar (D) 2. Al Franken (D) Mississippi 1. Roger Wicker (R) 2. Thad Cochran (R) Missouri 1. Andrew Clarke (D) 3. Jason Kander (D) Montana 1. Jon Tester (D) 2. Martin Merkur (R) Nebraska 1. Deb Fischer (R) 2. David Rollins (R) Nevada 1. Dean Heller (R) 3. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) New Hampshire 2. Jeanne Shaheen (D) 3. Maggie Hassan (D) New Jersey 1. Harrison LeClavers (D) 2. Cory Booker (D) New Mexico 1. Martin Heinrich (D) 2. Joe Aragón (D) New York 1. Kirsten Gilibrand (D) 3. Chuck Schumer (D) North Carolina 2. Thom Tillis (R) 3. Richard Burr (R) North Dakota 1. Nick Kowalski (D-NPL) 3. John Hoeven (R) Ohio 1. Paulina Richards (D) 3. Rob Portman (R) Oklahoma 2. Jim Inhofe (R) 3. Tony Johnson (R) Oregon 2. Jeff Merkley (D) 3. Ron Wyden (D) Pennsylvania 1. Diego Everhart (D) 3. David Stewart (R) Rhode Island 1. Sheldon Whitehouse (D) 2. Jack Reed (D) South Carolina 2. Gary Freeman (R) 3. Jason Roy (R) South Dakota 2. Mike Rounds (R) 3. John Thune (R) Tennessee 1. Henry Patterson (R) 2. Linda Lawler (R) Texas 1. Tom Donelson (R) 2. John Cornyn (R) Utah 1. Orrin Hatch (R) 3. Mike Lee (R) Vermont 1. Bernie Sanders (I-D) 3. Patrick Leahy (D) Virginia 1. Katrina Valdez (D) 2. Dylan Macmillan (D) Washington 1. Heather James (D) 3. Anney Iyal (D) West Virginia 1. Sean Stevens (D) 2. Shelley Moore Capito (R) Wisconsin 1. Ron Kind (D) 3. Russ Feingold (D) Wyoming 1. John Barrasso (R) 2. Mike Enzi (R)

Name: Janice Kamaka (D-HI) Media/Outlet: Inside Politics with Manu Raju (CNN) Reason: Debt Limit Extension Action "The relative crickets from Republicans on the incoming debt ceiling expiration is simply astounding. We've heard them bloviate time and time again about fiscal responsibility, the same phrase they chuck out the window anytime they get an inch of power, but have thus far heard little to nothing. It's shocking that something of such magnitude to the global economy has yielded a collective shrug from that side of the aisle." "You're on the frontlines of reporting in Congress Manu, you've seen the apparent antics of House Republicans. You can take House Republicans out of the leadership but you can't take the chaos out of the Chaos Caucus. Don't get me started on the Main Streeters, the purported moderates, potentially proposing a more extreme expiration of the end of this year compared to the Study Committee changing the date to next year! What you have is a House Republican Conference that is simply playing politics with the global economy, with little explanation, and Senate Republicans and the White House staying quiet." "Democrats have led on the debt ceiling because we all witnessed the shenanigans Republicans pulled in 2023 with President Biden. Republicans waffled and wavered at every opportunity, constantly moving the goal posts, with little direction beyond inflicting political damage. All that got them was a dethroned Speaker and weeks of indecision. A default on the debt would be catastrophic for the global economy and devastating for the lives of all Americans. I genuinely mean all Americans." "I have confidence that the Debt Ceiling Limit Extension Act of 2025 will pass swiftly through the House and I remain hopeful that the few moderate Republicans that remain who have a genuine interest in protecting our economy. The extension to 2027 allows for Congress to focus on the issues that matter to Americans without the ticking time bomb in the corner. Republicans can say whatever they want but it is beyond clear: the Debt Ceiling Limit Extension Act of 2025 is the compromise proposal. We need an extension on the President's desk and this bill does just that. The time is now to get it over the line and put our economy and the American People at ease knowing a global economic crisis is not imminent. The stakes are simply that high Manu."

PR #15 - Senator Kamaka Honors Late-Senator Daniel Inouye With Respiratory Disease Legislation - Q3, 2025 Honolulu, HI - Senator Janice Kamaka (D-HI) unveiled new legislation at a civic event at Honolulu Hele, the city hall of Honolulu, aimed at honoring the late-Daniel Inouye (D-HI) by providing funding towards treatment and research in the realm of respiratory disease. Daniel Inouye died at the age of 88 as the result of a bout of respiratory disease. The Daniel Inouye Respiratory Disease Resistance Act would provide funding for training of medical personnel, equipment procurement, research and development, and the establishment of the Daniel Inouye Respiratory Disease Institute in Honolulu, HI. The legislation will allocate $80,000,000 each year from fiscal year 2026 to 2030. "Daniel Inouye was a titan of Hawaiian politics and he was a titan of American politics. A trailblazer in every sense of the word, I believe we can honor his legacy by providing critical research into the respiratory-related issues that led to his death. Thousands of Americans die each year as the result of respiratory disease and the Daniel Inouye Respiratory Disease Resistance Act provides critical funding into training, equipment, research and development, and the establishment of the Daniel Inouye Respiratory Disease Institute right here in Honolulu. We can combat respiratory disease in the United States and we can provide aid and comfort to the thousands of Americans and their families who have loved ones suffering. America can be a leader in medical breakthroughs, as we always have been, and this priority is near and dear to my heart. Ohana is a universal value here in Hawaii and I believe this familial care for our fellow man and woman is one shared nationwide."

PR #14 - Senator Kamaka Pans PROSPER Act and Champions MSI/HBCU Empowerment on CNN - Q2, 2025 Washington D.C. - Senator Janice Kamaka (D-HI) joined The Lead with Jake Tapper on CNN to discuss the problems with the White House's PROSPER Act and championed the MSI and HBCU Enhancement Act she and other members of the Senate Progressive Caucus have sponsored. Much of the opposition centered on the profiteering military corporations like the Ross Group would achieve through the PROSPER Act along with changes to the tax code that will facilitate that profiteering off the backs of working Americans. Senator Kamaka also expressed frustration over the constant flip-flopping of Republicans at every level of government and called them out for misleading voters about where they stand on issues from a pathway to citizenship, expanded Medicare, and various other issues. "Talk about a doozy of a bill Jake. The PROSPER Act, proposed by this White House, does little to cultivate prosperity beyond the profit margin of the Ross Group and other corporations within the military industrial complex. Let's pretend for a moment that this bill isn't just a Frankenstein monster of different issues, and take it at face value. Eliminating the Child Tax Credit alone and replacing it with a system that would let someone making over $200,000 qualify for the same need as someone making $10,000 a year is simply bad governance. Increasing taxes on working families through gimmicks like removing head of household filing just to fill the coffers of military industrial corporations is par for the course for this administration. The PROSPER Act is the perfect bait and switch on working families, taking their hard earned money and giving it to corporations like the Ross Group." "I seem to recall Republicans as late as 2024 calling efforts to expand vision, hearing, and dental pure socialism. Not only has the White House reversed course, they've embraced the exact policy the Biden Administration attempted to push for before being stymied by, and you guessed it, Republicans! Vice President McKnight and Congressional Republicans can deny reality until they're blue in the face but let's give credit where credit is due, to the previous administration and Congressional Democrats. I'm glad to see Republicans finally see the need to expand Medicare coverage." "The White House has proven once again that they are not serious about governing. This is why Congressional Democrats have sent a formal letter to Congressional Republican Leadership to sit down and hammer out Medicare Part A solvency, affordable housing reform, and other pressing issues facing the American People. It's why Democrats have put forward a clean debt limit extension. We are in the business of getting things done for the American People. Unlike Republicans, we have been consistent to our values from day one. You don't get surprises from us on where we stand." "Across the board, we are seeing Republicans in the White House and in Congress have sudden epiphanies on virtually every major proposal put forward by the Biden Administration and adopting them as their own. A familiar pattern seems to be emerging where Republicans campaign vehemently against Biden, against Casanova-Davis, and against Democrats in elections and those same Republicans turn around and back the very same proposals they claim they detest. That isn't a change of heart, it's flip-flopping and it's no doubt disingenuous to voters. Expanding medicare, free community college, sick leave for rail workers, funding HBCUs and MSIs, a pathway to citizenship through the immigration deal, and the list goes on. We welcome the support for policies we've supported for decades but I question why the sudden change of heart from as late as last year." "Speaking on HBCUs and MSIs, I was glad to join my colleagues Senator Sharpe, Senator deSonido, and Congressman Frisch in Pueblo earlier today to unveil the MSI and HBCU Enhancement Act aimed at empowering those institutions through investment, community engagement, and essential repairs. This bill strengthens institutions, like my alma mater Hawaii Pacific University and CSU Pueblo that we spoke at, in ways they previously have not been. With newfound Republican support for HBCU and MSI funding, I look forward to seeing wide support in the near future. I also prefer HBCU and MSI funding not be attached to a payday for the military industrial complex as it currently is through the PROSPER Act."

Name: Janice Kamaka (D-HI) Media/Outlet: The Lead with Jake Tapper (CNN) Reason: PROSPER Act & MSI and HBCU Enhancement Act "Talk about a doozy of a bill Jake. The PROSPER Act, proposed by this White House, does little to cultivate prosperity beyond the profit margin of the Ross Group and other corporations within the military industrial complex. Let's pretend for a moment that this bill isn't just a Frankenstein monster of different issues, and take it at face value. Eliminating the Child Tax Credit alone and replacing it with a system that would let someone making over $200,000 qualify for the same need as someone making $10,000 a year is simply bad governance. Increasing taxes on working families through gimmicks like removing head of household filing just to fill the coffers of military industrial corporations is par for the course for this administration. The PROSPER Act is the perfect bait and switch on working families, taking their hard earned money and giving it to corporations like the Ross Group." "I seem to recall Republicans as late as 2024 calling efforts to expand vision, hearing, and dental pure socialism. Not only has the White House reversed course, they've embraced the exact policy the Biden Administration attempted to push for before being stymied by, and you guessed it, Republicans! Vice President McKnight and Congressional Republicans can deny reality until they're blue in the face but let's give credit where credit is due, to the previous administration and Congressional Democrats. I'm glad to see Republicans finally see the need to expand Medicare coverage." "The White House has proven once again that they are not serious about governing. This is why Congressional Democrats have sent a formal letter to Congressional Republican Leadership to sit down and hammer out Medicare Part A solvency, affordable housing reform, and other pressing issues facing the American People. It's why Democrats have put forward a clean debt limit extension. We are in the business of getting things done for the American People. Unlike Republicans, we have been consistent to our values from day one. You don't get surprises from us on where we stand." "Across the board, we are seeing Republicans in the White House and in Congress have sudden epiphanies on virtually every major proposal put forward by the Biden Administration and adopting them as their own. A familiar pattern seems to be emerging where Republicans campaign vehemently against Biden, against Casanova-Davis, and against Democrats in elections and those same Republicans turn around and back the very same proposals they claim they detest. That isn't a change of heart, it's flip-flopping and it's no doubt disingenuous to voters. Expanding medicare, free community college, sick leave for rail workers, funding HBCUs and MSIs, a pathway to citizenship through the immigration deal, and the list goes on. We welcome the support for policies we've supported for decades but I question why the sudden change of heart from as late as last year." "Speaking on HBCUs and MSIs, I was glad to join my colleagues Senator Sharpe, Senator deSonido, and Congressman Frisch in Pueblo earlier today to unveil the MSI and HBCU Enhancement Act aimed at empowering those institutions through investment, community engagement, and essential repairs. This bill strengthens institutions, like my alma mater Hawaii Pacific University and CSU Pueblo that we spoke at, in ways they previously have not been. With newfound Republican support for HBCU and MSI funding, I look forward to seeing wide support in the near future. I also prefer HBCU and MSI funding not be attached to a payday for the military industrial complex as it currently is through the PROSPER Act."

PR #13 - Kamaka, deSonido, Sharpe, and Frisch Roll Out HBCU/MSI Legislation - Q2, 2025 Pueblo, CO - Senator Janice Kamaka (D-HI) joined her fellow Democratic Senate colleagues, Senator Camilo desonide (D-CO), Senator Aaron Sharpe (D-CA), and Congressman Adam Frisch (D-CO-03) at an event on the campus of the Colorado State University Pueblo in Pueblo, CO to champion their new proposed bill aimed at empowering HBCUs and MSIs across the country. As a HSI-designated institution, CSU Pueblo has received multiple awards from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities for their work to uplift and empower Hispanic students across Colorado. Highlighting the newfound bipartisan cause of empowering HBCUs and MSIs across the country, the three Senators and CSU Pueblo's hometown Congressman have come together to support critical empowerment legislation. The MSI and HBCU Enhancement Act would establish a grant program to support long-term improvements of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), graduate programs at HBCUs, and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs). Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education to award grants to HBCUs and MSIs to improve campus facilities. A recipient must use grant funds for certain activities, such as constructing or renovating facilities, carrying out major repairs, and strengthening the safety and security of a campus. Any new construction, modernization, or renovation projects must meet building code and energy and water conservation requirements. Further, HBCUs and MSIs must seek to procure contracts from certain small businesses, including those owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans. The bill prohibits the use of grant funds for specified activities, including for the payment of routine and predictable maintenance costs, minor repairs, and utility bills. The Government Accountability Office must study the implementation of the grant program. The bill also requires ED to repay the outstanding balance of principal, interest, fees, and costs and any related reimbursements for certain capital financing loans. Senator Camilo deSonido (D-CO): "Ladies and gentlemen, on the grounds of Colorado State University-Pueblo, we unite in celebration of the profound influence of HBCUs and MSIs, institutions that should be revered as high seminaries of cultural pride and American excellence. Alongside Senator Janice Kamaka of Hawaii, Senator Aaron Sharpe of California, and Congressman Adam Frisch of Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, we champion the MSI and HBCU Enhancement Act—a visionary legislation devoted to fortifying these institutions and acknowledging their pivotal role in shaping the destinies of great Americans. This legislation goes beyond physical enhancements, delving into the soul of these institutions—their students. It stands as a pledge to invigorate the spirit of innovation and excellence that defines HBCUs and MSIs, recognizing them as crucibles of resilience, perseverance, and cultural pride. By emphasizing economic growth and community engagement through small business contracts, we ensure that the impact of these institutions extends far beyond their campuses. Let us stand united in elevating HBCUs and MSIs as the cornerstone of American excellence and cultural pride, inspiring generations to come. I must thank everyone who joined us today, but especially the heart behind this bill, Senator Janice Kamaka. Senate Minority Whip, thank you for your commitment to these students and our communities." Senator Janice Kamaka (D-HI): “I want to thank Senator deSonido and Congressman Frisch for welcoming myself and Senator Sharpe to CSU Pueblo right here in the heart of Colorado's 3rd Congressional District. The work for Hispanic students that this college has done for decades is a testament to the strength and resilience of MSIs in the face of growing financial and educational challenges. If we want our children to have the best education and best resources at their disposal, we must work to bring all students into the fold which is exactly what this bill rectifies. The MSI and HBCU Enhancement Act will support long-term improvement and sustained support for HBCUs and MSIs across the country. I am glad to see some of my Republican colleagues finally come to the agreement that we need to support these institutions, not demonize them. The work of MSIs cannot be understated. In my own home state of Hawaii, universities like my alma mater Hawaii Pacific University, Hawaii Community College, and the University of Hawaii System spread across multiple campuses are all MSIs. Serving our minority students has always been something Hawaii excels at since the days of statehood. The MSI and HBCU Enhancement Act will uplift communities of color across this country, giving them the resources to establish the longevity needed in a changing world. It will also help our surrounding local communities through procuring grants from small businesses, particularly those owned by veterans. I believe there is great potential to see positive change in the lives of hundreds of thousands of students across the country at institutions that have often been underfunded and neglected.” Senator Aaron Sharpe (D-CA): "Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play crucial roles in the American educational system and in remembering history. This is crucial at a time when people are trying to ban books and get rid of history that matters. HBCUs were established during a time when racial segregation prevented African Americans from accessing higher education at white institutions. These were beacons of hope for African Americans wanting to excel in life in a country that did nothing but hold them down. HBCUs foster a sense of cultural identity and pride among students. These colleges and universities celebrate the history, heritage, and achievements of African Americans, by creating an environment where students feel a strong connection to their roots. HBCUs often play a vital role in their local communities. They contribute to community development, job creation, and economic growth, positively impacting the areas surrounding these institutions. Many HBCU graduates go on to become influential leaders in various sectors. The institutions focus not only on academic development but also on instilling leadership skills and a commitment to social justice. HBCUs contribute to diversity within the higher education landscape. They create an inclusive environment where students from different backgrounds come together to learn—fostering a rich tapestry of experience and perspectives. Overall, HBCUs are indispensable institutions that have played a pivotal role in breaking down barriers to education, fostering cultural pride, and contributing to the overall advancement of both individuals and communities. Their continued support and recognition are crucial for ensuring equal opportunities and diversity in the educational landscape."

Name: Janice Kamaka (D-HI) Media/Outlet: This Week with George Stephanopoulos (ABC News) Reason: Guyana/Venezuela & WH Gang of Eight Leak "The conflict in Guyana as the result of Venezuelan aggression is illegal under international law. While the chest thumpers in Congress punch at anyone who dares question the erratic decision-making of this President, I have been speaking on Guyana's rightful territorial claim to the Essequibo region since before the word Guyana came out of any of their mouths. We knew the danger, we expressed the concern, and we were met with a White House moving a carrier strike force into our backyard and then going radio silent. No address from the President, no line in the sand, and no clarity for millions of Americans and people across Latin America about what America actually wanted Venezuela to do." "I believe the decision to not evacuate American citizens prior to the unprovoked attack by Venezuela is one that deserves review. The American People were left in the dark on what this administration wanted from the Venezuela/Guyana dispute beyond one press conference by the NSA that didn't provide any particular clarity on what this President was committed to do to maintain Guyana's territorial integrity. My prayers are with the five Americans, and the Guyanese killed by the Venezuelan artillery attack as well as those who will continue to needlessly die in this conflict." "We now have a situation in which two American service members have been captured by the Maduro Regime. Captain Luis Ricardo and Lt. Adam Humphries must be returned to the United States, as should international law on the treatment of prisoners be respected. The images out of Caracas are horrifying, there is no dispute of that. My concern remains that the same people on Capitol Hill shaming all those who question the flawed response of this Administration are only lending their voices to escalating this conflict. We now have two service members held hostage and these politicians want to glass Caracas? Its irresponsible language at best and a detriment to their safety at worst. I hope that cooler heads will emerge to safety deliver our Americans back into our hands." "What particularly concerns me is the willingness of this White House and their allies to shame anyone who questions their strategy in Venezuela but so wantonly ignores the national security procedure. The Gang of Eight leak is a serious breach in our national security. If deflection was an Olympic sport, Republicans would be getting the gold right now. FBI agents taking out boxes from the White House and the White House Press Secretary under FBI investigation for foolishly leaking classified information in an attempt to one-up Minority Leader Starnes is simply unacceptable and shameful on those who scoff at the suggestion that this is a serious liability for our national security." "Ultimately, I believe the current conflict is a fundamental failure of diplomacy on the part of this administration and an ignorance of the warning signs that this regime was willing to use military force against Guayana. How our military was surprised that Maduro would launch an attack based on their significant military buildup and rhetoric is beyond me. The failure to provide clarity to the nation and the world about a brewing conflict in our own backyard has left us unprepared and two Americans in the hands of a savage dictator. Guyana's territorial integrity must be maintained, but I will not sit here and pretend as though the President wasn't called upon repeatedly to make a strong and public case for it before the outbreak of violence."

Name: Janice Kamaka (D-HI) Media/Outlet: Fox News Sunday (Fox News) Reason: Passage of the 21st Century Railway Safety Act "The passage of the 21st Century Railway Safety Act is a major bipartisan accomplishment. We hear a lot in the news about the partisan rancor that has gripped Washington but I continue to believe time and time again that this Congress has the capability to meaningfully address reform that yields tangible benefits for the American People. Democrats took the lead on railway safety because this issue is of paramount concern for those worried about the environment, our national security, and protecting communities all across this country. Whether they be rural towns or major metropolitan areas, rail safety is critical to securing our supply lines and keeping people safe." "This bill expands accountability and transparency within the rail industry. The rise in train derailments is a direct result of corporate entities ignoring safety as a priority and our regulatory bodies having no teeth to enforce it. This bill includes expanding rail car inspections, defect detectors, increasing maximum civil penalties for violators of rail safety regulations, and hazardous material training for first responders, along with empowering the FRA to actually hold corporate entities to account. Train derailments pose severe public safety risks, while devastating the surrounding ecosystem. This bill finally gets us moving in a positive direction." "This bill also finally codifies sick leave for rail workers. If you saw the statistics around the hours these workers work alone, you'd be shocked that this was controversial. We know in the past that some of my Republican colleagues rejected this proposal but I am glad to see once again they've come around to the reality that this support is essential. All Americans deserve sick leave, and rail workers in particular deserve all the support we can give them given the seriousness of the job they occupy." "Ultimately, communities like East Palestine and Mendon, Missouri deserve a Congress that takes this issue seriously. I'm glad to see both parties come to the collective agreement that rail safety is a priority demanding direct action. I was proud to sponsor this bill with Senator White of Michigan because the environmental and national security implications can't be ignored. While some have attempted to claim credit for their own party for the passage of my legislation, I remain committed to celebrating this as a bipartisan achievement. Democrats were proud to take the lead on this issue and we are glad to see rail safety come to fruition."

Name: Janice Kamaka (D-HI) Media/Outlet: Meet the Press (NBC News) Reason: American Immigration Fairness and Security Act "It's a breakthrough. As simple as that. Democrats and Republicans in Congress got together and hammered out an immigration deal. Pundits said it couldn't be done and they got proven wrong. I am greatly appreciative of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together and delivering a package that gets to the root of the issue. Neither side got everything they wanted, but that's the name of the game in Washington. It became apparent quickly that the elephant in the room being left out of the conversation was necessary to get a deal done. Erratic behavior, repealing DACA as a show of strength and then claiming they didn't when they did, and threatening mass deportations casually on podcast derailed immigration conversations time and time again. The adults in the room stepped in and delivered." "The American Immigration Fairness and Security Act builds on the FAIR Act as a foundation, with key elements of S.66 included, to deliver reform that strengthens our border security, establishes the DREAM Act as the law of the land, addresses fentanyl and refugee reform, and creates a pathway to citizenship, among other various proposals aimed at alleviating the immigration issue. Dreamers can sleep well again knowing that Democrats fought like hell with Republican supporters in Congress to make the President's callous EO a thing of the past. We accomplished what the Biden Administration had put forward through the inclusion of the U.S. Citizenship Act that creates an earned pathway for citizenship. These are wins across the board that deliver results." "This bill delivers significant reform and funding to protect our Southern border, tackle gang violence, and improve the immigration system. Hiring more immigration judges to clear the backlog, establishing regional processing centers in the United States and in Latin America to stem the flow to our border, improving border infrastructure, investing in things that work like technology and not some arcane wall, and establishing a right to counsel for those in immigration courts are just some of the proposals implemented in this act that address immigration holistically." "We got a deal done folks. I think that is a historic achievement in it of itself. We did so by bringing those actually serious about reform to the table and delivered a breakthrough. I am hopeful that this legislation can pass through Congress with bipartisan support and I believe we can see the American Immigration Fairness and Security Act become the law of the land. Democrats said time and time again that we would always lead on this issue, heck we did it earlier this session when we fixed the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act to actually address human trafficking on the Southern Border. This bill is a win for America and one I'm proud to have been a part of."

PR #12 - Senator Kamaka Condemns President's Call for Potential Mass Deportations - Q2, 2025 Washington D.C. - Senator Janice Kamaka (D-HI) condemned recent comments made by President Leah Ross (R-FL) during a podcast in which the President outlined her potential usage of mass deportations, along with callous language around the over 600,000 DACA recipients. The President openly admitted during an episode of her Oval Uncensored that her decision to scrap DACA was a stunt to flex her executive power. The President also expressed the possibility of launching mass deportations of millions of people within the United States. "I said it before and I'll say it again, cruelty was the point. Absolutely horrific rhetoric coming from the President, whether it be her callousness towards the 600,000 DACA recipients, her admission that she put those lives in legal jeopardy as part of an ego trip, or her comments indicating support for mass deportation of millions. A child having a temper tantrum because they aren't getting what they want occupies the Oval Office. Simply shameful. It was be journalistic malpractice for the media to not question every elected Republican in Congress on whether they support the President's nativist rhetoric. Democratic Leadership has concluded that President Ross is a volatile and unstable partner uninterested in actually finding common ground on immigration reform. Her erratic flip-flopping on DACA alone has become nauseating enough, if not for her foaming at the mouth desire to rip apart the lives of millions of people in the United States. This White House has flown off the rails."

Name: Janice Kamaka (D-HI) Media/Outlet: Fox News Sunday (Fox News) Reason: Environmental Security, 21st Century Railway Safety Act & Flores Nomination "Environmental security is national security. We've allowed for the political discourse on the environment to lose sight of that reality. Rising sea levels are threatening U.S. strategic interests, like our bases, globally. Severe weather across the country is battering our energy grid, destroying infrastructure, and putting lives at risk. Lack of effective funding into agencies like the National Weather Service and FEMA, has limited our ability to effectively mitigate and respond to crisis across our country. Air quality is declining and our rivers and waterways are threatened. It is one of the top national security issues of our time." "I don't believe the environment needs to be a partisan issue because it simply isn't. Our climate is changing and our country is not prepared for it. I wanted to come onto Fox because I believe we need to meet people where they're at. I don't expect Americans skeptical of environmental policy to understand the stakes of environmental security without conversation, dialogue, and common ground. Politicians throw around catch phrases like 'drill baby drill' while our environmental security declines as a result without necessary precautions. Securing America means securing our environmental future. My door is always open to colleagues on both sides to work to strengthen our environmental future and our national security as a result." "I targeted once facet of this wider issue of environmental security with the 21st Century Railway Safety Act because the threat to our infrastructure and possibility of environmental destruction as the result of derailments must be addressed. Folks in East Palestine, Ohio and other towns and cities across the country who have faced this danger deserve to know that their Congress is working to strengthen accountability in the industry and make our supply chains safer. The destruction of local ecosystems leads to lower growth, job loss, and loss of revenue for communities." "It's also why the climate denialism of someone like Mayra Flores for EPA Administrator concerns me as much as it does. I don't care if you voted Republican, Democrat, or third party in 2024, we've all felt the impacts of climate change. Harsh winters, devastating hurricane seasons, and rising sea levels threaten all of us. You can believe in small government and still believe in good government. It is beyond clear that Mayra Flores lacks the professional qualifications to serve as EPA Administrator, so much so that no Republicans outside of the White House have supported her nomination. But even more importantly, Mayra Flores lacks the conviction to acknowledge the threat of climate change, putting American national security at risk as a result."

PR #11 - Senator Kamaka Champions Bipartisan Rail Safety Legislation - Q2, 2025 Honolulu, HI - In the midst of a partisan environment on Capitol Hill, Senator Janice Kamaka (D-HI) has put forward rail safety legislation that has received broad bipartisan support from Republicans and Democrats alike. Joining Senator Madeline White (D-MI), the 21st Century Railway Safety Act enhances safety requirements for trains transporting hazardous materials, including expanding rail car inspections, defect detectors, increasing maximum civil penalties for violators of rail safety regulations, and hazardous material training for first responders.. This bill requires the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to provide Congress with notice of when a comprehensive safety assessment is being conducted on an intercity or commuter rail transit agency. Specifically, the FRA must provide notice within 10 days after it initiates an assessment to specified congressional committees and each Member of Congress who represents a state in which the service that is subject of the assessment is located, and report the findings of the assessment within 90 days after completion to such committees and Members. This bill also amends title 49, United States Code, with respect to expanding sick leave for certain employees of Class I railroads. "I sponsored the 21st Century Railway Safety Act with my colleague from Michigan Senator White because rail safety is a pressing concern. We are talking about the movement of material from point a to point b across this country. I've read report after report about the failures within the railway system as corporations have ignored safety standards and our government is powerless to mandate it. Whether it was East Palestine in Ohio or the next tragedy, we must correct the system and keep Americans safe. I'm glad to see Republicans and Democrats come together around this legislation because this isn't about partisanship, this is about addressing a legitimate national security concern. I am also particularly glad to see both parties agree that our rail workers deserve expanded sick leave. We hear a lot about the rampant partisanship in Congress in the media but I believe this breakthrough on rail safety can be built on for future progress in this political climate."