The Mideast Record-Courier (Exclusive Interview with Roy Barnes)

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record Courier
January 7, 2015

Tmthforu94 Sworn In As Governor

Following former Governor TJ's ascension to the Supreme Court, Lt. Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 has been inaugurated as the region's chief executive. With elections for governor and Assembly fast approaching, Tmthforu94 has stated that his primary concern will be to address the remaining legislation before the Assembly and to conduct a "major update to the Mideast Wiki page." Assemblyman TDAS04 (Labor-VA) has been nominated to fill the lieutenant governor vacancy.

Assembly Considers Bill To Expand High Speed Rail

Mideast Assemblyman New Canadaland (Labor-ON) has introduced a bill that would fund the construction of a high-speed railway from Ohio to Ontario. The proposed line would have stops in Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, and Toronto. Current cost estimates place the expense at roughly $50 billion. Governor Tmthforu94 has noted that the proposed line is similar to an already existing high speed line running between Detroit and Toledo, and has suggested extending the existing line instead of constructing an all-new railway.

Mideast Educational Freedom Act Stirs Controversy

Several members of the Assembly continue to voice their objections to the Mideast Educational Freedom Act proposed by former Governor TJ over two weeks ago. The bill, which has met with decided opposition from the Labor minority caucus, would provide government subsidies for students of charter schools whose local public schools are deemed "failing". While former Governor TJ insists that "if [charter schools] can outperform the public schools, the Mideast region has a compelling interest in their success," Assemblymen New Canadaland (Labor-ON) and TDAS04 (Labor-VA) have expressed concern that the bill would take resources from needy public schools. As of this writing, no member of the Assembly has commented on the bill in nearly 48 hours, though Speaker Spiral is yet to bring it to a vote.

[tmthforu94]

This is awesome!! Keep it up - let me know if I can be of assistance!

[Lumine]

Great, I love it when we have newspapers in Atlasia!

Is this newspaper going to cover national issues like the Midwest Record Courier or just focus on the Mideast?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

This is awesome!! Keep it up - let me know if I can be of assistance!

Thank-you, Mr. Governor!

Great, I love it when we have newspapers in Atlasia!

Is this newspaper going to cover national issues like the Midwest Record Courier or just focus on the Mideast?

Our primary focus will be on the Mideast; however, I hope to keep readers up-to-date on national issues as well.

[Dr. Cynic]

Thanks for helping me out by publishing a paper! I encourage more Atlasians to take to journalism, if for no other reason than it helps me

[Lumine]

Thanks for helping me out by publishing a paper! I encourage more Atlasians to take to journalism, if for no other reason than it helps me

If I could I would have reopened the Political Tracker a long time ago, but it would look bad given my current position, xD

But yes, we really need more media in Atlasia.

[GAworth]

Although The Record Courier has not opened this paper. I do wish you the best of luck, it is hard to keep a paper up and running.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 8, 2015

Voting Commences On Senate Rules Amendment

As of 1:46 PM yesterday and continuing through next Wednesday, Mideast voters will have the opportunity to approve or reject an amendment to the federal constitution revising the Senate's procedural methods. If adopted, the amendment would clarify the role of the Vice President in Senate proceedings and officially rechristen the body's presiding officer "the Speaker". Under the new rules, the Vice President would be tasked specifically with opening the confirmation threads for presidential nominees and, along with the Speaker, enforcing the rules of the Senate.  The amendment makes no mention of what role the Vice President might play outside of presiding over confirmation hearings. As of this writing, Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 has voted in favor of ratifying the amendment.

Bore Re-Elected Senate Speaker

Northeast Regional Senator Bore (Labor-RI) was unanimously reelected Speaker of the Atlasian Senate yesterday. Senator Bore, who served as Speaker of the 64th Senate and is the first presiding officer of that body not to be titled "President Pro-Tempore", was nominated by Midwest Senator and Labor firebrand TNF; Pacific Senator TheCranberry (TPP-OR) seconded the nomination. Senator Bore was supported by all three political parties with representation in the Senate, surely a good omen as he prepares to seek the presidency in February.

Mideast Record-Courier Endorses Tmthforu94 For Governor

Governor Tmthforu94 (Federalist-VA) has the support of the Mideast Record-Courier as he approaches the gubernatorial election to be held next week. Over the course of his long and distinguished career, Tmthforu has remained an active participant in Mideast and national politics, serving in various positions ranging from Assemblyman to Governor to President. In addition, his choice of Assemblyman TDAS04 (Labor-VA) for lieutenant governor demonstrates his willingness to work across the aisle for the good of Mideast citizens. We are highly confident that the governor will enjoy a long and fruitful tenure, and we look forward to casting our vote for him on January 15!

January 2015 Mideast Voters' Guide

For Governor/Lt. Governor
Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed)/ TDAS04 (Lab) (inc)
(Tmthforu94 is the incumbent governor of the Mideast. He has previously served as a Mideast Assemblyman, Lt. Governor, Governor,  Regional and At-Large Senator, Vice President, and President.)

For Assembly (5 assemblymen will be elected)
Bmotley (DR) (inc.)
(Bmotely first served in the Assembly under Governor ZuWo in 2012. He was a candidate for Regional Senator in October 2014.)
CrabCake (Lab)
(CrabCake is a new citizen of the Mideast Region.)
EarlAW (WSR)
(EarlAW is a member of the Washburnist Socialist Revolution Party. As far as we know, he is the party's only member.)
New Canadaland (Lab) (inc.)
(Canadaland has been a member of the Assembly since November.)
Shua (DR) (inc.)
(Shua has previously served as an At-Large Senator and as Game Moderator from 2011 to 2013)
Spiral (DR) (inc.)
(Sprial is currently the speaker of the Mideast Assembly. He has previously served as a Regional Senator and as Governor and Lt. Governor of the Mideast.

[tmthforu94]

Thank you for the endorsement! It is greatly appreciated.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 9, 2014

Senate Debates Federal Recall Amendment

Debate continues on a constitutional amendment proposed by Midwest Regional Senator TNF (Lab-KS) that would allow voters to recall their elected representatives in the federal government. Should the amendment pass, a recall election would be triggered whenever 25% of the voters in the affected constituency "petition for the calling of a referendum to revoke [an] official's mandate. Should a majority of registered voters then vote in favor of recall, the official would be removed from office.
Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI) has expressed reservations about the bill, saying that it would defeat the purpose of at-large senate elections: to "allow people with not mainstream views [such as] Deus [and] JCL to be elected. The recall would likely recall both of them. Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) echoed Senator Windjammer's objections, saying "whichever side (left or right) has the most voters could easily recall those on the other side and replace them with their own, creating a 5-0 majority… which would not be an accurate reflection of the population at large." An amendment offered by Senator Windjammer that would have required the consent of 100% of eligible voters to hold a recall was defeated. Northeast Regional Senator Bore (Lab-RI) has proposed an amendment that would exempt at-large senators from recalls; as of this writing, neither Senator Windjammer nor Governor Tmthforu94 have indicated whether this is enough to ease their concerns.

Transcendental Democrats Gather To Discuss Party's Future

The 2nd Congress of the Transcendental Democratic Party is well underway, as delegates in Seattle, Washington debate the future of the small but growing political movement. Party founder and General Secretary Al Sibboleth opened the Congress on the 6th, calling on the delegates to develop the party's existing "Three Point Programme" into a larger manifesto and sounding what may become his party's war cry in the coming campaign. "I would like to take this opportunity to suggest to all those who are disenchanted with the current state of Atlasia that joining the Transcendental Democrats would be an excellent idea." he said, underscoring that his party is open to all ideologies.  "We are the most radical party because we stand in opposition to the current Order; we are the most conservative party because we reject utterly the idea that the current Order can be reformed. Harmony and Transcendence will ultimately triumph over bitter divisiveness."
Having reelected Pacific Councilor Gully Foyle (TD-CA) Party President and endorsed Northeast Senator Bore (Lab-RI) for the presidency, the party now turns its eyes towards drafting a more complete platform in advance of the February campaign.

Fmr. Senator JCL Enters Mideast Assembly Race

Former At-Large Senator Johanus Calvinus Libertas (Fed-IN) has declared his candidacy for Mideast Assembly. As a member of the Senate, JCL was well-known for his outspoken conservatism and was regarded by some as the polar opposite of Senator TNF (Lab-KS). He was defeated in his bid for a second term in the most recent midterm election.

[Senator Cris]

Thanks for doing this.

[Barnes]

I love newspapers in Atlasia! Thanks for contributing!

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 10-11, 2015

Mideast Unemployment Rate Drops, Defying National Trend

Though joblessness was expected to increase slightly in the post-holiday season, the Mideast saw a modest downturn in unemployment rates recently, a report from the Game Moderator's office showed Wednesday. While the national unemployment rate rose as of the last economic forecast, going from 6.3% in the first week of the New Year to 7.2% currently, joblessness in the Mideast dropped .2% from 6.7% to 6.5%, the equivalent of 123,000  jobs[1]. While this decrease is statistically minor, it is important to note that the Mideast was the only region to experience job growth during this period. Furthermore, economists are predicting that job growth will remain steady in the coming weeks, according to the Game Moderator's official publication, the Atlasian Democrat.

[1] Estimated Mideast Population: 61,734,655

Low Turnout Plagues Vote On Senate Rules Amendment

Though the debate on the Senate floor was lively, marked by a declaration of a state of emergency by President Lumine Von Reuental (Fed-UT) and heated disagreement over the proper role--and identity--of the senate's presiding officer, the proposed "Fix the Senate Rules Amendment" appears to have barely registered in the minds of Atlasian voters, particularly in the Mideast. Though voting on the amendment commenced on Wednesday in the Mideast, Northeast, and Midwest, only the Northeastern voting thread has more than a few replies. As of this writing, only three Mideasterners have voted on the amendment, all in favor of ratification. In the Midwest, the statistics are only slightly less pitiful: only four citizens have thus far voted on the amendment. The IDS and the Pacific have yet to begin voting on the amendment at all.
In an effort to increase turnout, Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) posted a message in his office thread yesterday urging Mideasterners to turn out for the referendum and providing a link to the voting booth. As of this writing, this effort does not seem to have significantly increased turnout. Voting will continue through next Wednesday in the Mideast.

Budget Debate Continues, With No End In Sight

This Friday will mark exactly one month since the Senate began debating the specifics of the 2015 Budget, and although the body is seemingly closer to an eventual budget than it was when the year began, observers do not expect the debate to be concluded anytime soon. An amendment proposed by IDS Regional Senator North Carolina Yankee (Fed-NC) and backed by President Von Reuental has met with stiff opposition from the Labor majority, as well as members of the TPP, who object to the suggested decrease in the Financial Transaction Tax. Speaking on the amendment, Northeast Regional Senator and Senate Speaker Bore (Lab-RI) said that he is "not really comfortable with this. From what I can work out we're cutting health care spending for what amounts to a tax cut for the rich." At-Large Senator Polnut (TPP-MA), a former governor of the Mideast, said that while he understands the desire to reign in the deficit, "we still have unemployment… that's too high, [and] inflation is above wage growth… I'm not going to take risks with the health and welfare of the Atlasian people." In response to these objections, President Von Reuental reiterated that "finding a common ground is certainly in the interest of all", but maintained his desire to pass a tax cut in some form.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 12, 2015

TDAS04 Confirmed As Lt. Governor

With the affirmative vote of Assemblyman Bmotely (DR-IN), the Mideast Record-Courier can now verify that Assemblyman TDAS04 (Lab-VA) has enough votes to be confirmed as lt. governor by the Mideast Assembly. The lieutenant governor's office was vacated last week, when then-Lt. Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 swore in as governor following the resignation of Governor TJ. Tmthforu94 then nominated TDAS04 to replace him as lieutenant governor.
In response to a question from Assembly Speaker Spiral (DR-MO), TDAS04 said his primary objective as lt. governor will be "doing all I can to assist in achieving Governor Tmth's goals in making the Mideast region a better place for all its residents."TDAS04 will seek a full term as lt. governor in the regional elections this week.

Assembly Candidates Sound Off On Issues

With three days to go before Mideast voters choose their next governor and Assembly, the candidates seeking election to the regional government have hurled themselves into a last minute campaign. While Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 and his running mate, Lt. Governor TDSA04, are unopposed in the gubernatorial election, no less than seven candidates are currently competing for election to the Assembly, with ideologies ranging from the libertarian Democratic-Republican Party to the far left WSRP.
Of the many contenders for the Assembly, perhaps the most visible is Federalist candidate Johanus Calvinus Libertas of Indiana. A former at-large Senator well known for his social conservatism, JCL is now seeking to return to regional politics after being defeated in the December 2014 At-Large Senate elections. Asked of his opinions of the measures before the Assembly to expand high-speed rail and subsidize charter schools, the former Senator expressed support for both proposals.
"I was the sponsor of a high speed rail law in a previous term as an assemblyman. I've always supported the idea of a rail system that could be both high speed and with minimal environmental impact," he told the Record Courier.  "When it comes to schools I've always had the view of an all of the above approach. Our public schools need healthy competition and I would have to look at the bill carefully before making any decision regarding any sort of subsidies."
Arguably JCL's polar opposite in the Assembly race is Mr. EarlAW, candidate of the Washburnist Socialist Revolutionary Party. The lone member of his caucus, which supports a variety of left-wing policies including "a complete overhaul of the [capitalist] system," Earlaw echoed JCL's support for high-speed rail but broke with him over educational policy. "I will... vote in favor of bills that move us toward abolishing private schools," Earl told the Record-Courier. "I support the principle of equality of opportunity, which can only be guaranteed with an education system that offers the same curriculum to all pupils at the elementary level (notwithstanding students with certain disabilities). As such, I oppose the concept of charter schools." The WSRP supports the abolition of private schools and home schooling.
Elections for governor and Assembly will begin on January 15 and last for three days.

Governor Tmthforu94 Endorses High-Speed Rail

Following the Game Moderator's release of a report on the increased popularity of high speed rail, Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) has announced that he will support increased funding for the program in the Mideast. Speaking before the Assembly yesterday, Governor Tmthforu94 said that "[high speed rail] provides good transportation alternatives while also bringing more jobs to the region," noting that growing demand justifies increased spending on this service. The governor did not, however, endorse a bill sponsored by Assemblyman New Canadaland (Lab-ON) to expand high-speed rail service in the Mideast, arguing that several of its provisions are made redundant by already existing legislation.  

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record Courier
January 13, 2015

Senate Passes Extension Of 2014 Budget

A resolution in the Senate that would temporarily extend the 2014 Budget currently has enough votes to pass, with eight Senators voting in favor and none against. Proposed by Northeast Regional Senator Bore (Lab-RI), the resolution would allow the government to continue operating under last year's budget, thereby preventing a shutdown. This measure will remain in effect until the passage of a new budget for the Fiscal Year of 2015.

Assembly Debates Changes To School Security Policy

An amendment to the Drop The Death Toll Act of 2012 proposed by Assemblyman Shua (DR-NU) that would allow localities to restrict the presence of firearms in schools is currently before the Assembly, and has been endorsed by Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA). As currently written, the DTDTA allows law enforcement officers to bring loaded firearms into schools and, if necessary, use "violent force" to subdue attackers or break up "altercations". Assemblyman Shua's amendment would slightly alter this policy to allow localities to "restrict the presence of weapons at schools carried by officers of the law… should they find it in the interest of the safety and educational environment of the school population."
The amendment has met with the support of Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA). While encouraging school districts to make provisions for the use of firearms in the case of an emergency, the governor said that he is "supportive of returning power to local districts--what works in inner-city Detroit may not work in rural Kentucky." Tmthforu94 has pledged to sign the amendment in the event that it passes the Assembly.

Poll: Tmthforu94 A Lock For Governor; Assembly Race A Toss-Up

Supporters of Governor Tmthforu94 have little to worry about as they prepare to head to the polls in the upcoming regional elections. A recent poll conducted by the Mideast Record-Courier found that 88% of voters intend to support the governor for reelection, with just 12% saying they were likely to write-in another candidate. Such unanimity could not be found in the race for Assembly, however: respondents split their first preferences amongst six candidates, with Federalist Johanus Calvinus Libertas and WSRP candidate EarlAW tying for first place with 25% of the vote. This, of course, is to be expected: there are currently seven declared candidates for Assembly, while Tmthforu94 is running unopposed for governor this month. What remains to be seen is whether any candidate or party will emerge from the election with a mandate, or whether gridlock and indecision will grip the regional government for the next two months.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 14, 2015

Mideast Ratifies Senate Rules Amendment

With seven votes in favor and none against as of this writing, the Mideast Record-Courier can project that the proposed Fix The Senate Rules Amendment has been ratified by Mideast Voters. The amendment, which officially retitles the Senate's presiding officer the "speaker", limits the vice president's responsibilities to opening the confirmation threads for presidential nominees, and stipulates that the Speaker of the Senate is next in line for the presidency after the vice president, sparked considerable debate within the federal government, but drew little attention from voters, a majority of whom failed to vote in the referendum. In addition, the Record Courier can project that the amendment has passed the Midwest (three in favor, two abstaining and the Northeast (nine in favor, one opposed, one abstaining). The IDS and the Pacific are yet to hold votes on the amendment.
Under the Federal Constitution, the consent of 4 regions is required to ratify Constitutional Amendments.

Hagrid Confirmed As SoIA

Following a brief confirmation hearing, former Secretary of Internal Affairs Hagrid has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate, completing a cycle that began nearly four months ago. Nominated by then-President DemPGH, Hagrid served as SoIA until last October, when he resigned prior to the Thursday Night Massacre. He  was replaced by Pacific Regional Senator TheCranberry (TPP-??), who assumed the presidency upon the removal of President Tyrion. Following the resignation of President Lumine Von Reuental's first SoIA, Flo, Hagrid was nominated to assume leadership of the Interior Department once again. "I'm here to help make the game work for people on the most basic level," Hagrid told the Senate during his hearing, saying that he does not intend to delve into too much detail except when requested by the president or the Senate.

January 2015 Mideast Regional Elections Voters' Guide

Elections for governor and Assembly begin tomorrow, January 15, and continue through January 18. All residents of the Mideast having lawfully registered to vote seven days prior to the start of the election (January 8 at the latest) are eligible to vote in this election.

For Governor
Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed)/ TDAS04 (Lab) (inc.)

Tmthforu94 is the incumbent governor of the Mideast. He has previously served as a member of the Mideast Assembly, as both a Regional and At-Large Senator, and and President of the Republic of Atlasia. Tmthforu94 supports increased funding for high-speed rail in the Mideast and allowing localities to restrict the presence of firearms in schools. He has been endorsed for a full term by the Mideast Record-Courier.

For Assembly
Bmotely (DR) (inc.)

Bmotely is an incumbent Assemblyman from Indiana. He ran unsuccessfully for the Atlasian Senate in October, 2014.

CrabCake (Lab)

CrabCake is a newcomer to Atlasia and the Mideast. If elected, he has pledged to support progressive taxation and pro-science environmental policies.

EarlAW (WSRP)

EarlAW is a member of the leftist Washburnist Socialist Revolutionary Party, which advocates a complete overhaul of the economic system. He supports expanding high-speed rail and abolishing all private schools, as well as homeschooling.

Johanus Calvinus Libertas (Fed)

JCL is a former Assemblyman and At-Large Senator and founder of the Coolidge Society. He is a strong supporter of high-speed rail, which he advocated during his previous tenure in the Assembly, [/b]and believes in an "all of the above" approach to education that includes support for charter schools and homeschooling.

New Canadaland (Lab) (inc.)

In his first term as a member of the Assembly, New Canadaland sponsored legislation to expand high-speed rail in the Mideast and opposed measures to subsidize charter schools. He has announced he will run for Speaker if elected to a second term.

Shua (DR) (inc.)

A member of the Democratic-Republican party, Shua recently sponsored legislation that would allow localities to limit the presence of firearms in schools. He supports establishing independent schools directly funded by the Mideast government as an alternative to subsidies.

Spiral (DR) (inc.)

Spiral is currently the presiding officer of the Assembly. He has previously served as Mideast governor and Regional Senator, and supports subsidizing charter schools.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 15, 2015

Mideast Citizens! The thread for the January 2015 Regional Elections is now open! Vote now!

Senate Passes Recall Amendment

A Constitutional amendment sponsored by Midwest Regional Senator TNF (Lab-KS) that would allow voters to recall their federal representatives was passed by the Senate yesterday, with seven votes in favor and two against. The amendment was opposed by Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI), who argued that it would only lead to increased political maneuvering and disrupt the relationship between representatives and their constituents. "The last recall recently, the recall of Midwest Govenor Lebron [FitzGerald], had not been made really by Midwesterners," the Senator said. "It [was] made by a group of persons who absolutely wanted him to go down, and they're outside of the MW. So this amendment will likely not improve the relations between the representatives of the people and the people, it will just create a new way of plotting." Several other senators also objected to the amendment on the grounds that it would defeat the purpose of at-large senate elections: to allow people with non-mainstream views to be represented in the government. These concerns were resolved by an amendment written by Northeast Regional Senator Bore (Lab-RI) exempting at-large senators from recall, however, and the bill passed without much further debate.

Push To Cut Taxes Meets With Resistance

An amendment to the 2015 Budget that would slightly lower the taxes paid by Atlasians earning between $85,000 and $399,999 has met with stiff resistance from the Senate's liberal members. Authored by President Lumine Von Reuental (Fed-UT), the revised budget would compensate for the 1% income tax reduction through a $125 Billion cut to healthcare spending, a measure that has met with fierce opposition from At-Large Senator and former President Polnut (TPP-MA), as well as other senators, who argue that such cuts are unwise in light of current inflation rates. "I don't see why a tax break of 1% is necessary," said Pacific Regional Senator The Cranberry (TPP-OR), arguing that the funds could be better used to prevent the proposed healthcare cuts. Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI) has also objected to the amendment.

Most Atlasians Doubt Budget Will Be Passed, Poll Finds

If the results are to be believed, a majority of respondents to a Mideast Record-Courier poll expressed varying degrees of doubt that the federal government will be able to produce a budget by the end of the current presidential term. Fifty-three percent of those polled said they were either "unconfident" or "very unconfident" that the Senate would succeed in passing a budget before President Lumine Von Reuental's administration leaves office, while 47% said they were either "confident" or "very confident" a deal would be reached. Speaking in the poll thread, IDS Regional Senator North Carolina Yankee (Fed-NC) said that while the resulting budget will not please everyone, "there will be something" in place by the end of February. Whether his statement will prove true or the worst fears of the voters confirmed remains to be seen.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 16, 2015

Mideast Citizens! The Voting Thread For The January 2015 Regional Elections Is Now Open! Vote Now!

Recall Amendment Meets With Resistance

Though it passed the Senate by an overwhelming margin, with seven senators voting in favor and two against, the proposed Recall Amendment to the federal Constitution has hardly received so sunny a reception from the nation's voters. In the regions where referendums on the amendment have already begun, the judgement of the public has been dubious at best, with large swaths of the nation voting against ratification. As of this writing, the no-vote in the Pacific is currently leading by 33%; in the Northeast, 60% of the ballots cast are against the amendment; in the Mideast, not a single ballot has been cast in favor of ratification. In the IDS, where amendments are ratified by the regional legislature, Legislative Speaker and former Emperor Maxwell (DR) has attacked the proposal as "allowing for partisan witch hunts." Only in the Midwest, home to the bill's sponsor, Regional Senator TNF, is the amendment currently leading, and there only by a single vote.
There is certainly time for the amendment's fortunes to see a reversal, and it is worth noting that the vast majority of voters are yet to express their opinion. Regardless, the fact that there is already such a strong negative response to the amendment, with barely 24 hours having elapsed since the referendum commenced, is a sign that the recall of federal officers is by no means a non-controversial issue.

Regional Elections Update

The results will not be official for another two days, but thus far Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 appears headed for reelection, with 100% of the ballots (excluding two blank ballots) cast in his favor as of this writing. Within hours of the polls opening, the Mideast Record-Courier was able to project that the governor would win his home state of Virginia, the state of Indiana, and the Canadian province of Ontario, based on a combination of current voter turnout rates and partisan registration. The state of Maryland and the Canadian province of Nunavut went for the governor later in the evening; all other states remain too close to call. Meanwhile, Mideastern liberals have reason to take heart in the results of the Assembly election. Current tabulations show the Labor Party retaining its two seats in the Assembly and the far-left WSRP picking up a seat. Assuming the WSBR candidate, EarlAW, caucuses with the Laborites, this would give liberals a voting majority in the Assembly.
More detailed coverage of the election, as well as minute-by-minute analysis of the results, can be found in the Mideast Record-Courier's live results thread.

Constitutional Typo Fixed By New Amendment

A recently-discovered glitch in the Mideast Constitution that allowed non-Mideasterners to be elected to the Assembly was remedied yesterday with the adoption of a Constitutional amendment to limit membership in the chamber to residents of the region. Proposed by Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA), the amendment was a sharp departure from the Federal Recall Amendment currently before the regions, with all five Assemblymen announcing their support and urging a speedy vote. As of this writing, Assemblymen Spiral (DR-MO), New Canadaland (Lab-ON), and Bmotely (DR-IN) have voted in favor of the measure, with no votes against.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 17-18, 2015

Mideast Citizens! The Voting Thread For The January 2015 Regional Elections Is Now Open! Vote Now!

Tmthforu94 Projected To Win Gubernatorial Race

With a little over a day left of the January 2015 Regional election, the Mideast Record-Courier has projected that Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) has been reelected governor by an overwhelming margin. As of this writing, the governor has been projected to have carried the states of Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Wisconsin, as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Nunavut. With no write-in candidacy having materialized by this point, the Record Courier believes that the governor's lead is now insurmountable and congratulates him on his reelection. At the moment, the Assembly race remains too close to call, but liberal candidates have reclaimed the lead after a brief conservative surge late last night.
More detailed coverage of the election, as well as minute-by-minute analysis of the results, can be found in the Mideast Record-Courier's live coverage thread.

.Nunavut . Ontario

Key
Orange: State won by Tmthforu94 (Fed)
Lime Green: State won by Write-In candidate
Pink: States too close to call
Navy: No Votes from this state

Windjammer To Seek Second Term As Mideast Senator

Despite speculation that he might step down, Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI) has announced that he will be a candidate in the February Senate elections. Since being elected last October, Windjammer has maintained an active presence in the Senate, arguing for a greater role for the Vice President in Senate proceedings and opposing a Constitutional amendment to allow for the recall of federal officeholders. I plan to still be on the side of workers and I will try to continue to improve their conditions," the senator said in his announcement speech. "I will continue to work with the other senators and the president/vice president in order to improve the life of our dear Atlasian citizens. And finally, I plan to work with the other senators and the active forces of this game to reform Atlasia. I read some good ideas of reform, like replacing At large senate seats by senate districts seats and I hope I will have the chance to discuss this idea during the next session. But of course, that will be the choice of Mideasterners . "The Mideast Record-Courier will make an endorsement in this race in the coming weeks.

Questions Surround Candidate's Ballot

If things are what they seem, Mideast resident and candidate for Assembly CrabCake (Lab-MO) may be guilt of violating federal election law, the Mideast Record-Courier discovered yesterday. While Federal law prohibits the editing of one's vote more than twenty (20) minutes after it is cast, the Record-Courier confirmed that after posting his vote at 11:53:23 AM yesterday, CrabCake edited his ballot over 4 hours later at 4:39:19 PM. While CrabCake's preferences for governor and Assembly have not changed, and the Record-Courier was unable to confirm whether any changes had been made to his vote on the Federal Recall Amendment, this is nevertheless a serious offense on the part of Mr. CrabCake, which could result in the invalidation of his vote.
(Editor's Note: I do not publish this article out of any personal or political malice towards Mr. CrabCake, whose conduct as a candidate has otherwise been exemplary, and would readily accept a satisfactory explanation on his part.)

Mideast Senator Sues Speaker Over Proceedural Dispute

The 65th Senate has not shrunk from proposing changes to the federal Constitution, having seen the introduction of no less than five Constitutional amendments since opening on January 2, but the latest attempt to do so has led to debate, not of the amendment itself, but over Senate procedure. The dispute originated with Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI), who claims that the Efficient Referenda Amendment did not receive enough votes to pass the Senate    despite Senate Speaker and Northeast Regional Senator Bore (Lab-RI) having announced its passage early yesterday afternoon. Senator Windjammer argues that the 6-0 vote in the Senate to approve the amendment is not sufficient to pass it, as the Constitution requires the consent of two-thirds of the Senate to amend the Constitution. Following Speaker Bore's decision to contest Windjammer's claim, Associate Justice Oakvale announced yesterday afternoon that the Supreme Court will hear both senators' arguments.

[tmthforu94]

Questions Surround Candidate's Ballot

If things are what they seem, Mideast resident and candidate for Assembly CrabCake (Lab-MO) may be guilt of violating federal election law, the Mideast Record-Courier discovered yesterday. While Federal law prohibits the editing of one's vote more than twenty (20) minutes after it is cast, the Record-Courier confirmed that after posting his vote at 11:53:23 AM yesterday, CrabCake edited his ballot over 4 hours later at 4:39:19 PM. While CrabCake's preferences for governor and Assembly have not changed, and the Record-Courier was unable to confirm whether any changes had been made to his vote on the Federal Recall Amendment, this is nevertheless a serious offense on the part of Mr. CrabCake, which could result in the invalidation of his vote.
(Editor's Note: I do not publish this article out of any personal or political malice towards Mr. CrabCake, whose conduct as a candidate has otherwise been exemplary, and would readily accept a satisfactory explanation on his part.)

Regardless of whether changes are made, if a ballot is edited 20 minutes after it is submitted, it is invalid. Unfortunately this means that CrabCake's ballot will not be counted.

[Adam Griffin]

Obv posted to show my total dislike for this outcome

[tmthforu94]

I think that picture is an accurate depiction on your opinion of me. I think this is the third appearance it has made.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 19, 2015

Speaker Spiral Comments On Party's Loss, And Plans For Future

Though he and his party suffered a setback in last week's elections, outgoing Mideast Speaker Spiral (DR-MO) was already planning for future battles when he spoke to the Mideast Record-Courier early this morning. In response to questions about his party's future in the Mideast, Spiral rejected the idea that the Democratic-Republicans were a spent force, instead offering a forceful argument for their return. The following is a complete transcript of our conversation:

Harry S Truman: What do you hope to accomplish in your final days as Speaker?
Spiral:This current session is winding down and no other bills will likely be introduced, so my agenda in my last days as Speaker is really maintaining order and making sure we get business done efficiently. In terms of a broader legacy, I've tried to keep the Assembly active and moving, and we've surely seen significant improvements in activity for the region compared to how it was last summer or so. Based on these latest elections with the number of candidates we had, I'm confident that our worst days are behind us and we can keep going forward.

HST:The Mideast Democratic-Republican Party fielded three candidates for Assembly in the last election. Considering that your party only has four members in this region, was that an overreach?
Spiral: I wouldn't say that it's our small party base that was the problem. Bmotley, Shua, and I were all incumbents seeking reelection and it looked like there was still a fair chance that we could win. DRs and Federalists have quite often been able to work hand in hand in the Mideast, so getting the support of the right was not a problem at all. Demographic changes in the last couple of months have led to a larger and much more fervent left in the region, as you could have seen with the three capable leftist candidates running this month. They all got in because Labor has a strong GOTV machine now with the people to show. Another rightist candidate in JCL was also running, siphoning off potential votes from me or the other two DRs. This isn't to say that I have hard feelings toward any of these folks mentioned, because elections are much more fun when a bunch of people jump in, and that's what the game is all about. While the DRs have had a setback in January, we've still collected plenty of victories.

HST: Will you be a candidate for federal office in February?
Spiral:I'll be making news here: After plenty of encouragement from others, I have decided to run for Mideast Senate next month. I realize that to top Senator Windjammer and his machine will be challenging, but there's a misconception that the Mideast has suddenly become a Soviet paradise like the Pacific or Midwest, which it's not. It's back to being a swing region like it was one year ago. Victory may not be guaranteed but you better believe I'll make a hell of a run nonetheless. I look forward to this election!

After Elections, Assembly Has New Leftist Majority

Though the gubernatorial race was uncontested, with Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) winning 21 votes and all but two states where no votes were cast, the race for Mideast Assembly this past week was extremely heated, with conservatives and liberals gaining and loosing the lead multiple times over the past three days. When all the votes were tallied, leftist candidates held a thin but clear majority, with a coalition of Laborites and the far-left Washburnist Socialist Revolutionary Party winning just enough seats to enact their agenda over the next two months.
In terms of turnout, the left far outdid the right in getting their voters to the polls. While roughly 55% of registered Laborites cast ballots in the election, less than half of registered Federalists did so., and while Democratic-Republican turnout was much better (75%), their ranks were small to begin with. This advantage carried Labor over the edge in the Assembly, even when one of their ballots was invalidated due to violations of federal election law.
The Labor Party and its coalition partner the WSRP is expected to support newly-reelected Assemblyman New Canadaland (Lab-ON) for Speaker of the Assembly. The incumbent Speaker, Spiral (DR-MO), was defeated in his quest for reelection.

Recall Amendment Falls Flat In Mideast, IDS

Though it passed the Senate with only two dissenting votes, the Federal Recall Amendment has already been rejected by just as many regions, with the Northeast and the Pacific set to follow suit. Proposed by Midwest Regional Senator TNF (Lab-KS), the amendment--perhaps the most serious motion towards game reform in the last year--was opposed both by Governor Isaac Tmthforu94 (Fed-VA) and Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI), who felt it would only be an added weapon in the hands of those looking to lead "political witch hunts". As the consent of four regions is needed to ratify amendments to the Constitution, the dual rejection of the IDS and the Mideast means that the Recall Amendment will not be added to the federal Constitution, at least in its present form.

[Hatman 🍁]

"far left" eh? I prefer pragmatic revolutionary socialism. Tomato, tomahto.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

The Mideast Record-Courier
January 20, 2014

Senator Holds Early Lead In Mideast Regional Race

Mideast Regional Senator Windjammer (Lab-MI) has a substantial lead over his opponents in the upcoming regional senate election, a poll conducted by the Mideast Record-Courier revealed. Respondents to the poll overwhelmingly favored Senator Windjammer, with 53% giving him their first preference compared to 27% for outgoing Speaker Spiral (DR-MO) and former At-Large Senator Johanus Calvinus Libertas (Fed-IN). Though Atlasian polling is notoriously inaccurate, this is certainly good news for the Senator, who began his reelection campaign last week and who has already drawn two challengers from the libertarian Democratic-Republican Party. Though the Federalists have yet to name a candidate for the Mideast Regional seat, former Regional Senator Cassius (Fed-VA) and Assemblyman-elect JCL are both possible contenders. JCL has stated that he will make up his mind about a Senate run shortly.

Mideast Rail Act Brought To Vote, Stirring Controversy

A bill proposed by Assemblyman New Canadaland (Lab-ON) that would expand high speed rail in the Mideast was recently called up for a vote in the Assembly, confounding its sponsor and raising questions of partisan motivation. The motion was made by Speaker Spiral on Sunday, directly following his party's defeat in the January Regional elections, and was promptly questioned by New Canadaland, who is expected to become Speaker in the next Assembly. "I never intended this to come up for a vote," New Canadaland announced, saying that there had not been sufficient debate on the measure. Speaker Spiral responded that the no legislators had commented on the bill for several days, and that his motion was intended to efficiently wrap up the Assembly's business before the current session ends.