Office of Northeast Citizens' Representative Smid

[Smid]

Always happy to listen to my constituents.

[Franzl]

Good luck

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I'm sure we'll all make a great team

[big bad fab]

I hope your future will be beyond this term of representative, which is already a fine and fascinating one

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm sure we'll all make a great team

Right.

[Hash]

Congratulations on your appointment! I'm sure you'll do a great job and be an excellent legislator once again.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm sure we'll all make a great team

Right.

And congratulations to Smid obviously. We will certainly manage to work well so.

[afleitch]

Welecome back

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Ahhhhhhhhhh Good luck, Mate!

[Vepres]

Good luck to you and all NE representatives. Hopefully this will be successful.

[Purple State]

Good luck. It's always good to see a veteran member take interest in the regional legislatures. You will be a valuable asset and excellent mentor I'm sure.

[Smid]

Thank you all, dear friends, for your messages of support.

I promise I will faithfully perform my duties of representation to my fellow citizens of the Northeast.

The Northeast citizenry is a diverse group of people, with political opinions from all over the political spectrum. When so many of us hold such varied opinions, it is likely that at some time I will disappoint most of you with my vote on some piece of legislation at some time. I don't apologise for this - because I assure you that I will vote according to my conscience and seek to exercise my judgement before voting. A controversial decision is only controversial if opinion on the matter is divided, and I know I won't always be on the winning side of the argument, but I am happy to speak for a minority opinion if it is echoed by my conscience.

As Edmund Burke said, "it ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents. Their wishes ought to have great weight with him; their opinions high respect; their business unremitted attention. It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasure, his satisfactions, to theirs,—and above all, ever, and in all cases, to prefer their interest to his own.

"But his unbiased opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he does not derive from your pleasure,—no, nor from the law and the Constitution. They are a trust from Providence, for the abuse of which he is deeply answerable. Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion."

I will use my unbiased opinion, my mature judgement, and my enlightened conscience when voting on legislation brought before the House, and if there are times you disagree with the decision I made, it is because I am not willing to sacrifice my judgement to your opinion. If you feel so strongly that my decision was wrong, that my judgement is flawed, we live in a democracy and we hold elections to decide those who will make our laws. While it will be my opinion that you vote for me, I likewise expect you to exercise your good judgement at the ballot box and to not sacrifice your judgement to my opinion if you believe someone else could better perform the role of Representative.

I congratulate my fellow appointees to the legislature. I look forward to working alongside you all.

[Smid]

I am pleased to announce my support for the current Northeastern Sex Education Bill presently being debated before the House. As I stated in my speech, I believe this proposed legislation will reduce the abortion rate in the Northeast and will benefit married couples in the years ahead. I also support the foreshadowed amendment to allow parents to opt their children out of sex education classes, although I personally don't believe the curriculum imposes on religious beliefs, as in my opinion it doesn't engage in moral instruction.

[Smid]

Due to the potential legal issues surrounding the Sexual Education Bill, I will vote against over-riding the Governor's veto. I remain committed to the Bill and hope the necessary amendments can be passed to make the Bill workable.

[Smid]

Thank you to all of the voters who supported my return to the Northeast Assembly, especially to Earl and DWTL, who first preferenced me.

I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of the Northeast in the months ahead and shall hopefully be returned as Speaker of the Assembly, in order to help establish further procedure.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Congratulations!

[Smid]

Congratulations!

Thank you! I would not have been elected without the strong flow of preferences from your supporters.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Congratulations!

Thank you! I would not have been elected without the strong flow of preferences from your supporters.

You deserved some more first preferences, IMO.

[Smid]

Congratulations!

Thank you! I would not have been elected without the strong flow of preferences from your supporters.

You deserved some more first preferences, IMO.

I was satisfied with the outcome. I didn't even first preference myself.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Congratulations!

Thank you! I would not have been elected without the strong flow of preferences from your supporters.

You deserved some more first preferences, IMO.

I was satisfied with the outcome. I didn't even first preference myself.

You are too nice.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Sorry for missing, but congrats

[Dr. Cynic]

Congrats on the re-election. I look forward to many fruitful bipartisan negotiations with you. My office is always open to you as well as the others.

[Smid]

To any Reps I haven't congratulated in your own office threads, congratulations! I'm looking forward to working with each of you in this next term in office.

Regarding Lt Governor Barnes's suggestion earlier today about forming Committees, are we interested in this? If so, we can discuss it here so as to not take up time in the Assembly since this isn't legislation. If we decide to go ahead with it, we can incorporate the Committees into the SOAP and discuss it quickly and pass requisite changes.

Liquor's in the cabinet to the left of my desk, and there's a bar fridge/freezer behind the doors below it. Help yourself to whatever you want to drink.

[Alexander Hamilton]

I am interested in forming a Committee on Environmental Affairs.

[Dr. Cynic]

I'd like to form a Committee on Elections.