Beluz News; Briefing for the Month, January 4159Alliance's "Contract with Beluzia" is Defeated by AssemblyAlliance Shadow PM Tony York giving a press briefing after the proposed education reform failed.January 5th 4159- In what is a major setback for Alliance lawmakers, their chief program, "Contract with Beluzia", failed in the legislature. The first casualty was a proposed budget, which only got support from the Liberal Party and failed 114-435. The proposed budget would have increased the surplus by about 8 billion BEL and diverted funds from the education department, as well as several smaller departments, to infrastructure and healthcare. It faced criticism from the right, since part of the plan slightly cut defense and interior spending, while the left opposed it without a publicly stated reason.
The next causalities were 2 education bills, the Curriculum Reform Act and Contract with Our Children Act. The bills proposed to introduce private schools with case by case funding, introduce regulated private nurseries, and abolish the national curriculum. The only party backing the Curriculum Reform Act was the Alliance, while the Contract with Our Children Act found only slightly more support.
Tony York, the Alliance's Shadow PM, the effective Assembly leader for the Alliance, said he was "disappointed" with the results. "But, in April, the voters will decide on the future of these ideas, for we feel that these are what the voters want. We will show this far-left establishment that the people of this nation want a prosperous nation and that we deserve better"
Alliance Primaries, Fletcher Renominated With No CompetitionMr. Fletcher addressing the conventionJanuary 4th, 4159- In what can only be described as an era of unity for the Alliance, another primary goes by where the previous candidate sweeps the primaries with little opposition. Bill Fletcher is, once again, the Alliance's presidential nominee. Campaigning on the center-left platform the Alliance traditionally employed, he hopes to improve his numbers now that the surge for the New Left and NSWP could be slowing down. After the Alliance took minimal losses in a terrible election for the establishment in 4156, the Alliance hopes it can capitalize on momentum it's proposals may have brought.
However, there are two key additions to the Alliance platform from Mr. Fletcher. First, he promised to not cut the military, citing "a growing international stability, both in Artania and across the globe. The Alliance sees it necessary to keep defense spending where it is to insure that we are safe". The second is a pledge to keep the nation's current tuition loan policy, established in 4140s. Other than that, it was the normal Alliance affair, moderate corporate taxes, hybrid economy, and introduction of private schools. The party also wants to reintroduce some federalism with libraries and other small programs.
The party now turns to the general election. With hopes high for a possible comeback, many delegates shouted 1/6th or bust, a slogan originating from 100/600 seats before the legislature voted to expand the seat count to 750. Many in the hall that evening felt that it was a reachable goal this time around.
Debate Gets Heated Over Same-Sex Adoption BanAssemblywoman Stephanie Perkins, Alliance, debating Assemblyman John Kenway, NSWP, over the Purity Act's ban on same sex adoptionJan 3rd, 4159- Debate in the Assembly got heated today, as Assemblywoman Stephanie Perkins got into a passionate debate with Assemblyman John Kenway on the Assembly floor. The controversy, a provision of the NSWP's Purity Act which would restrict adoption to heterosexuals only. The NSWP defended the provision as "[protecting] the pschycological well being of our children". Once debate began, tension boiled over in the Alliance Assemblywoman after a comment from Mr. Kenway
K(enway): Two MEN being able to adopt a child and act as mother and father isnt going to affect them negatively ?
P(erkins): Mr. Speaker I'm sorry but I cannot listen to this homophobic nonsense coming from the nationalists. We have plenty of evidence pointing towards there being no effect on children when they are raised by same sex parents. Just because their family is different than yours, it doesn't make it any worse of a family.
K: You may argue with facts just so it can fit in your little bubble of social justice warrior lies,but National Socialism is above such rubbish
P: From what I got from that incoherent drivel, Mr. Speaker, is that the National Socialists are either denying facts to fit their agenda, or they're in their own bubble of "facts" that conform to their homophobia. I'll tell you what is fact, children living under same sex parents have no negative consequences resulting from them being under same sex-parents. I also have to ask the gentleman, Mr. Speaker, is it better for a child to have a home and be cared for by parents that love them, rather than be abandoned in a foster home? Clearly, the answer to that question is yes.
After the incident, LGBT rights groups began to fall in love with Mrs. Perkins. To them, it marked the first time in while that someone in the legislature actually stood up to an anti-LGBT bill, rather than the normal vote-downs. The incident has also garnered some attention to Mrs. Perkins, who was already invited to speak at an LGBT rally in March as a "keynote ally".
However, the Assemblywoman did warn the community to not get too optimistic.
While this bill looks set to fail, there are deeper trends at work. A major right-wing force is now encroaching on your rights as LGBT citizens, and that force is the largest party in the assembly. Your rights are on a tower of blocks, and the NSWP is at the base, trying to take out the bottom block. You may have those rights, but be warned, for they rest on a foundation of cloth held up by twigs. Both the LGBT community and its straight supporters must keep fighting for a future where we no longer have to worry about reactionaries and bigots taking away your rights.
With the bill facing opposition from most parties, it looks like it will not pass. However, for LGBT people, the fight drags on, even though the offense has morphed into the defense.