San Andreas Congress: Key Legislative Initiatives and Future Goals

On June 7th, the 10th Congress was excitedly sworn into office. At the time of publishing, they have dipped into legislative matters for several weeks, including a State Rep meeting, a Cabinet Meeting, and a Town Hall. While members of Congress are navigating the complexities of governance, they are continuing with their ambitious agendas for the coming months. Weazel News interviewed all members of the cabinet. Let’s look into what they hope to accomplish and the priorities they intend to keep while shaping the state of San Andreas’ future.

Governor Ella Bright-Starr

Lieutenant Governor Quinn Lillegård-Marino

Lieutenant Governor Quinn Lillegård-Marino stepped into office, embracing the expected challenges and stresses, ready to take them on. Despite missing the Gubernatorial debate, which prevented them from publicly expressing their stance on various issues, they are committed to supporting the governor in any capacity needed. This is their first term in office; Quinn is transparent about learning the ropes and is open to sharing their views on potential improvements, such as the stop-and-go traffic bill that State Representative Astra Lillegård-Marino plans to submit that proposes treating stop lights like four-way stops. They acknowledge that while many people run red lights, many citizens also conscientiously stop and check both ways.

Lieutenant Governor Quinn Lillegård-Marino will also oversee a security force dedicated to the executive branch as outlined in H.R. 312 and, during the first bit of time in office, fill the duties of the vacancy left by the Secretary of State. However, Lilith Eza-Ripley has been appointed as Secretary of State now. They humbly acknowledge their human limitations, joke about being “half a human” due to their legs, and pledge to do their best for the city. They emphasize that while they cannot guarantee absolute results due to unforeseen circumstances, their efforts will be evident to the people. In Quinn’s view, their visible dedication and effort carry significant weight and demonstrate their commitment to their responsibilities.

Lieutenant Governor Quinn Lillegård-Marino shares a thank you message to the citizens: “Thank you to everyone who believes in Ella and I. Their support is what helped get us through it stress-free. Everywhere I went during campaigning, everyone was super excited to hear we were running. Knowing that people care enough to vote for us and see that we can make a change for the better means a lot”.

State Representative Emilie Lillegård-Marino – Speaker of the Legislature

State Representative Emilie Lillegård-Marino addressed several key issues. Despite her efforts, the government has no plans to raise the universal basic income (UBI) at this time. She had hoped to advocate for an increase but, unfortunately, could not. Representative Emilie Lillegård-Marino and Representative Jack Burton are also working with the judiciary regarding a new Power of Attorney (POA)  bill, which is expected to progress soon. Currently, there is a permanent injunction on the previous POA H.R. 329 due to the bill’s wording. Representatives Emilie Lillegård-Marino and Representative Jack Burton plan to rework H.R. 329 and H.R. 191 into a new bill for Power of Attorney and return Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) to the Patient Health Act.

Another significant piece of legislation, the Patient Health Act Bill of 2022, is getting updated. San Andreas Medical Services (SAMS) has the bill and is reviewing it to make adjustments. Representative Lillegård-Marino is awaiting their response to move forward. When asked about any plans for a bill similar to H.R. 336, she clarified that she does not intend to introduce H.R. 336 or any similar bill, as it is too controversial and could further incite public unrest.

Emilie Lillegård-Marino shares with the public, “Thank you to everyone that voted for me.” She also reiterates that she remains accessible to the public for input on additional bills, encouraging citizens to reach out via any communication method that suits them and promising always to respond.

State Representative Jack Burton – Treasurer

State Representative Jack Burton, previously an assistant to Emilie Lillegård-Marino, has been navigating his legislative role with a focus on potential and possibilities rather than definitive yes or no stances. His experience with the Power of Attorney Act, particularly during former State Representative Lilith Eza-Ripley’s submission of H.R. 329 last term, highlighted the need for more precise definitions and less vagueness regarding the role of a Power of Attorney in the state. With input from Emilie Lillegård-Marino, recognizing this gap, Burton pre-drafted a resolution that is currently under review. This process has involved significant back-and-forth discussions, reflecting Burton’s belief that thoroughness and proper vetting are necessary for any legislative action.

Burton’s approach is characterized by careful consideration and a commitment to ensuring that bills are well-crafted and genuinely serve the public interest. He understands the complexity and responsibility of his role, drawing from his experience as an assistant, where he learned about the give and take required in the legislative process. He emphasizes the importance of meeting with individuals, compromising when necessary, and getting the details right. For instance, he notes that Bill 336, as initially written, was too vague and required precise language to meet the letter of the law.

State Representative Jack Burton tells the public, “I am eternally grateful for everyone that voted for me. I am working every day to prove that I deserve the votes that I got. I ultimately hope while I am going to be addressing matters that are important to the state, some bills are going to be liked, and some bills are not going to be liked. But I am truly going to be approaching everything with the mindset that everything has more than one side, and as much as we want to draft something that may be heavy-handed in one direction, there has to be that give and take for something to be fair. I am going to do my best to make sure that happens with each and every bill that gets submitted, not just my own. If there’s an issue, we are out there. Anyone can find us and reach out to us.”

State Representative Tommy Merlin

State Representative Tommy Merlin has been actively engaging with various department heads to understand their needs better and provide appropriate support. Since taking office, he has spoken with command members of many of the departments and members of the departments, too; he still hopes to meet with those he has yet to be able to meet. Merlin emphasizes the importance of open communication with all departments, recognizing that the best insights come from those who work within these departments. He aims to understand their needs since he has not held these jobs.

Merlin shared that most departments have indicated they do not need significant changes or support at this time. However, interest was expressed again in license points such as it was attempted to be done in H.R. 337, which was previously proposed by former State Representative Lucas Evans but was ultimately not passed. Merlin is committed to researching the necessary infrastructure to support such initiatives before backing them fully. He stresses the importance of doing due diligence to ensure the required infrastructure supports any proposed bills. Another interest that Representative Merlin is looking into is shared by Dr. Lamb, who suggested implementing a system for issuing death certificates to allow loved ones to manage affairs legally.

Merlin maintains an open-door policy, encouraging anyone to reach out if they need assistance. Merlin would like to say, “Even if people didn’t vote for me, I understand that during this election, a lot of people felt that all the representatives were saying the same stuff, the same cookie-cutter. “I’m here for you,” “I just want to make change happen,” “I want to do this, I want to do that,” but never really spoke on any particular issue. And a lot of people just didn’t feel like they had a lot of options; even if you didn’t vote for me, I’m still your representative. The open-door offer isn’t exclusively for people who voted for me. It’s to any member of the state, any member, and any citizen who wants to come to voice their concerns. If you’re not happy with what I’m doing, or you’re not happy with the bill that I’m backing or a bill that I am proposing, make your voice heard. Tell me, I’m not afraid of criticism. If you think that it is a bad idea, tell me why it’s a bad idea. I will hear you. I will try to help you see where I’m coming from. And if we both don’t agree on it. And enough of the public don’t want that bill, even if it’s my own bill. I’ll strike it down. My job is to is to represent the people. Everyone voted for me or not. If everybody is saying that this bill is a bad idea or they don’t want a bill like that. I will vote the way. They want it even if I 100% believe in the bill because I’m their voice, and they, as the public, are saying that they don’t want it. I will do everything in my power to help see why the bill is needed, but if the public doesn’t want it, Who am I to overrule their voice?”

State Representative Astra Lillegård-Marino

State Representative Astra Lillegård-Marino has resigned from the Legislature. Their resignation press release can be read here.

An interview was done with Astra; this is their thank you message to the public: “Thank you to everyone who voted for me and even those who did not vote for me but voted for their state rep of choice and the people who have made their voices and opinions heard. I am going to try my best to help the state; even if I don’t have the experience I am going to do my best. I am on the Fed Finder, so anyone can reach out with opinions and such. No matter what if I write a bill and it’s not a good bill and the public comes up and makes their voice known, I will take accountability and do my best to fill in the holes and make it work for them.”

State Representative Cassie Kendrick – Secretary of the Legislature

State Representative Cassie Kendrick has resigned from office. No interview with Cassie Kendrick was completed. A special election will be held to fill the vacancy. The dates are as follows:

• Registration: July 4th – 7th
• Campaign: 7th – 12th
• Voting: 12th – 15th

Would you like to serve San Andreas as a State Representative? Now is your chance! Register to run in the special election.