Senators Kari and Prim Shock Senate Colleagues and Public; Shut Down Debate on Lazarus Proposal
By Deepest House
“If people wish this to not include the appointed Senators then I motion to table as they are a key dynamic of this proposal, to the point where it is not worth pursuing without them,” Senator Kari said in motioning to table the proposal. Senator Prim joined his colleague by saying “I cannot support the Lazarus Proposal if it gets watered-down. It would not be a significant or effective enough change in my mind to be worth the effort.”
The Lazarus Proposal includes language for each head of the proposed split-executive branch to appoint a citizen to serve in the senate. A current poll within the Constitutional Convention appears to show the idea dead in the water among citizens, with 76.9 percent against the inclusion of appointed senators in the proposal. With such broad support among the population, the abrupt withdrawal by Senators Kari and Prim left their colleagues flabbergasted.
“Frankly, I think their reactions are pretty immature,” Speaker of the Senate JayDee said in an exclusive interview with the Europeian Broadcasting Corporation. “Reform is about compromise and that means being willing to concede some points. The fact they deide to pack up after one change is honestly quite disappointing.”
Senator United Vietussia also expressed his feelings over the the senators' actions while he spoke on the senate floor. "This is a reform for the whole of Europeia, not a few people that supported one idea and are willing to hold the reforms hostage over it," he said.
Speaker JayDee and Senator United Vietussia were not the only senators to register dissatisfaction with the EBC. “I could only compare it to a certain someone not signing a funding bill because it didn’t include 7 billion dollars for a wall,” said Senator Luna-Nation. “The unwillingness to compromise is not consistent with the traditions of the senate, and demonstrates an abdication of duty over a single provision of a comprehensive reform package.”
It is certain that Senator Prim, if not Kari, would take issue with that notion, however. “We have made plenty of concessions to this process already. Or are we never allowed to say "Enough is Enough,” he asked rhetorically. It is important to note, however, that no concessions have been made by the senators at all, having just took office several days ago. Any debate and proposal modifications that occurred during the convention are separate and distinct from the actions of an elected official in his or her office during official discussion of an issue.
Senator HEM was more diplomatic in his remarks, and chose to focus on the mission at hand and getting it done. "We are here to do the people's work, and it's not going to be easy. It's going to be really hard, and I suspect it's going to require some new ideas thrown into the mix. Let's saddle up and get it done," he said, while offering respect for the positions of Senators Kari and Prim.
Vice President Pierce was so moved by the development that he penned an opinion piece for the EBC. “The most important problem I see here is that the good Senators are attempting to shut down the discussion over a single issue even though the majority of the Convention wants to eliminate the provision. I have high respect for the members of my own party, but I fear they have allowed their own views to cloud their judgement on what is best for the region per the will of the governed,” he wrote. “Any reform proposal that does not abide by the will of the people through the Convention is not a legitimate proposal. In order to keep their promises to the citizens of Europeia that voted them in and the confidence of the region, the Senate must stay the course and pass the reforms that the Convention wants rather than stagnating the efforts by the whims of two pertinacious Senators.”
Private citizens have also expressed their frustration with Senator Kari and Prim’s actions. “In truth, I feel bad for Sopo and HEM,” said former Europeian president Darcness. “At least they want reform because they think it can help, not because it will give them notoriety or because they just want to tear down any establishment they can. Reformers control both the senate and the executive, but can’t get it done.”
With the Lazarus Proposal garnering more support than any other reform proposal, and the first to be discussed by the new senate, it would be unfortunate for reform progress to stall over a single provision which is overwhelmingly unpopular. However, that is where Senators Kari and Prim have chosen to make their stand.