Chapter 1 Redux

Chapter 1

H.R. #5572

           

United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. “Mr. Adams, you cannot be serious. This proposal is completely unnecessary. This is just out right unethical. You cannot do this to a state of the United States of America,” yelled Californian Progressive Senator Scott Kenning across the Hall of Congress. “California does not need this right now,” the senator screamed as he slammed his fist on his desk.

            “I’m sorry Senator, but it is because of California’s current state that this has been requested by President Smith himself,” replied Matthew Adams, the vice president of the United States.

            “I don’t care if the request came from God all mighty himself. It is the worst possible solution to the problem.”

            “Mr. Vice President, may I take the floor?”

            “Yes you may Senator.”

            “Senator Kenning, you are being totally unreasonable. You need to stop, take a breath, and think this all the way through. Now, due to recent outbreaks in the gang violence and the ignorance of the Californian government to do anything about it, the only possible solution to this problem is to send in the National Guard,” said Virginian Peace Party Senator Keith Standing.

            “No! This is not the ONLY solution to the problem,” replied Senator Kenning. The entire congress hall erupted into a hundred argumentative voices.

            “Quiet! Please! Would everyone please be quiet,” yelled Mr. Adams. He slammed down a gavel and slowly all of those voices quieted down to a silence so dead that everyone was scared to break it. “This proposal has already been approved by the House of Representatives. Now it is time for the United States Senate to vote on House Bill 5572, the deployment of the Oregon and Arizona National Guard into the state of California, on the grounds of controlling gang violence. Please use the electronic voting devices in front of you. Results will be shown on the screen in the front of the hall.”

Senator Kenning locked in his “No” vote. He looked around the room and then began to watch the screen in the front. He could watch the votes be tallied in real time, watching each number climb. The vote was looking to be a close one.

            “All votes have been counted. H.R. 5572 has passed by a 53-47 vote. The National Guard will be deployed throughout California in the course of two days.”

            “I now officially call this meeting of the Senate adjourned,” said Vice President Adams.

“You are all making a huge mistake,” Senator Kenning yelled as he stomped out of the Congress Hall. “You will be sorry for ever passing H.R. 5572.”

Be on the look out for more chapter revisions. Correcting all the retcon I have done since restarting the writing.