LEGISLATORS’ OPTIMISM FADES FAST
By Sean P. Sullivan
Lakeland Regional High School

NorthJersey.com, NJ
May 25 2006

WAYNE — Student legislators met with high hopes Monday for the
first session of the 2006 Model Congress at the Business School of
William Paterson University in Wayne. Successes were few, however,
as the Senate passed only one of its six proposed bills while the
House passed four of nine.

First to be discussed in the House was a bill to commemorate the
Armenian genocide by naming April 24 “Armenian Genocide Recognition
Day.”” The House then moved on to more controversial matters,
bringing to the floor a bill dictating “ballpark” limitations on the
war in Iraq.

Many representatives-including Anthony Marzacco, Republican, 18, of
Wayne Valley High School — considered the bill unconstitutional and
warned that even if the House passed it, it would be “struck down by
the Supreme Court the first chance they get.” The bill did not pass.

The war in Iraq resonated once again on the House floor as the
Committee on International Relations presented a bill proposing
requirements for worker’s compensation benefits for all hired civilian
personnel in combat zones. Although Daniel Akkerman, Democrat, 18,
of Fair Lawn High School drummed up support for the bill as it was
presented to the House, the outspoken Marzacco came out against it,
proclaiming it incomplete.

“If you have a heart — vote for this bill,” said Akkerman in support
of the measure.

“If you have a brain – wait for the amendment,” contested Marzacco.

House Democrats and Republicans found common ground on economic issues,
however, passing two bills aimed at controlling spending. The first
was much broader, simply calling for a balanced federal budget,
while the latter more specifically sought to reduce federal debt by
restricting add-ons to spending bills not directly requested by the
president. Likewise, few representatives opposed the Committee on
Education and the Workforce (HEDU) bill requiring all U.S. citizens of
age and sound mind to draft a notarized, legally binding living will.

Aside from the two bills concerned with economic activity and the
two uncontroversial bills, the representatives found no other common
ground throughout the first session, failing to pass all other
measures proposed.

Among the ill-fated bills was legislation proposing tax breaks for
middle-class college students, a reallocation of funding provided in
the No Child Left Behind Act, and a national “obesity” tax on fast
food products, to be used in obesity education.

Said Christopher Mawson, 18, Democrat, of Lakeland Regional High School
of the latter: “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t know that fast food
is bad for them. And if not – you should go outside.”

Meanwhile, on the Senate floor, the first session saw overwhelming
failure among proposed bills, as only one was passed. The Source
of Disclosure Act, which protects journalists from revealing their
sources, presented by the Senate Judiciary Committee (SJUD), passed
narrowly, 11-10.

None of the other bills left the Senate floor. Among those that did
not pass was proposed legislation for a renewable, three-year guest
workers permit for all immigrants, which lost 14-7.

Of the more contentious bills discussed, few raised more eyebrows
than one suggesting stricter punishments for violators of immigration
laws. The Senate was split on the issue, however, as some senators
found the bill too stringent, while others considered it too lenient.

Matthew Tietjen, 18, of Clifton High School contended that it did not
provide strict enough punishments for those who cross U.S. borders
illegally. “I think death is a little extreme, but the punishment
[for illegal immigrants] should be a little more extreme. They are
a detriment to society,” said Tietjen.

No discussion was given to a bill brought forth by the Senate Armed
Services Committee (SARM) to provide bonuses to armed servicemen and
women who opted to re-enlist, most likely because it was felt that
the bill would discourage the possibility of implementation of a draft.

Similar to the House, the Senate rejected a bill mandating changes
to the No Child Left Behind Act, as well as an “All College Students
are Created Equal” bill. Both failed in the Senate and similar bills
met the same fate in the House.

The Congress’ sponsors were William Paterson University, the Nicholas
Martini Foundation, Verizon, PSE&G, the Office of the Passaic County
Superintendent of Schools and the North Jersey Media Group Foundation,
which is the charitable arm of the group. The group is the publisher of
the Herald News, The Record and more than 30 weeklies in North Jersey.