Federal Code Drafted

This week, Parliament has been in the process of a drafting a Federal Code that will encompass all the laws set forth in the Principality of Trumania. So far they have passed six bills: the Criminal Act, the Government Act, the Census Act, the Wages and Salaries Act, the National Holidays Act, and the Sports and Gaming Act. In effect, this will nearly double the amount of government jobs for Trumania's increasingly growing population. "We have stepped over all the major hurdles that a nation faces its first six months of statehood," HRH Prince Joseph said to Ministry reporters. "Now we have to fill in the gaps." The institutiuon of these acts is not all beneficial. The Wages and Salaries Act greatly increases the budget for 2005. "If these bills come into effect, we will have [a deficit] in the first month," says Jim Muller, Chancellor of the Exchequer. Parliament is currently debating how to increase revenue for Trumania without taxation. Dan Purkiss, the First Minister, has set out a plan to institute government-controlled monopolies. This plan has received heavy criticism from both the Whig and Socialist Parties. However, Parliament is expected to pass the bill in early 2005.

Parliament Proposes New Export Tax

This week, Parliament has proposed a new export tax. Though both parties have shown some support for this proposal, it still remains very confidential. Jim Muller, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, strongly agrees with the tax. “By instituting the export tax, we could raise the national budget from £6000 to possibly over £24,000,” Muller says. “We could get better funding for financial services, roads, and new construction, not to mention an increase the Defense Budget”. Among the supporters of this proposal are majority leader, His Grace Duke of Henley, and minority leader Hon. John Whitfield, as well as HRH Prince Joseph. However, the tax is held up against much opposition. Laurelhurst Firewood and Hauling, the largest exporter of goods in Trumania, has publicly announced that it does not favor the sales tax. Currently, negotiation between the Government and Laurelhurst are taking place. Liberal party leader, Michael Harris, has also opposed this calling it “an unnecessary burden on the citizens of Trumania.”

Fire Destroys Home, Displaces Family

Richard Robertson found a few CDs in blackened rubble Monday night and wondered whether any of the music he has been recording for decades could be saved. The house Robertson and his son Jamal were renting in North Marleywood was consumed in flames Sunday night. Almost everything the two owned, including the new bed Jamal had had just 30 minutes to try out, was destroyed. Surveying the damage Monday night, Robertson said he will miss his music — rhythm and blues — the most. A musician and composer, he had a studio in the house and was working to start a business, Sound In Time, recording old music on CDs. Robertson said Jamal probably will miss his video games. Fire started in the house shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday. Robertson said he had been cooking French fries when the phone rang and he answered it. He put the fries on a paper towel to drain but then apparently put the pan back on the stove and forgot to turn the stove off. Within minutes, Robertson said he heard a sound in the kitchen and went to see what was making the noise. “I heard the crackling of the fire,” he said. There was no hood over the stove so the fire caught a cabinet and was racing up toward the ceiling. He said there was no fire extinguisher or smoke detector in the house. “It was just that quick. I couldn’t get close enough to do anything,” Robertson said. Vashon Fire & Rescue Chief Jim Wilson said Monday firefighters were on the scene within minutes of getting the call, but that it was difficult to fight the fire because the driveway leading to the home was narrow and a pumper truck couldn’t get down it. There also was no fire hydrant nearby so firefighters had to shuttle water by a tender down to the fire. When Wilson arrived, the older house was engulfed and the fire had vented through the roof. Wilson said one of the problems fighting the fire was that the house had been remodeled several times and so there were air pockets between the add-ons. Wilson estimated damage to the house at £4,200,000 and damage to contents at roughly £1,800,000Robertson, retired from the military as a survival expert, works at the Vashon Post Office. The Red Cross found the two temporary housing and Robertson said he hopes to find housing on Vashon. Donations can be dropped off at the Post Office and mens’ clothing donations of size 38/32 and 32/32 in pants would be welcome. Robertson said he owns a house in California and has been told his insurance there might cover some of his loss, but that all was still being sorted out. Two things that did sort of escape destroyed were his grill and his truck, although the grill on his truck was melted so the point he can’t drive it at night. Robertson’s family came from Tacoma yesterday to help him. His mother, Audrey Bell, said she was happy he and her grandson were OK. “I’m so happy he make it out and they are safe,” she said.