New Bava - The Newspaper for the Twenty-First Century - Circulation 215,000 est.

1 August 1998

Governor Pond has been drumming up supporting among centrist and leftist Deputies for his plans for universal health care. The programme he has put forward has the support of Peter Hickey (PFP) (though not all of his party) as well as Socialist Deputies.

SP Floor Leader Michael Key and Governor Pond of Bava both see health care as a central issue for Cyberia. But hopes of passing a universal health care bill have faltered as the arithmetic looks close. Mike Rosario, a supporter of the bill, has left the nation; Rose Torgerson, one of the SP Deputies, is on sick leave; and, most seriously of all, President Ken Kerns have withheld endorsement from the bill, even threatening that he would veto a universal health plan.

The Key-Hickey alliance does not have enough votes in the Chamber to override a veto. Although Pond insists he remains committed to ensuring true universal health care for Cyberia, this brings up the likelihood of compromise proposals.

Pond has speculated that such proposals could involve gradual extension of a public health network partly funded by taxing the surplus profits of corporate health providers, though this may prove a controversial idea. He also said he favoured the formation of nonprofit health companies to challenge corporate domination in the medical arena.

Anti-Terrorism Legislation Struck Down by Supreme Court

In a surprise move during the closing stages of the politically charged Rosario trial, Chief Justice Vadim Pokolitov struck down Cyberia's centrepiece anti-terrorism legislation. The Crimes Against The State Act, vital to Cyberia's national security, with both anti-terrorism provisions and civil liberties provisions, was co-authored by two likeminded Cyberian progressives, current Socialist leader Richard Pond and former Liberal Democratic leader Michael Goldman.

A spokesman for the Bavan governor told New Bava that it is vital that this legislation be reintroduced in the current session of the Chamber of Deputies (preferably with minor amendments such as an added clause to ensure that the legislation will never again be struck down wholesale). Pond said, "Anti-terrorism legislation is necessary to deal with the continuing possibility of a fascist threat."

Rosario Merging Plan Falls

Shortly before his political downfall, former Communist leader Michael Rosario published plans for provincial merging to compensate for the lack of active citizens in Cyberia. At first the plan seemed to be gaining support, with favourable noises from the President, Peter Hickey, Michael Key, Richard Pond (associated with the defunct Bavans for a United Province organization), and others.

But the Conservatives, aware of Rosario's political vulnerability, pounced on the plan, accusing it of gerrymandering. The plan's supporters quickly deserted it, despite the lack of substance to the Conservative smear.

Peter Hickey proposed a compromise plan involving those provinces that were insufficiently active falling back to territory status.

But as some citizens repeatedly stated, the main challenge is to find more citizens for Cyberia.

Other Stories

Jones Wins Speakership. With crossparty support and 11 votes out of 17, Mike Jones (SP-Mala) won the election for Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The outgoing Speaker was graceful in his exit, congratulating Jones on his victory.

Rosario Leaves Cyberia. Mike Rosario, found guilty of serious charges of attempted bribery, obstruction of justice, and gross negligence, viciously attacked the Cyberian justice system. Rosario fled Cyberia.

New Bava is published by the Bavan News Company (BNC), a workers' cooperative.