The 2019 CGS Federalist Party by Abbie Russman

     The Girls State Federalist Party convened on June 3 to debate and select their platforms. The party first voted citizen of Carter Aanya Agarwal as State Party Chairman and citizen of Obama Maggie Weatherwax as Vice Chairman. Citizen of Bush Layla Omari was chosen as the Secretary/Treasurer. Four citizens volunteered to be on the Artist Committee.

     Agarwal led the debate for platforms using parliamentary procedures. The first motion was a motion for 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote when they receive their driver's license. The amendment to change the pre-register age for Nebraskan policies only was not passed; neither was the motion.

     A second motion was made to prevent tobacco companies from advertising to minors. It was argued that advertising tobacco on commercials is illegal, and that companies do not directly market to teenagers. It was also deemed by another candidate as a good bill but not an influential one. This motion was tabled.

      There was a motion to pass stricter regulations on waste dumped by slaughterhouses and poultry farms in Nebraska. The question, “What would this do for companies?” was asked and debated among citizens. Delegates argued that Nebraska’s economy is based on agriculture and these industries, and these regulations could potentially harm local jobs and the economy. This topic was argued scientifically, stating that the nitrates being dumped in the water affect the pH and harm the crops. The motion was carried and became the party’s first platform.

     The next motion proposed was to fix the roads all around Nebraska, especially after the recent severe weather and flooding. An amendment was made to fix all infrastructures, not just roads. One citizen who opposed the amendment argued that taxes would be raised. A counterpoint was that the undertaking of fixing these infrastructures would create jobs. The amendment and motion were carried.

     It was motioned to build another branch of the Veterans’ Association Clinic. Citizens shared personal testimonies about family members who have to drive hours to get to the nearest clinic for its services. An amendment was made to build more than one clinic. The amendment and motion were passed.

     The next motion was made to thank the American Legion Auxiliary for hosting Girls State. An amendment was suggested for every citizen to write individual thank-you notes. This amendment and motion were carried.

     The last motion was made to increase funding for the flood relief program. An amendment was proposed to add funding for supplies for items lost in the floods. Both were passed, establishing the last platform of the Federalist Party.

Gubernatorial debate

Story by Samantha O’Neal

The Gubernatorial Debate took place at 7:00 p.m. in the Union Ballroom on Tuesday evening. Governor candidates from both the Federalist and Nationalist parties were given questions to debate on for two minutes each.  Earlier that day the winners of the primary elections were announced and the Governor candidate from both parties debated later that evening. Kameryn Sannicks became the Federalist party Governor candidate, and Macie Clawson represented the Nationalist party.

The questions that both Sannicks and Clawson faced during the debate differed.  Some questions were about their own personal weaknesses and strengths. Most of the questions, however, involved current event topics within the state of Nebraska.  Some of these topics came from within the United States as well.

Sannicks spoke about the Federalist party’s platform prior to the debate.  Sannicks stated that the Federalist party did not support the use of fracking for extracting resources from Nebraska’s fields. Another plank in the party’s platform was to support the reform of school lunches by pushing for more cost effective, nutritional meals. The Federalist party supports the de-emphasizing of standardized testing while emphasizing student achievement in Nebraska. The Federalist party also thanked the American Legion Auxiliary for the Girls State program.

Clawson then spoke on the Nationalist party’s platform.  Clawson stated that the Nationalist party supported the increasing of state funding for mental health institutions. Nationalists also opposed the further construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Clawson explained that the Nationalist party supported the equalization of the wages across gender, race and sexual orientation in the work force. Finally, the Nationalist party thanked the American Legion Auxiliary for the Girls State program.

Throughout the debate, the candidates answered the questions to their best ability. Sannicks and Clawson both made interesting points with their opinions. Sannicks and Clawson closed the session with their final remarks to the Girls State delegates.

Kamryn Sannicks wins Governor election

By: Samantha O'Neal

The ballots for Girls State Governor were turned in on Wednesday, June 3rd. All eight floors participated in the general election which included county and the remaining state offices. The candidates for the position of Governor were Kamryn Sannicks and Macie Clawson.  The delegates chose which candidate to vote for after the Gubernatorial debate and the rapid fire whistle stop campaigns earlier in the morning.

At 1:00 p.m. in the Union Ballroom on Wednesday, the winner of the election was announced. The Federalist party candidate, Sannicks won the election. Sannicks is from floor nine, the city of Fillmore. She could be seen lifting both of her hands up in celebration as the rest of the delegates cheered her on. Sannicks even had a standing ovation.

At 2:00 p.m. in the Rotunda at the state capitol building on Thursday, Sannicks was officially sworn in as the Governor of Girls State. The ceremony was performed in front of the four hundred delegates of Cornhusker Girls State. Sannicks gave her inaugural address after being sworn in.  She congratulated the citizens that won their elections; Sannicks stated that it would be an honor to work alongside them. She also thanked the capital for allowing the inaugural ceremony to take place within the Rotunda. As the Governor, Sannicks announced that she would do to her utmost ability to represent Girls State well.

Sannicks was born in Las Vegas and moved to Nebraska when she was three. She came to Lincoln at the age of five. Sannicks is the oldest of four children. She is on the golf team, debate team, National Honors Society and the head editor of her school newspaper. In her community she holds leadership positions in the Nebraska Young Democrats and Lincoln Northstar Young Democrats chapter.

Sannicks had a personal hand in politics before running for Governor.  Sannicks worked on campaigns within her community. Her interest came from her family members who were very involved in politics.  She either “voted” for her own parents, or she worked on various campaigns with them which gave her the start she needed to work within her community.  Sannicks has the makings of a great leader, and she is an inspiration to other Girls State delegates.

Federalist party first meeting

Story by Kayla Hughes

At 1:45 p.m. the Federalist and Nationalist parties held their first party meetings. To start off the Federalist Party meeting the Federalist advisor Micala Cruse Demps began the elections. The party Chairwoman was elected first. After voting, Fillmore delegate Kamryn L. Sannicks was elected party Chairwoman. Next was the election of delegate Ashtyn B. Cooper, who is living in the town of Polk for the week, as the party’s Vice Chairwoman. The party Secretary-Treasurer elected was delegate Alexandra M. Carlini, who is living in Jackson for the week.

Once elections were done, volunteers and the party’s artists for the emblem and slogan had to be chosen. Sannicks then called for four volunteers for the platform committee. Then Sannicks continued to call for volunteer artists to draw the party’s emblem. After the artists had drawn their emblems, it was decided that a federalist coin facing up would be the party’s emblem to symbolize the party being superior. The slogan, “Federalists are always on top” was adopted.

Subsequently the Federalist party needed a platform; thus the platform topic debate began. The party began discussing fracking (definition-the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas.) which was discovered to be illegal due to the possibilities of contamination of local water.

A party member then suggested that school lunches needed to have larger portions at a cheaper price for athletes. After some debate, it was decided that athletes would be scratched from the plank, and then it would be accepted.

It was later then decided the Federalists would deny the legalization of casinos. Another important topic accepted to become a plank was the de-emphasizing of NeSA testing and focusing on personal achievement instead. The Federalists’ last bill of the meeting accepted by the Federalists was a thank you to the American Legion Auxiliary for conducting Girls State. The meeting was then adjourned for the afternoon.