The First 100 Days

[Nathan]

Day 1 - A new dawn

With the excitement from her inauguration ceremony still buzzing around the walls of the Presidential palace, her team of staffers continued to move in documents, furniture and personal possessions into their new offices. For President Taha, the road to becoming the first female President of Iraq had been a rocky one. Winding around obstacles including cultural and societal oppression, her message of hope had carrier her through it. President Taha had shook many hands, gave many speeches and made many promises on the campaign trial. However, the first 100 days would set the tempo at which she could hope to achieve these.

A flurry of appointments were signed by the President; Evan Atheer was her new Chief of Staff, Hussein Al-Mubarqa to be the new Secretary of State, Khalid Najim to be the Secretary of Defence. Nomination papers were sent off to the Senate for approval. Vice President Mahdi was moving into his official residence at Radwaniyah Palace.

President Taha was determined to start the 100 days off to a flying start. The affordable healthcare act was formally sent to loyal members of congress to begin it's passage through both houses. The act, which would create new health coverage for those who could not afford private insurance, was a key promise of the President's campaign. Time would tell if she could navigate the bill through with her minimal majority in the house, and the deadlocked senate. Vice President Mahdi would be a key part of the passage of the bill. With a national guard escort, he made his way to congress to begin negotiations.

 

[Nathan]

Congress of Iraq
Chamber of Representatives
HR1: Affordable HealthCare Bill​

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The Affordable Healthcare Bill had been officially introduced and assigned to the finance and health committees for further discussion.

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Vice President of Iraq
Visit to Kurdistan
Erbil​

Across the country, Vice President Osama Mahdi plane approached Erbil for a lunch with the Kurdish governors.

Osama Mahdi knew that their support would be key to overcome a filibuster attempt by the Conservatives in the Senate. Passing the bill was simple enough, with all progress members voting in their favour, the Vice President's tie break could be used. However, this would be completely undone if any of his own party broke rank.

As the Vice President left his airplane, his 8 guards boarded the Protection vehicles that had been forward deployed from the National Guard's motorpool. Moving through the streets of Erbil, the guards were on high alert. Kurdistan had historically been untrusting and unwilling to accept rule from Iraq. The Saddam years had further fuelled distrust and anger towards Baghdad. With lights and sirens, the convoy would make little time getting to the meeting.

As the Vice President entered the meeting, he shared firm handshakes with the Kurdish Governors in front of the world press - an attempt to show this government were open to a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish question.

Entering the room, the Vice President sat with the Governors. A meal was served as the men talked politics.

"Governors, we need you're support to get this bill through the Federal Congress. This bill will open up new opportunities for you're people and will expand healthcare coverage to them. We appreciate that there are concerns of the cos t of the bill, but we firmly believe it is worth the cost. As a gesture of goodwill for you're support, we are willing to include Kurdistan in the federal infrastructure programme to bring in new roads, trains and transport connections. Inclusion on this bill will be fully dependent on you're support for the bill. You do not need to vote yes to the bill, you just need to let us get past a filibuster attempt. I will leave the choice with you"

The men finished their meal before returning back to the outside. Assisted by the governors, Vice President Mahdi would work the ropes meeting and shaking hands with confused onlookers.