ADAM, LINCOLN, MADISON, CHASE, SAM, LORENZO, and REAGAN are in the Indiana state legislature.
MADISON
I don’t know about any of you, but I have no clue what to do today.
ADAM
Yeah, I feel like things are actually going pretty well.
CHASE
Let’s make a pact to just all vote Nay on whatever our colleagues bring to a vote today. God knows we have nothing.
SAM looks up from her phone.
SAM
Think again. The local online paper just ran a story profiling the Free Food Act.
LORENZO
Oh, that’ll make me look good. I’m sure they said how it was originally supposed to solve hunger but then it got watered down to only include representatives.
SAM
No, it doesn’t say that anywhere. Local residents are pretty upset about this though.
LORENZO
But that’s not fair! I didn’t want the bill to pass the way it did!
SAM starts to laugh.
SAM
Some of these comments display blatant fatphobia at Lorenzo’s expense.
LORENZO
Oh great, now they just think the fat guy wrote a bill just to get himself more free food. Well I’m not having any of it.
MADISON
You ate a ton of free food on your way in.
LORENZO
I mean I’m not having any of their nonsense. We’re going to fix this!
REAGAN
How can we get everyone on board with expanding the free food measures? Everyone seems pretty content on constraining it to just the legislature.
CHASE
Also, how is this going to get passed when we made a pact to vote Nay on anything that’s brought to a vote?
LINCOLN
Nobody ever did that. And it’s simple: we just have to find a way to make these representatives think their jobs are on the line here.
LORENZO yells.
LORENZO
LISTEN UP EVERYONE. IF YOU DON’T VOTE FOR THE FREE FOOD FOR ALL ACT, YOU WON’T GET RE-ELECTED!
Gasps echo through the chamber.
LORENZO
I think they got the message, wouldn’t you say?
MADISON
I can’t believe it’s that easy.
SAM
The bill’s not written yet, let’s see if they change their minds once they see the language.
ADAM
Like that’ll happen. Come on everyone, let’s write this.
LORENZO
As if I didn’t already have it written.
The House discusses the Free Food For All Act.
HOUSE SPEAKER
Care to explain?
LORENZO
Yes, you see, this bill affects each and every one of us directly because it’s popular and if you vote against it you’ll lose re-election.
The bill is brought to a vote. It passes 99-1.
CHASE
Sorry Lorenzo, I’m a man of my words. Any other day I would’ve voted Yay.
LORENZO
Thanks Chase. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some free food to eat in the lobby.