Lifts state of emergency
Syria’s government passes a law to lift the country’s state of emergency as protests against the rule of Assad continue. The state security court is abolished while a law allowing peaceful protests is approved. The repeal of the emergency law is a key demand of protesters.
[The people should] refrain from taking part in all marches, demonstrations or sit-ins under any banner whatsoever. [If demonstrations are held] the laws in force in Syria will be applied in the interest of the safety of the people and the stability of the country.
Signs bill
Walker signs a bill to take away most of the union’s collective bargaining rights. The State Assembly stripped the budget repair bill of its spending language so they were not required to have a quorum of members present since the Democratic senators still refuse to return to the Senate.
What we’re doing here, I think, is progressive. It’s innovative. It’s reform that leads the country, and we’re showing there’s a better way by sharing in that sacrifice with all of us in government.
Democrats and union leaders continue to oppose the Republican bill. Senate minority leader Miller:
Republicans may have achieved a short-term policy goal, but their radical agenda, the war on working families, has been exposed, and the people of Wisconsin and across the country are united against it as never before.
Budget repair bill
Walker plans to reduce the $137 million state deficit by requiring state employees to contribute 5.8% to their pensions and 12.6% to their health care, and forbidding them to negotiate for anything but their wages. If the budget isn’t cut then 6,000 state employees will be laid off and more than 200,000 children will be removed from the Medicaid program. Democrats and unions oppose the plan. A union director:
Even if you don’t like unions, surely we all can agree that anti-freedom attacks that deny public employees the right to negotiate a fair contract . . . are outrageous and wrong.
Elected as Kentucky senator
Paul defeats Conway to be elected as United State senator from Kentucky. He received 55.7 % of the total votes polled.
I have a message from the people of Kentucky, a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words: We’ve come to take our government back.
Concedes Senate race
After monitoring results overnight, Republican candidate Fiorina concedes defeat to Democratic candidate Boxer in the California Senate race.
We had an exceptional campaign. In the end we could not overcome the registration that Democrats have, and in particular in L.A. County.
Wins election
Walker becomes Wisconsin’s 45th governor on promises to bring jobs to the state, cut spending, lower taxes, and stop a federally funded passenger train from Madison to Milwaukee. With Republicans taking over both houses of the State legislature, it should be easy for him to pass his agenda.
You have given us a mandate for true reform, and I appreciate that. I will not let you down.
Wins election
In the first elections — for president, parliament and other local positions — in 24 years, Bashir wins with 68.24 percent of the vote, just under seven million votes. The voting is scrutinized by about 750 international and 18,000 domestic observers.
Announces Senate run
Fiorina announces that she is running for the Senate seat currently held by Barbara Boxer from California.
For many years I felt disconnected from the decisions made in Washington and, to be honest, really didn’t think my vote mattered because I didn’t have a direct line of sight from my vote to a result. I realise that thinking was wrong. I now understand, in a very real way, that the decisions made by the Senate impact every family and every business, of any size, in America. This is what motivates me to run for the US Senate.
Elected president
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress wins the country’s election. The ANC receives 65.9% of the vote, the Democratic Alliance 16.66% and the Congress of the People (COPE) – formed by ANC dissidents – 7.42%. The turnout is 77.30%. but the result falls just short of the two-thirds majority needed to make unchallenged changes to the constitution. Zuma claims victory and the outcome is welcomed by ministers in neighboring Zimbabwe as intensifying pressure on President Robert Mugabe.
Elected ANC president
Zuma is elected president of the African National Congress at the party’s conference in Polokwane. Mbeki receives 1,505 votes to Zuma’s 2,329. As the announcement of each position is announced, thousands of delegates blow whistles, dance on tables and chairs, and sing and cheer—despite being asked to wait until after the announcement before applauding. Later the celebrations continue with fireworks.
Seeks reelection
Walker seeks another four-year term as Milwaukee County Executive so he can continue streamlining county services and cutting costs. He wants to reduce the county workforce further, expand public-private partnerships, contract out or privatize county services, and encourage faith based groups to work with delinquent youth to increase public safety.
I look at a number of areas and say there’s a whole lot more we can do. . . . We’ve got to get even more aggressive at being innovative.
Re-elected
Assad overwhelmingly wins another seven-year term of office, in a ballot in which he is the only candidate. Political opposition groups are banned unless they are attached the Baath Party. The interior ministry says he wins the backing of more than 97% of Syria’s 12 million voters. The ministry says the turnout is enormous, but gives no figures. Minister:
This great consensus shows the political maturity of Syria and the brilliance of our democracy.
Drops out of race
Walker announces that he is dropping out of the Republican primary for the gubernatorial race due to a lack of money raised for his campaign and because Mark Green, his Republican opponent, already has the support of many Republicans throughout the state.
It became clear to me that our fundraising totals would only allow us to run a campaign in a fraction of the 72 counties in this state. In addition, our resources would be so limited that most of it would likely be spent on ads attacking our Republican opponent.
Announces run for governor
At a news conference in his Wauwatosa home, Walker announces that he will challenge Governor James Doyle in the 2006 election. He is campaigning on a message of tax reform and open government. He says his values are:
protecting the sanctity of marriage, the right to life, our ability to preserve our families and homes, the importance of voter integrity, and the value of the free market.
Massachusetts marries gay couples
More than 1,000 gay and lesbian couples stream into Boston and town halls across Massachusetts seeking licenses to marry after the state legalizes same-sex marriage. The woman who is first in line to apply for her marriage license camped out in front of Cambridge City Hall with her bride-to-be says:
To have the highest court in the state affirm your right to be a family was wonderful, and it just gave you courage.
Debates
At the Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee, Walker debates David Riemer, for the office of County Executive. On funding for parks, Walker says that state government is the key. State mandated justice programs have limited county funding for quality-of-life services. On the increase of public transit fares, he says that it was caused by rising labor and fuel costs. But he is for shifting sales tax revenue from automobile sales that go to the state’s general fund to transit. He is also for a law allowing the carrying of concealed weapons. Riemer says that Walker should stop blaming labor unions, the state government and others for his failures to reverse trends that hurt county government:
You never hear any acceptance of responsibility to provide leadership.
Refuses to sign pledge
Walker refuses to sign a pledge given to him by his opponent, David Riemer, stating that he will serve out the full term if reelected as Milwaukee County Executive. Riemer says that to fix the problems in the county requires a full commitment. Walker, who has expressed a desire to run for governor in 2006, says this is a non-issue:
I have absolutely no intention at this point of running for any other office but for reelection as Milwaukee County Executive, and I plan on focusing all my energies and talents on meeting those tasks.
Funding approved
After a hard political battle, President Bush signs an omnibus bill which includes $110 million in initial funding for NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt System. The funding allows the team to proceed with the final design of the probe.
It’s like the old days. We are going to the frontier. We’re going back to the roots of the space program.
Kicks off reelection campaign
Walker kicks off his reelection campaign at a cocktail-hour event at Villa Terrace Museum hosted by 107 backers who pledge to give $500 to $1,000. The event brings in more than $80,000 for his first fund-raiser.
Re-elected as Florida Governor
Bush wins second term as Florida governor by defeating McBride in 2002 Florida gubernatorial election. Bush receives 2,783,346 votes, or 56 percent, while McBride has 2,132,185 votes, or 43 percent.
I am so grateful for your support and I thank you from the bottom of my heart…I will not let you down. I will work as hard as I can.