Kerry delivers keynote at AIC Model Congress
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SPRINGFIELD--"Don't think that you can't make a difference" was the message from U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) at the 68th Model Congress at American International College. Kerry addressed the Joint Session on Friday, Jan. 11, just one day after announcing his support for Barack Obama for President.
Kerry urged the students to get involved at their school and in their community.
Asked by the students why he supports Obama and not his 2004 running mate John Edwards, he said, "It is a different time that requires a different leader and I believe Barack Obama is that leader."
More than 300 students from throughout New England and New York attended the Model Congress, Jan. 10-12, the longest running event of its kind in the country.
Springfield political consultant Anthony Cignoli was the banquet speaker on Saturday, Jan. 12.
The students spent the three days writing, debating, amending and voting on legislation, much of which mirrors issues being considered by the U.S. Congress. AIC faculty judges rated the student legislators based on debating and parliamentary procedure skills and awarded more than $150,000 in AIC scholarships.
Kerry was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1982, and two years later, he was elected to the United States Senate. He has won reelection three-times since and is now serving his fourth term, after winning again in 2002 by the largest margin in Massachusetts history. During his two decades of service, he fought for fiscal discipline, expanded children's health care, fought to put 100,000 more cops on America's streets, and worked with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to investigate the fate of American POW/MIAs and help soldiers suffering from exposure to Agent Orange.
Cignoli is the president of the A. L. Cignoli Company, the public relations, political and governmental affairs company he founded 18 years ago. He is a veteran of many political campaigns, including the recent presidential elections in Peru, the 2006 Italian Prime Minister and Parliamentary campaigns and was engaged in 2006 in governor's races in Iowa and Maryland. Cignoli is a frequent commentator and political analyst on local radio and television news programs in Western Massachusetts, as well as on New England Cable News, CNN and MSNBC.
Bills debated at this year's Congress included a measure from Southwick High School to eliminate term limits for presidential elections; a bill written by SABIS International that would reform Megan's Law by restricting access to the Sex Offender Registry; and from Cathedral High School, a bill that would lower the legal age to own a firearm.
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