General Senatorial Discussion

[Bacon King]

This is a thread for Senators to discuss the workings of the Senate, propose ideas for legislation, and to make speeches on any topic they desire.

Non-Senators, please limit your discussion in this thread. If you have words to say about specific legislation, please post it in that bill's specific thread or in the Protest and Analysis thread. If you have a question for a specific Senator, please post it in their office or send a PM. If you would like to make a general rant, make a thread in the Fantasy Elections forum or start a newspaper or something and put it there. If you would like to freely post in this thread, get elected to the Senate first- it's not too hard, even Naso managed to do it once. Basically, if you're not in the Senate, only post here if a Senator specifically asks a question to the public and you have something constructive to say, or if you are specifically invited to speak by a Senator. That is all.

Kudos to Bullmoose for the idea.

[Bacon King]

We have currently at any one time at least three threads if not more depending on what is on the floor that together deal with everything that this will be intended for. And due to the restrictions on who and what is to be said and the fact that so few in the current Senate like to talk, that little use will be made of this thread. No offense to Bullmoose, it is indeed a fine idea and few months ago it would have probably had some purpose but presently I don't see it. Now that is not to say that need shall not arise in the future, it does say that it is not presently here.

I think it's a nice thing to have. You note there are three different threads that serve this purpose, but isn't it a good idea to have a single thread that covers all those topics?

[Bacon King]

I'm on vacation until Monday. Yankee, can you run the senate for me?

[Bacon King]

I'm on vacation until Monday. Yankee, can you run the senate for me?

Not much to worry about, this thing practically runs itself.

I'm back, by the way, if ya didn't realize.

[Bacon King]

Just some notes here regarding the transition tomorrow.

The bills on the floor can stay on the floor without needing to be resubmitted, per Article 10 of the current OSPR. Note that if a vote is occuring in one of these bills on the floor at the time of transition, Franzl and dallasfan65 would be able to replace the vote of their respective predecessors.

Also, I cease being President Pro Tempore at noon tomorrow, though I would like to run for reelection . Note that this resolution has been passed by the Senate but hasn't been added to the Wiki yet. Basically, Marokai, as the new President of the Senate it is your responsibility to preside over the Senate for the next few days at least, which will include managing the current bills on the floor, having PPT elections, and posting the confirmation threads and such. After a new PPT is elected you can defer to him to run the Senate by way of OSPR Article II, Section 2.1.f, if you don't want to manage us personally. Also, friendly reminder, note that if you don't do anything in the Senate by noon on Wednesday (that is, five days), then NCYankee as Dean becomes the Senate's presiding officer per OSPR II 3.ii, until a PPT is elected.


Also, if you really don't want to deal with any of the Senate, you can just defer to the "PPT" immediately, which would let Yankee run things per OSPR II 2.3 since the PPT office would be technically vacant.

Actually, thinking about it, if you just don't even do any of the required "start of the session" stuff, Yankee can just go ahead and do it, per OSPR II.2.1.c, since without a PPT it all is your sepecific responsibility, whether implicitly or explicitly.

But yeah. Not saying Marokai will be ignoring the Senate or anything, just posting all relevant transition rules here in one place should they be needed.

[Bacon King]

[Bacon King]

I'm on a family vacation this weekend and will have limited Internet access, so in case I miss the PPT declaration thread, I HEREBY DECLARE THAT I AM RUNNING FOR PPT    

[Bacon King]

Technically it says the thread is there for Senators to declare their candidacy, not that they're entirely unable to declare elsewhere. it's the only place that Senators can announce their candidacy and the Presiding Officer of the Senate is obligated to put them on the ballot; nothing would prevent Marokai from noting my nomination after seeing this. It's Marokai's call, of course, but I hope he does put me on the ballot given the circumstances

Still, to prevent controversy, I'll try my best to get somewhere with cellphone service over the next day or two to officially declare my candidacy "properly"

[Bacon King]

Okay everyone, I'll be mostly gone from now till Monday.

[Bacon King]

A couple of things.

One, I'd like to give accolades to Libertas; over the past month I've been genuinely surprised by the dedication he's given this office, his ability to work with other Senators, and the new and innovative ideas he brings forth to discussion. I hope Libertas does not take this as an insult, but he has definitely shown much more zeal for this office than I was expecting of him.

Two, if other Senators could formally propose the rest of the Executive Branch's legislative agenda two or three bills at a time, to prevent the Anti-Clogging Statutes from coming into effect, that would be awesome.

Three, it's good to see the Senate busier again in general. Good work everyone.

edit- also, thanks again for the reelection as PPT. As always, I'd appreciate any commentary into how I could improve.

[Bacon King]

A couple of things.

One, I'd like to give accolades to Libertas; over the past month I've been genuinely surprised by the dedication he's given this office, his ability to work with other Senators, and the new and innovative ideas he brings forth to discussion. I hope Libertas does not take this as an insult, but he has definitely shown much more zeal for this office than I was expecting of him.

Two, if other Senators could formally propose the rest of the Executive Branch's legislative agenda two or three bills at a time, to prevent the Anti-Clogging Statutes from coming into effect, that would be awesome.
Three, it's good to see the Senate busier again in general. Good work everyone.

edit- also, thanks again for the reelection as PPT. As always, I'd appreciate any commentary into how I could improve.

Could you give us an update on this situation because right now you will have to pull some bills unless someone assumes sponsorship of them.

Anti-Clogging doesn't require bills to be taken off the floor. I got my five bills in a row onto the floor because there was nothing in the queue and there were empty spaces on the floor, but as soon as other bills go into the queue I can't put another bill on the floor until I have less than three bills on the floor.

[Bacon King]

ConCon will be up next. Also, now that I have time to waste I've gone through and amended the administration's proposals; hopefully that may foster some debate?

[Bacon King]

Just a question here, everyone. Am I pushing things through the Senate too fast? I'm trying to use my activity as an example for others but I'm afraid I'm buzzing past everyone here. Please let me know if there's a problem with my pace.

[Bacon King]

I've put the last of the President's legislative agenda on the floor. Note that I haven't done anything with the Keystone Shrill Act because I think it's stupid. If someone else wants to sponsor it, be my guest, but otherwise we're done with the PS/MB stuff.

[Bacon King]

I've put the last of the President's legislative agenda on the floor. Note that I haven't done anything with the Keystone Shrill Act because I think it's stupid. If someone else wants to sponsor it, be my guest, but otherwise we're done with the PS/MB stuff.

Hopefully someday we make it so the President and VP can introduce things on their own, independently of some Senator making arbitrary changes off the bat or ignoring certain pieces of legislation.

Does the separation of powers mean anything to you? I have been nothing but kind towards your agenda, personally sponsoring it and working to quickly shepard it through the Senate, even introducing things I personally opposed. If you're so riled up about "some Senator" messing up your legislation, I think you miss the point of the Senate entirely.

[Bacon King]

The only thing I've changed was a stupid name. Is that what this is all about? Me changing the title on a single bill? The way you're talking it's like I've been doing wholesale editing to everything. I've gone out of my way to keep your proposals as-is; notice plenty of times where I offer friendly amendments after I put the bills on the floor- I didn't edit anything on my own, even though you seem to be hilariously insinuating that I did.

[Bacon King]

Both of you, please try to be a bit less un-Senatorial on the floor of the Senate. Thanks.

[Bacon King]

Senators, please remain civil on the floor of the Senate. Thank you.

[Bacon King]

I'm back 'n active, errybody

[Bacon King]

I'd like to congratulate NCYankee on his reelection to the office of President Pro Tempore.

For administrative purposes, note that AHDuke is Dean of the Senate while NCYankee is PPT (since Duke is the second-longest serving Senator).

[Bacon King]

I'm ahead of bgwah, actually (I beat him by four days! )

[Bacon King]

As I stated in the PPT thread, I am right now extremely busy with a group project/presentation that was assigned last Friday and due on Wednesday (and that's just my luck, too: only one group presents each week so every other group has much longer to prepare).

Because I have this short-term commitment that significantly limits the time I have available, I hereby state that I am on a declared absence until Wednesday at 9PM forum time. Under Article 1, Section 3 of the OSPR, this allows the Dean of the Senate, NCYankee, full authority to operate the Senate as its presiding officer.

I'll still be here whenever I can, of course; at the very least I'll run the PPT nominations/elections for Yankee so there's not a conflict of interest with him posting the booth for his own reelection (which personally I don't see a problem with, back in the day MasterJedi did all the time, but I suppose NCYankee prefers it that way).

But yeah, declared absence until Wednesday. Thanks everyone.

-BK

[Bacon King]

BUMP

Friendly reminder that the current Senate is still in session for 15 more days, so lame ducks plz don't be quite so lame yet