NE3: Constitutional Amendment [Passed Assembly]

[Cincinnatus]

The Assembly will now consider the legislation introduced by the Governor.  Debate will last 72 hours.

Article II Section 9 is hereby amended as:

 

9. The Governor is obligated to present the Legislative Assembly a budget every month he or she is in office. The structure and procedure for the budget process are to be determined by law. The budget of all government activities is to be voted on by the Assembly after a normal debate period. The Governor is obligated to ensure that the budget does not provide for any deficits excepting times of emergency or war, a condition the Legislative Assembly must successfully endorse.

[Cincinnatus]

We're going to pass a budget every month?  We're lucky if we can pass one every year right now..  I'd be much more inclined to do it at the beginning of every term, perhaps.

[Senator Napoleon]

We're going to pass a budget every month?  We're lucky if we can pass one every year right now..  I'd be much more inclined to do it at the beginning of every term, perhaps.

Month, session, term, whatever. The idea is that the details can be flushed and adjusted by law. Things like continuing resolutions could be used. The goal is to have a decent budget procedure and by the end of my term we will have laid the infrastructure for the budget, making it a far less tedious process for future Assemblies and Governors.

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

A monthly budget is way overkill.

I see no problem with a yearly budget being presented to the Assembly, or at the very most, every six months.

[Governor Scott]

I'd personally favor a new budget (and tax policy) every four months.  Then all governors can have the opportunity to propose their own budgets and fiscal plans.  Monthly budgets would be hard to pass as Cincinnatus said, and would stall other legislation.

[Senator Napoleon]

A monthly budget is way overkill.

I see no problem with a yearly budget being presented to the Assembly, or at the very most, every six months.

The goal is to give each Governor the opportunity to have his or her own fiscal policy.

[Senator Napoleon]

I should point out that Representatives and voters alike are empowered by having a budget each session. Voters cany elect Representatives to react against an unpopular fiscal policy. Should only Representatives elected in general elections get to influence the budget?

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

I'd personally favor a new budget (and tax policy) every four months.  Then all governors can have the opportunity to propose their own budgets and fiscal plans.

I think that Scott's proposal would work best.

[Governor Scott]

I'd personally favor a new budget (and tax policy) every four months.  Then all governors can have the opportunity to propose their own budgets and fiscal plans.

I think that Scott's proposal would work best.

Thanks, but Cincinnatus suggested it first, of course.

[Cincinnatus]

Article II Section 9 is hereby amended as:

9. The Governor is obligated to present the Legislative Assembly a budget for their term.  The structure and procedure for the budget process are to be determined by law. The budget of all government activities is to be voted on by the Assembly after a normal debate period. The Governor is obligated to ensure that the budget does not provide for any deficits excepting times of emergency or war, a condition the Legislative Assembly must successfully endorse.

Do we want to add a time limit to this draft, or do we want to leave it to be determined by law?

[Senator Napoleon]

I think it should be determined by law.

[Governor Scott]

I would like to suggest an amendment for a Representative to propose.

Article II Section 9 is hereby amended as:

9. The Governor is obligated to present the Legislative Assembly a budget for their term.  The structure and procedure for the budget process are to be determined by law. The budget of all government activities is to be voted on by the Assembly after a normal debate period. The Governor is obligated to ensure that the budget does not provide for any deficits excepting times of emergency or war, a condition the Legislative Assembly must successfully endorse.  All budgets must include a plan for revenue and taxation.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Introducing an amendment:

Article II Section 9 is hereby amended as:

9. The Governor is obligated to present the Legislative Assembly a budget for their term.  The structure and procedure for the budget process are to be determined by law. The budget of all government activities is to be voted on by the Assembly after a normal debate period. The Governor is obligated to ensure that the budget does not provide for any deficits excepting times of emergency or war, a condition the Legislative Assembly must successfully endorse.  All budgets must include a plan for revenue and taxation.

[Cincinnatus]

Requesting and granting a 48 hour extension.  Is the proposed amendment friendly?

[Senator Napoleon]

I don't know if I can declare an amendment friendly or unfriendly.

[shua]

So the Governor is going to be the one calculating how much revenue the taxes bring in, is that right?

[Senator Snowstalker]

Wait, we're doing a new thread for each bill?

Also, I would like to personally endorse Averroes's amendment, and will bring my own after his is approved or rejected (it's about getting rid of the balanced budget clause)

[Governor Scott]

So the Governor is going to be the one calculating how much revenue the taxes bring in, is that right?

The Governor would merely be writing a tax code every four months.  That way, instead of simply passing a tax code that would last until it is presumably changed, governors can propose their own tax plan that would last throughout their term.

[Cincinnatus]

I don't know if I can declare an amendment friendly or unfriendly.

If you can introduce legislation, I'd imagine you can declare and amendment friendly, or unfriendly.

[Senator Napoleon]

Wait, we're doing a new thread for each bill?

Also, I would like to personally endorse Averroes's amendment, and will bring my own after his is approved or rejected (it's about getting rid of the balanced budget clause)

That would need to be a separate amendment though.

[Senator Snowstalker]

Wait, we're doing a new thread for each bill?

Also, I would like to personally endorse Averroes's amendment, and will bring my own after his is approved or rejected (it's about getting rid of the balanced budget clause)

That would need to be a separate amendment though.

I know, which is why I intend to wait until this passes or fails.

[Senator Napoleon]

I meant a separate Constitutional amendment, not separate amendment to this amendment.

[shua]

So the Governor is going to be the one calculating how much revenue the taxes bring in, is that right?

The Governor would merely be writing a tax code every four months.  That way, instead of simply passing a tax code that would last until it is presumably changed, governors can propose their own tax plan that would last throughout their term.

Then how would he be sure the budget is balanced every month?

[Governor Scott]

So the Governor is going to be the one calculating how much revenue the taxes bring in, is that right?

The Governor would merely be writing a tax code every four months.  That way, instead of simply passing a tax code that would last until it is presumably changed, governors can propose their own tax plan that would last throughout their term.

Then how would he be sure the budget is balanced every month?

The same way as usual, I would imagine.  But technically, we're never had a balanced budget because every tax that was on the books was repealed by some law over time.

[Cincinnatus]

So the Governor is going to be the one calculating how much revenue the taxes bring in, is that right?

The Governor would merely be writing a tax code every four months.  That way, instead of simply passing a tax code that would last until it is presumably changed, governors can propose their own tax plan that would last throughout their term.

Then how would he be sure the budget is balanced every month?

The same way as usual, I would imagine.  But technically, we're never had a balanced budget because every tax that was on the books was repealed by some law over time.

Shua's point is that he will be the one responsible for a lot of this process as GM.  Obviously, one month is out of the question for myself, and I believe GM Shua as well.  Four months is far more reasonable, but it's still Shua who will have to do a large part of the work.