NE1: Amendment to the Constitution [Failed]

[Cincinnatus]

The Assembly will now consider the legislation introduced by the Representative from PA.  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. All budgets must include a plan for revenue and taxation.

[Senator Snowstalker]

Yes, I removed the balanced budget clause.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Yes, I removed the balanced budget clause.

Why?

[Senator Snowstalker]

When the Atlasian economy is facing trouble, which I believe is any time that working families are hurting, when people are on the streets, an arbitrary balanced budget becomes wholly unnecessary. Sure, it can be canceled for "emergencies", but when a single family cannot put food on the table, it is an emergency. I therefore believe that deficit spending, though not preferable, is necessary.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Some questions, Snowstalker:

1. Why not demand increased revenues, instead?

2. If that isn't adequate, what's wrong with the Assembly actually declaring a state of emergency?

3. Does current law allow for the Northeast Regional Government to issue bonds to fund long-term capital improvement projects and the like? I have no problem with deficit spending, provided that it is an investment.

[Senator Snowstalker]

1. I don't support tax hikes on working families in this economic state.

2. As I said, we need to spend, and a permenant state of emergency would be redundant.

3. I see no constitutional problem with it. The idea seems intriguing, though I would like to see the Northeast's credit rating first.

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

The Assembly should not have to deal with a budget every month.  At the very most, the Assembly should only be dealing with one budget during each term of a Governor.

[Cincinnatus]

Debate time has expired.  The Assembly will now vote on the final text.  The voting period will last 24 hours, or until all Representatives have voted.

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. All budgets must include a plan for revenue and taxation.

[Cincinnatus]

Nay

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Nay

[crypto-fascist superhero]

Nay.

[Senator Snowstalker]

Aye.

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

Nay

[Cincinnatus]

Voting time has expired.  The Ayes are 1, Nays 4.  The bill fails.