NE1: Stop the Inflation of Titles Act [Voting]

[Simfan34]

Stop the Inflation of Titles Act

1) The The Northeast Cabinet Act is hereby repealed.

Sponsor: Lt. Gov. Simfan
Debate time: 80 hours

The governor has inform me that he would support this piece of legislation. I would look upon an order of succession amendment with favor.

[Governor Scott]

I urge the Assembly to kill this legislation.

The cabinet act exists as a way to promote activity.  While the Governor is not required to manage a full cabinet, it was created with a purpose.  Furthermore, as Governor Nix said, advisers can still be appointed whether or not this act is in effect.  The only difference would be that no Assembly oversight would be involved if this bill were to be repealed.   It is totally needless to carry this forward, as we have seen literally no problems come up from its existence.  If the Assembly seeks to promote activity in the region, repealing this law isn't the answer.  It is best that it be kept in place.

[mondale84]

I have to agree with Senator Scott. I cannot in good conscience support this piece of legislation.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

After reflection, I just don't see how the law does anything substantive to promote greater activity or broader involvement in regional politics.

As an alternative to repeal, I would be open to a re-write of the Cabinet Act. But it needs to provide appointees with at least some specific duties - otherwise, there is no point. And as Scott points out, if someone takes an interest in regional politics and has the drive and creativity necessary, the governor can always create a position for that person, regardless of what is on the books. Because current activity levels don't permit the Governor to appoint a cabinet full of active members, it would be better to deal with this on an ad hoc basis.

[Governor Scott]

If the legislation can be rewritten, it would be much more ideal (and less time consuming) to work on improving the bill, not repealing it.  If it's repealed, then the Assembly would have less to do because the confirmation process would be taken out of the equation.  But as I have said, if this Assembly desires to promote activity in the region, repealing laws like the Northeast Cabinet Act won't do anything like that.  It's simply unnecessary.

[Simfan34]

I am extending debate  another 72 hours due to the lac k of debate.

[Cincinnatus]

I am extending debate  another 72 hours due to the lac k of debate.

You are no longer Speaker.  You can no longer extend debate..

[Simfan34]

I am extending debate  another 72 hours due to the lac k of debate.

You are no longer Speaker.  You can no longer extend debate..

My resignation takes effect on the sixth, Representative.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Representatives, where do you stand on this issue? Do we have any objections? I'd welcome additional feedback from Senator Scott, too.

[IDS Legislator Alfred F. Jones]

Frankly, I don't care about this issue. I don't see why we need a cabinet, but it's not actively bad for the region. And anyway, we don't even have any members.

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

I will support this bill.

The Northeast has a difficult enough time fielding an active Assembly of five members, let alone finding enough active cabinet officers.

[Governor Scott]

The Northeast has a difficult enough time fielding an active Assembly of five members, let alone finding enough active cabinet officers.

With all due respect, your reasoning is totally idiotic.

As Alfred has said, the bill is not actively bad for the region.  Therefore, repeal is completely unnecessary.  If the Assembly truly cares about activity, it would spend less time figuring out how to promote activity or make improvements to the legislation in question, not repeal bills that have done absolutely nothing to suppress activity or actually ruin the game.

I challenge this Assembly to actually provide a case for how repealing this bill will improve the region or make it more appealing to potential newcomers.  I doubt anyone here can.

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

Telling someone their reasoning is totally idiotic has no due respect about it at all.

I urge Senator Scott, all members of this Assembly, and anyone else who may participate in Assembly debate to show respect for others. 

Insulting members of this Assembly or others participating in Assembly debate will not be tolerated in this Assembly.

Just because you hold a different point of view is no reason to demean the views of others.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

I do not believe that this law is actively harmful, but if a statue serves no function, there is no reason to leave it on the books. Good, open governance requires a clear set of rules that should be kept as simple as possible.

If the region had seven or more candidates running for the Assembly in each election, and if gubernatorial elections were routinely competitive, I would push the Assembly to amend this legislation rather than repeal it. But the region hasn't seen that level of activity recently, and I do not understand how this legislation is useful in its absence.

[Governor Scott]

I do not believe that this law is actively harmful, but if a statue serves no function, there is no reason to leave it on the books. Good, open governance requires a clear set of rules that should be kept as simple as possible.

If the region had seven or more candidates running for the Assembly in each election, and if gubernatorial elections were routinely competitive, I would push the Assembly to amend this legislation rather than repeal it. But the region hasn't seen that level of activity recently, and I do not understand how this legislation is useful in its absence.

The statute does, indeed, have certain purposes, and those are to encourage future governors to appoint people when the circumstances allow them to and assign the Assembly the task of confirming these appointments.  One of the benefits of the Northeast Cabinet Act is that it doesn't require the governor to have a full cabinet, and if the governor or the Assembly decides that a cabinet isn't necessary, then no appointments will be made.  Currently, activity in the game is somewhat lower than desirable.  However, if by some chance, we see an uptick in activity, then we will have the Northeast Cabinet Act to look toward so that citizens can have an active role in the government.  We would be much better off keeping statute on the books for a time when it is needed than outright repealing it and then reinstating it in the future.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

I'm still leaning toward signing this legislation, if it passes, but your case is somewhat persuasive.

Simfan, Winfield, do you have any further thoughts?

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

I have no further input.  I stand by my earlier statement.

[Simfan34]

As the governor stated before, it is well within his rights to appoint cabinet members without this legislation. Repealing this law would not change that. There simply is no need to retain useless and wasteful legislation like this.

[Cincinnatus]

We don't NEED a cabinet, but, the law does offer interesting potential.  Of course, the law states positions can remain vacant, and if we were actually paying Representatives (were this not fake forum politics), than I'd entirely agree with "Stopping the inflation of Titles".  As it is, I see no reason to waste a legislative slot with this repeal when this law may offer potential for the future, or at least, a stepping stone for a better idea.

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

Debate has now closed.

Voting will now commence and will last for 24 hours or until all members have voted.

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

Aye

[IDS Legislator Alfred F. Jones]

Abstain.

[Cincinnatus]

Nay

[Simfan34]

Aye.

[mondale84]

Nay