Northeast Assembly Debate: Now Accepting Questions

[mondale84]

FOR MONDALE: While you only very rarely miss a vote, your contributions to debate over the latest legislative session have been rather thin and infrequent and you have yet to introduce a bill. Can you guarantee Northeasterners that you will be a more active legislator in the upcoming session? Why should voters vote for you, rather than another candidate who might be more active than you have been so far?

Having been a new member of the Assembly this past term, I have been a careful observer and listener in the debates of that body. I have internalized much and have learned even more. I have expressed my opinion when I thought appropriate and voted in a way that I believe best served the interests of the Region. If I should be given the honor to serve for another term, I will be more active than I was at the start of this past legislative session and continuing the greater involvement I have been showing recently. As a more experienced legislator, I will not only cast important votes but hope to be able to communicate more actively with constituents so as to truly be a representative of the people.

FOR ALL CANDIDATES: Should you be elected to the Assembly, what will you do to promote job creation and help new businesses grow in our region?  Do you favor enacting new programs that would make this possible?  If so, what might they be?

I think the best way to promote job growth in the region is to ensure that the Assembly is a partner for small and large businesses in the region and not seen as an antagonist. I would like to simplify the tax code and ensure that the Assembly isn't proposing bills that are detrimental to job growth (I believe the Safe Sports Event Act falls under this category: http://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=157102.0) for the sole sake of passing legislation and keeping the legislators busy. I want to make sure that the entrepreneurs and businessmen of the region have confidence in their elected representatives. I would like to solicit feedback from the business and labor community when jobs and tax bills are proposed and would like to ensure that each bill has input from the Northeast community. A centerpiece of my campaign has been about communication and I believe that - if re-elected - constituent contact and engagement will serve to spur job growth and let it reach its true regional potential.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

Another question for the candidates: As you all know, the recent shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin have spurred a national debate over how the government should handle crime and whether or not stricter gun control laws should be implemented for means of preventing future massacres.  If elected to the Northeast Assembly, what will you do to address the issue of crime in the region?  Would you support any new gun legislation?

[IDS Legislator Alfred F. Jones]

Another question for the candidates: As you all know, the recent shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin have spurred a national debate over how the government should handle crime and whether or not stricter gun control laws should be implemented for means of preventing future massacres.  If elected to the Northeast Assembly, what will you do to address the issue of crime in the region?  Would you support any new gun legislation?

--I'm not familiar with the Northeast's crime rate and/or gun laws, but if I were the regional dictator and could make all the laws, I'd ban anything deadlier than a handgun. And only two handguns per household, max.

[mondale84]

Another question for the candidates: As you all know, the recent shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin have spurred a national debate over how the government should handle crime and whether or not stricter gun control laws should be implemented for means of preventing future massacres.  If elected to the Northeast Assembly, what will you do to address the issue of crime in the region?  Would you support any new gun legislation?

I would like to have a serious discussion with the assembly regarding this issue of gun violence and see what common-sense steps we can take in lieu of the federal government, which seems to be unable to adequately address the issue. I would be very interested in implementing some sort of restriction on the purchase of ammunition and I would like to explore the possibility of a ban on assault weapons. I agree with my colleague Assemblyman Alfred F. Jones that that the stockpiling of weapons (more than one firearm in a household) should be discouraged. Whether the number beyond which a restriction is imposed is 2 or more I am not sure, but we should make sure that a discussion on this restriction takes place.

[Comrade Funk]

FOR COMRADE FUNK: What, in your view, are the greatest threats to the civil liberties of Atlasians? What can we do to protect Northeasterners from these threats?

I believe the recent surge in Voter ID laws in our cities have the greatest threat to our voting rights and civil liberties. City leaders are choosing to disqualify thousands of poor and middle class voters, to fight off an issue that is so rare even local city leaders are admitting this is only being used to influence elections. We must protect the people's to vote. This is what our founding fathers fought for, and will work my hardest to protect that right.

FOR ALL CANDIDATES: Should you be elected to the Assembly, what will you do to promote job creation and help new businesses grow in our region?  Do you favor enacting new programs that would make this possible?  If so, what might they be?

I believe in smart regulation, not over-regulation or absolutely no government insight. We must contain businesses from making unethical decisions, but over-regulations will discourage businesses from hiring. We must work with businesses to ensure job creation for the Northeast. This includes tax breaks for businesses that hire Northeasterners.

Another question for the candidates: As you all know, the recent shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin have spurred a national debate over how the government should handle crime and whether or not stricter gun control laws should be implemented for means of preventing future massacres.  If elected to the Northeast Assembly, what will you do to address the issue of crime in the region?  Would you support any new gun legislation?

I must agree Assemblyman mondale84 on the issue of ammunition restirctions. For too long gin control has been a taboo issue for all parties. We can not ignore this issue anymore. I believe in the right to bear arms, but the lenient restrictions and control on ammunition and the number weapons one may own must change.

[Northeast Representative Goldwater]

Another question for the candidates: As you all know, the recent shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin have spurred a national debate over how the government should handle crime and whether or not stricter gun control laws should be implemented for means of preventing future massacres.  If elected to the Northeast Assembly, what will you do to address the issue of crime in the region?  Would you support any new gun legislation?

While I realize that some gun laws are necessary, such as background checks, in general I support the right to bare arms and am skeptical of gun control being an effective way to reduce crime.

[IDS Legislator Alfred F. Jones]

Goldwater, do you feel that the right to bare arms is under threat? Do you support reinstating the assault T-shirts ban?

[Northeast Representative Goldwater]

To be completely honest, I don't very much about the gun laws here and I have no idea what the assault T-shirts ban is, so I can't give you a very good answer to those questions.

[bore]

Another question for the candidates: As you all know, the recent shootings in Colorado and Wisconsin have spurred a national debate over how the government should handle crime and whether or not stricter gun control laws should be implemented for means of preventing future massacres.  If elected to the Northeast Assembly, what will you do to address the issue of crime in the region?  Would you support any new gun legislation?

My general focus is on rehabilitation not punishment, as I think that is the only way to get reoffending rates down. Also though I would try to decriminalise all victimless crimes, in an effort to free up prison space and save us money. Finally I am a very strong advocate for gun control, and would support databases and an assault weapons ban, at a minimum.