SENATE BILL: Worker Co-operative Pilot Program (Law'd)

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A Bill

Purpose: Co- operative support and job creation

Section 1. Title
Worker Co-operative Pilot Program
Section 2. Descripton
This bill will start a pilot program that will focus on supporting worker co-operatives across the country.
Section 3. Funding
Funding: 1 Billion per year will be appropriated, 95% will be used to give favorable loan rates to co-operatives, and 5% on research and administration.

Sponsor: Seatown

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Senator, you have 24 hours to advocate for this.


Is it customary to capitalize the first letter after a hyphen in cases like these?

[Senator Ben]

I'm gonna need some serious convincing on this legislation, especially the billion dollar price tag.

[Governor Scott]

I find section two extremely unspecific and vague.

[Senator Napoleon]

Is it customary to capitalize the first letter after a hyphen in cases like these?

The Wiki happens to use both. Hahaha.

I'm gonna need some serious convincing on this legislation, especially the billion dollar price tag.

I am quite the penny pincher myself, but we already offer loans to companies for various reasons so I don't see why examining a particular business model that could be more favorable to workers should be cast aside. $1 billion is not all that much in the grand scheme of things.

That said, I think we should limit this program to three years and require businesses accepting these loans to share their information with the DoIA so we can properly evaluate their economic potential. The ESOPs in the law I linked to are given tax breaks but that doesn't necessarily correlate to an increase in that business model. Perhaps we may need Gm Shua to provide some information about the prevalence of ESOPs compared to more "traditional" business models.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Is it customary to capitalize the first letter after a hyphen in cases like these?

The Wiki happens to use both. Hahaha.

lol, nice job Marokai.

Well it is closer now to being accurate then what seatown originally put it as.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I don't have a particular problem with co-ops, but as Scott said this current text is presently lacking in definition and in standards, which poses and open invitation for fraud if you ask me.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I might be able to work up an amendment, but I will need some time.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Oh no! SEATOWN!!!!!!!!!  You let the 24 hours expire last night.



Motion to Table (unless there is a LOA somewhere from him)

Damn it all the hell! Why can't you people just be active!

[ModerateCoward]

Well, I thought you were going to introduce an amendment. But anyway I am introducing this because worker control results in fairer distribution of income, and there is not many loans given to traditional business models, much less not traditional ones right now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondragon_Corporation

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Whether or not someone says they will amend has no bearing on the obligations I place on sponsors in the first 24 hours. The very reason I place the obligation is so that the sponsor can respond to critiques and they can be dealt with quicker then otherwise would be the case. Not to mention it ensures the sponsor is there to answer questions and at least cares enough about the bill to post something about why it is needed in the first 24 hours. If a sponsor fails to do that, then I can only assume it isn't important and thus I will automatically motion to table all bills whose sponsor fails to post as required. This has been my policy for several months and has been mentioned or referred to in literally every bill brough to the floor since where I state, "okay you have 24 hours....".

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The motion will stand, but it is meaningless without a second and since you have posted I will recommend that no one second it.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The MONDRAGON Co-operatives operate in accordance with a business model based on People and the Sovereignty of Labour, which has made it possible to develop highly participative companies rooted in solidarity, with a strong social dimension but without neglecting business excellence

We should define this business model in the bill, otherwise with no legal defination of what qualifies for the loans, anyone could call themselves and Co-op and then be eligible for money.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A Bill
Purpose: Co- operative support and job creation
Section 1. Title
Worker Co-operative Pilot Program
Section 2. Descripton
This bill will start a pilot program that will focus on supporting worker co-operatives across the country.
Section 3. Funding
Funding: 1 Billion per year will be appropriated, 95% will be used to give favorable loan rates to co-operatives, and 5% on research and administration.
Section 4. Standards for Qualification
1. In order to qualify for the above mentioned program, the organization must be structured in a way that it is owned and run by the employees of the company based on the principle of one-man, one-vote.

[ModerateCoward]

A Bill
Purpose: Co- operative support and job creation
Section 1. Title
Worker Co-operative Pilot Program
Section 2. Descripton
This bill will start a pilot program that will focus on supporting worker co-operatives across the country.
Section 3. Funding
Funding: 1 Billion per year will be appropriated, 95% will be used to give favorable loan rates to co-operatives, and 5% on research and administration.
Section 4. Standards for Qualification
1. In order to qualify for the above mentioned program, the organization must be structured in a way that it is owned and run by the employees of the company based on the principle of one-man, one-vote.

The amendment is Friendly

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I am not done yet.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A Bill
Purpose: Co- operative support and job creation
Section 1. Title
Worker Co-operative Pilot Program
Section 2. Descripton
This bill will start a pilot program that will focus on supporting worker co-operatives across the country.
Section 3. Funding
Funding: 1 Billion per year will be appropriated, 95% will be used to give favorable loan rates to co-operatives, and 5% on research and administration.
Section 4. Standards for Qualification
1. In order to qualify for the above mentioned program, the organization must be structured in a way that it is owned and/or run by the employees of the organization.
2. The organization must also be organized according to the ten basic cooperative principles
3. The Department of Internal Affairs will oversee the program and ensure that the above criteria are followed by all applicants considered.

Sponsor Feedback: Needs Re-entry for Finalized Amendment Text
Status: Awaiting Feedback

[ModerateCoward]

Friendly

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This has about three hours left.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment has passed.


Is there anything else that needs to be done with this? Should we consider limiting this specific industries? I fear if too widely diseminated, we may not get an accurate picture of the results of the program.

[shua]

What is meant by "favorable loan rates"?  I'm wondering whether this program will end up operating at a loss or if the investment will be recouped.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Does the sponsor have any reponse to the Game Moderator?

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SEATOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ModerateCoward]

What is meant by "favorable loan rates"?  I'm wondering whether this program will end up operating at a loss or if the investment will be recouped.

The same loans as the similar types of businesses would get, but the co-operatives don't because of banks unwilling to take risks/support this type of ventures. The program should not incur much of a loss, I guess if it doesn't incur the $1 billion loss, funds can be returned.