SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE: Internal Affairs

[Napoleon]

Chair: Napoleon

Members: Napoleon, Snowstalker, Sbane

We are short one member unfortunately but I am eager to get started.

[Napoleon]

I don't intend to wait for a third member to get to work so let's go Snowy (both of you).

First up:

Right to Recreate Act (general)

1. It shall be illegal to terminate employment on the basis of one's use of legal substances outside of the workplace. Employers found to be in violation of this act shall be levied a fine no less than $50,000 and no greater than $100,000.

2. This act shall not be interpreted as to prohibit employers from terminating employment for the use of substances prohibited in the workplace or for being under the influence of substances prohibited in the workplace.

3. Employers shall have the right to seek exemption from this act if the employer can provide the Department of Internal Affairs with reasonable justification as to why their employees would be unable to fulfill their employment requirements by using legal substances outside of the workplace.

Let us discuss.

[Napoleon]

The Committee will now hear from citizen BRTD as he tells his story.

[Napoleon]

Thank you for your time, BRTD. Your input is appreciated.

Now this is where I had hoped to bring Big Daddy in, when I wrote the bill, because I had this all planned out, but he's left us, at least for now, so that might be all I have for this bill.

I'll give snowstalker a chance to report here before moving on, or if Snowguy wants to chime in with anything.

[Napoleon]

Okay, next bill to be considered:

Napoleon Tax Cut Bill (General)

9.5K-35K     10%                     
35K-80K      20%                       
80K-170K    25%                     
170K-368K  33%                     
368K-1M     40%                       
1M+    50%                           

[Napoleon]

What are the current rates again? That would more or less determine whether I'd support this or not.

             
 9.5K-35K     10%                       
 35K-80K      22%                       
 80K-170K    28%                       
 170K-368K  35%                       
 368K-1M     40%                       
 1M+    50%                             

[Napoleon]

There are no processes to amend in committee, since the role of the committee in the legislative process is not binding on passage or failure. Now an amendment can be crafted during the deliberative process of the committee and then during the recommendation vote, vote to recommend that the Seante also pass or reject said amendment.

That's something we can try ti fix with the resolution currently being debated. As you may have noticed, the bill to aid the refugees has been amended in committee. I wouldn't object to an informal application of this, especially in cases like the National Security Committee's where the sponsor has indicated acceptance.

[Napoleon]

Can I amend in committee? If so,

9.5K-35K     10%                     
35K-80K      20%                       
80K-170K    25%                     
170K-368K  33% 30%                   
368K-1M     40%                       
1M+    50% 55% 

I'd like to know your reasoning for this, but I think the consensus is that we aren't going to exceed 50% on the top bracket.

[Napoleon]

Bump...24 hours and we are moving on.

[Napoleon]

Next up!

Living Wage Act (general)

1) The federal minimum wage for those ages 18 and over shall be raised to $11.50 on July 1st, 2013 and to $12.50 on January 1st, 2014.
2) After the second raise, inflation-adjusted increases shall continue to occur as mandated in the Reasonable Minimum Wage Act.

Cosponsor: Snowstalker

[Napoleon]

What is the current minimum wage?

$9.

[Napoleon]

I'd like to remind the Committee that businesses were already prepared to make these increases in accordance with the previous Living Wage Act.

[Napoleon]

I'd like to remind the Committee that businesses were already prepared to make these increases in accordance with the previous Living Wage Act.

So what is extra about this bill?

That bill was repealed a few months ago, sadly.

[Napoleon]

(general)

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What do we think of these proposed cuts? Personally, I would like to keep the cooperative program alive. I will look into the rest, but please share your thoughts.

[Napoleon]

I'm largely in agreement with you, Sbane.

I've contacted the SoT to get his opinion. I'll contact the SoS to get his opinion regarding Taiwan.

[Napoleon]

Hey, Snowguy, how about waiting until I've had the chance to explain why I'm proposing these cuts before you start questioning my motivation? It's more than a little irritating to hear people doing that before I've even had the chance to explain why I believe that these cuts are worthwhile.

Can the faux outrage and hyper sensitivity when you address this committee. Thank you.

[Napoleon]

Then take your thin-skin to PM and stop disrupting productive discussion. Trust me when I say none of us are interested in hearing how offended you are.

[Napoleon]

Then take your thin-skin to PM and stop disrupting productive discussion. Trust me when I say none of us are interested in hearing how offended you are.

I'm not disrupting anything. Someone said that I'm proposing cuts for political reasons, and I needed to point out that this isn't the case. If you're not interested in hearing from the sponsor of the bill that you've been discussing, that's your business as chair of this committee, but stop acting as if my comment wasn't germane.

You're disrupting our work if I say you are. Let me be clear- you or anyone else who shows up here uninvited only to take an opportunity to pick a fight or shame someone is disruptive and unwelcome. You could have responded to the Secretary's concerns, but you chose to be petty and childish. If you want to address the Secretary, he has an office or a PM box- but stop wasting this Committee's time and space.

*checks list to see if attacking and shaming Snowguy is on the agenda...no*

Ruling: not germane. Bye bye.

[Napoleon]

Good to hear you guys are buddy-buddy. I am sure in that case that the Secretary won't mind if you take your "sass" somewhere else in the future. Now, discussion on the actual bill will resume (which apparently the sponsor has no interest in). Any more thoughts? I was thinking we could hold a vote on each cut and recommend the ones that aren't harmful.

[Napoleon]

Now, discussion on the actual bill will resume (which apparently the sponsor has no interest in).

Hey, I thought that you were trying to haul me out of here. Now you're condemning me for an alleged lack of interest?

Fascinating.

Considering you've had every opportunity to discuss the bill but instead entered a smart ass, left a smart ass, and returned a smart ass, its fair to say your only interest here is being a smart ass. Be gone, nuisance.

[Napoleon]

I don't see any substantive contributions from you. I see you going after Snowguy and now, myself.

[Napoleon]

1. Clause 8 of F.L. 3-3 ("The National Energy Act") is hereby repealed. Expected annual savings: $1 billion

NAY

2. F.L. 3-5 ("The Missile Defense Initiative Act") is hereby repealed. Annual savings: Expected annual savings: $1 billion

AYE

3. F.L. 5-1 ("The Pacific Defense and Taiwanese Protection Act") is hereby repealed. Expected annual savings: $720 million+

NAY

4. F.L. 5-2 ("The Military Division Appropriation Act) and Section 1 of F.L. 5-8 ("The Second Military Division Appropriation Act") are hereby repealed. Expected annual savings: $5 billion+ (estimate)

AYE

5. F.L. 10-2 ("The Protection Act") is hereby repealed. Expected annual savings: $1 billion+ (estimate)

AYE

6. Clause 3 of F.L. 11-4 ("Comprehensive Energy Act for the 21st Century") is hereby repealed. Expected annual savings: $2 billion (estimate)

NAY

7.  F.L. 51-1 ("Worker Co-operative Pilot Program") is hereby repealed. Expected annual savings: $1 billion

NAY

[Napoleon]

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The Internal Affairs Committee recommends that the bill be passed in this form.

[Napoleon]

So what's next on the agenda? Any issues we need to discuss?

We aren't in session yet.

[Napoleon]

OK, I need to make sure we designate a fill in chair, so who is up for it?