NE2: Sound Money Act (Failed)

[cinyc]

Sound Money Act

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Sponsor: Rep. Deus naturae

Debate on this bill will remain open for 72 hours, or until around 4:30PM on Sunday, March 9, unless modified or extended.  The sponsor, Rep. Deus, is encouraged to speak on behalf of the bill within the next 36 hours.  If he does not, because there is no legislation pending in the queue, there will be no penalty.

The floor is open for debate.

[cinyc]

I'm not sure that the bill, particularly section 3, is even constitutional.

Article I, Section 7, Clause 2 of the Third Atlasian Constitution states:

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Section 3 of the proposed Sound Money Act arguably makes commodities and substances legal tender currency for payment of Northeast government debts.  It depends on how you define "currency" and "legal tender", but an argument can be made that allowing someone to use something other than Atlasian Dollars to pay a regional government debt is the creation of a legal tender currency for all debts of the Northeast government.  The counterargument is that although we are allowing the debt to be paid in something other than the Atlasian dollar, the amount of the other thing to pay the debt is pegged to the dollar, but I wouldn't want to chance a lawsuit that we'd probably lose.  

The Southeast lost a lawsuit back in 2009 when they tried to issue their own "dixie" currency pegged to gold.  That case was under the Second Atlasian Constitution, but I think the relevant provisions are identical.

[cinyc]

Ah.. that clause is unfortunate. Cinyc, do you think it would be constitutional to accept alternative forms of payment as valid for interest on government loans and taxes?

We could probably pay interest in whatever currency or commodity we want, as there is no limitation on how we pay interest on our debt.  But why would we want to denominate our debt in any currency other than the one we take in - Atlasian dollars?  And why would our debtholders want to be paid in something other than Atlasian dollars, anyway?

[cinyc]

The debate period is over.  Seeing no motion to extend debate or amendments, it is time to vote on the bill as originally drafted:

Sound Money Act

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This vote shall remain open for the earlier of 48 hours or when all Representatives have voted.

[cinyc]

Nay

[cinyc]

I look forwards to our Region's whisky and cocaine-based economy if this bill is to pass.

Since when is Simfan a Representative?

I have twice been elected by The People of this region in the last two elections, Mr. Governor. As your predecessor granted me citizenship, my election carried full legal validity. I am simply now in a position to participate.

You weren't elected in the February elections.  Therefore, you are not currently a Representative.  I don't think you can run in the upcoming special election because you were taken off the voter rolls when you were banned and you will not have been a Northeast registered voter for at least 7 days as of 12 midnight Thursday when the election begins.  So you are not a Northeast Representative.

[cinyc]

I look forwards to our Region's whisky and cocaine-based economy if this bill is to pass.

Since when is Simfan a Representative?

I have twice been elected by The People of this region in the last two elections, Mr. Governor. As your predecessor granted me citizenship, my election carried full legal validity. I am simply now in a position to participate.

You weren't elected in the February elections.  Therefore, you are not currently a Representative.  I don't think you can run in the upcoming special election because you were taken off the voter rolls when you were banned and you will not have been a Northeast registered voter for at least 7 days as of 12 midnight Thursday when the election begins.  So you are not a Northeast Representative.

Very well, I am not an Assemblyman. However, as per the provisions  of F.L. 36-14 (De-registration of Banned Members Act), I am allowed to re-assume my prior registration with the full status I had prior. I did not know there was a special election, but I will run.

That's not what F.L. 36-14 says.  F.L. 36-14 only says that you are allowed to re-register in Atlasia.  It does not say that you re-assume a prior registration. 

So, like when Adam Griffin reregistered to come back to Atlasia after an absence and tried to run in a special election that was being held within 7 days of his coming back to Atlasia, you aren't eligible to run or vote in the election under Article V, Section 2, Clause 3 of the Federal Constitution.  We recently had a case in the Northeast about this.

[cinyc]

By a vote of 1-4, the bill fails.