FT 3-04: Commonwealth Budget for 2018

[Mike Thick]

rather sizable surplus

[Coraxion]

Fremont includes the states of California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. I'd like agricultural subsidies to be included.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Fremont includes the states of California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. I'd like agricultural subsidies to be included.

This seems a reasonable proposal. About how much should we set aside for this, do you think?

[Kamala]

Isn't it a bit ridiculous to run such massive surpluses, especially considering the previous year's massive surplus? We have more than enough for a rainy day fund.

Perhaps a $1,000 per adult tax rebate? There's approximately 75 million adults in Fremont, so it would approximately 10% of our surplus should be rebated to the people; perhaps even more?

[Coraxion]

Fremont includes the states of California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. I'd like agricultural subsidies to be included.

This seems a reasonable proposal. About how much should we set aside for this, do you think?

One trillion?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Isn't it a bit ridiculous to run such massive surpluses, especially considering the previous year's massive surplus? We have more than enough for a rainy day fund.

Well, yes. The problem is that the previous government made exactly $0 in expenditures for the fiscal year of 2017, meaning more or less the entire sum of revenue collected that year has been sitting in the treasury for twelve months. We spent some of it to finance the construction of PARTA, but that barely made a dent in what was effectively a $523 billion surplus.

Perhaps a $1,000 per adult tax rebate? There's approximately 75 million adults in Fremont, so it would approximately 10% of our surplus should be rebated to the people; perhaps even more?

I would support this.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Fremont includes the states of California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. I'd like agricultural subsidies to be included.

This seems a reasonable proposal. About how much should we set aside for this, do you think?

One trillion?

Our present surplus is only just over $800 billion. Considering that state and federal subsidies remain in effect, that seems excessive.

[Kamala]

How much of a rebate do you think would be appropriate, Prime Minister? I think anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 would be a good deal and only use up to 1/2 of our surplus.

[Pericles]

What about health care?  What's Fremont's unemployment rate-do we need any stimulus? I also call for at least $100 million in agricultural subsidies. Minnesota has been left behind for too long, let's use the surplus to help all of Fremont not just the  coast and cities.

[Coraxion]

Fremont includes the states of California, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. I'd like agricultural subsidies to be included.

This seems a reasonable proposal. About how much should we set aside for this, do you think?

One trillion?

Our present surplus is only just over $800 billion. Considering that state and federal subsidies remain in effect, that seems excessive.

Whoops. I meant one billion.

[Pericles]

I join Coraxion in calling for increased agricultural subsidies. My bottom line is $400 million-just under half the surplus-leaving the rest to be used to further benefit the people of Fremont. However I will push for more than $400 million, $500 million or even greater is ideal and will boost Fremont's agriculture.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

How much of a rebate do you think would be appropriate, Prime Minister? I think anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 would be a good deal and only use up to 1/2 of our surplus.

I would favor an immediate $1,000 rebate, with the additional proviso that all surplus funds remaining in the Treasury at the end of 2018 be refunded to the people.

What about health care?  What's Fremont's unemployment rate-do we need any stimulus? I also call for at least $100 million in agricultural subsidies. Minnesota has been left behind for too long, let's use the surplus to help all of Fremont not just the  coast and cities.

All good points. With passage of the federal Healthcare Reform law last month, there will certainly be fertile ground for further regional action on this issue. Given the complexities of the issue, I'd prefer we address healthcare as separate legislation, rather than part of this budget. By the most recent statistics published by the Game Moderator's Office, Fremont's unemployment rate is at 6.27% — the lowest in the nation, and 1.47 points below the national average.

As there seems to be widespread support for agricultural subsidies, the important thing is to settle on an amount — current proposals on the floor range from $1 billion (Cora) to between $400 million and $100 million (Pericles). It's important to bear in mind that these subsidies would be in addition to current federal and state spending, unless we want to assume full responsibility on the issue from the states.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

I offer the following amendment:

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[Pericles]

Agriculture subsidies should be higher as should other spending. The tax rebate could be increased too.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Agriculture subsidies should be higher as should other spending. The tax rebate could be increased too.

Care to offer an amendment?

EDIT: While I am happy to receive any proposals from the membership for putting our tax dollars to good use, I also want to make sure that legislation now in the queue of the Commons to invest $300 billion in education and $7.5 billion in infrastructure projects are not neglected here.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Seeing no objection, the amendment has been adopted.

I'll allow another day or two for members to offer amendments, then move for a final vote if there is no further debate. If anyone has specific changes they would like to see made, speak now or forever hold your peace.

[Pericles]

My amendment:

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[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

This looks reasonable to me; I support the amendment.

[Canis]

I support this ammendment

[Kamala]

Prime Minister, do you withdraw your own amendment in favor of Pericles's?

[Coraxion]

This amendment looks good. I plan on introducing one of my own soon.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Prime Minister, do you withdraw your own amendment in favor of Pericles's?

Yes.

[Pericles]

This amendment looks good. I plan on introducing one of my own soon.

What do you plan to propose? I will be interested in seeing it, and I am determined to reach the best possible policy for Fremont. If you have good policies in it I'd be happy to make a new amendment with them or support your amendment.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Pericles' amendment has been adopted, then, yes? I really hope we can move to a vote on this as soon as possible, so if Cora or anyone else would like to see additional changes made, I'd encourage them to submit their proposals post haste.

[Coraxion]

My amendment. Infrastructure spending was mentioned, yes? I wanted to include both infrastructure and something else, but couldn't think of anything, so I decided beefing up agricultural subsidies would suffice.

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