Farm Subsidies Abolition Bill

[John Dibble]

Any comments?

Yes: How would the "Third World Agricultural Independency Agency" help Atlasia?

Another question - are we just going to send in our government agents to train these people without permission? I mean, seriously, do we have the right to decide for these countries what is best for them? What if the leadership of these nations decide "No, we don't want your people here"?

[12th Doctor]

Any comments?

Yes: How would the "Third World Agricultural Independency Agency" help Atlasia?

Another question - are we just going to send in our government agents to train these people without permission? I mean, seriously, do we have the right to decide for these countries what is best for them? What if the leadership of these nations decide "No, we don't want your people here"?

This will be run like any other aid program.  If other governments don't let us in, then we won't go in.  Plain and simple.

[Emsworth]

Part I

Section I

The total amount of funds appropriated for Federal Farm Subsidies will be cut a total of 65%, from $16.5 billion annually to $6 billion starting the next fiscal year.

a) An additional $500 million will be set aside, each year, for the next 5 years to aid in the creation of the Third World Agricultural Independence Agency. (See Section IV)

b) The remaining $6 billion will be appropriated specifically towards agricultural operations meeting the guidelines set forth in Section II.

c) $200 million (of the remaining $6 billion) will be set aside in a permanent account, each fiscal year, to aid in emergency relief for high risk crops (i.e. wheat, grain, citrus).

Section II

a) The amount of money to be spent on state aid to farms is to be capped at $6 billion annually, except in times of agricultural crisis (which must be declared as such by the Senate).

b) Farms will recieve payments based on how low the farm in question scores on the following variables;

i) Total value of farm output
ii) Size of profit made by farm (in % terms)
iii) Ratio of agricultural labourers per acre
iv) Total value of the farm, including farm buildings and equipment

These scores will be recalculated annually

c) Money is to be shared out, according to the score, between the bottom 80% (according to the scores) of farms eligable for state aid. The lower a farms score, the higher it's % subsidies will be.

Section III

Sugar subsidies are hereby abolished as of the next fiscal year.

Part II

Section IV

The Third World Agricultural Independency Agency (TWAIA) will be established with an operating budget of $500 million per year over the next 5 years. 

a) The mission of the organization will be primarily to send personnel trained in the usage of agricultural technologies and methods to Third World nations in order to teach them to self sufficient and productive in the field of agriculture.

b) The Senate will have full oversight over this organization which will be placed under the Department of the Treasury.

c) At the end of the designated 5 year period, the Senate will review the activities of the organization and the progress that has been made in Third World nations.

1) If it is determined that proper progress has not been made, the Senate is authorized to fire all standing leaders of the Agency, but must continue funding for an additional 3 years.

2) If it is determined that the agency has reached its goals, then the Senate may vote to terminate funding.

Section V

The federal government will be authorized to establish guidelines to assure the genetic diversity of domestic agriculture.

a) All seed production facilities will be required by the FDA to preserve at least 40 separate seed lines of any flora that is produced. 

b) All companies involved in the in the large scale breeding of domesticated animals used in the production of food products will be required to preserve no fewer than 20 separate and distinct genetic lines for each species of animal breed.

The question is on the passage of the above amendment. All those in favor, say Aye; those opposed, say No.

[MasterJedi]

Aye

[Ebowed]

Abstain

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Aye

[PBrunsel]

Aye

[DanielX]

Abstain. If this amendment passes, I think I'll amend it to make it more palatable; at present i don't like it that much.

[CheeseWhiz]

Come on: Ebowed, Daniel, change your vote to nay!

Take a firm stance against all Farm Subsidies!

[Q]

Nay

[Ebowed]

I change my vote to Nay.

[CheeseWhiz]

Nay

I change my vote to Nay.

Yay!  Now change your vote, Daniel, and we'll be tied!

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Take a firm stance

That attitude has caused nothing but trouble. We're supposed to be legislators not soundbite generators.

[Ebowed]

I disagree.  Compromise is not always an option.  I don't mean that in regards to this bill or any other-- I'm just saying, never rule out going all the way with your stance.

[MasterJedi]

If the amendment fails the bill won't have my vote, if it does pass you don't have to worry.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I disagree.  Compromise is not always an option.

It's certainly an option in this case

[CheeseWhiz]

Take a firm stance

That attitude has caused nothing but trouble. We're supposed to be legislators not soundbite generators.

I’m not asking them to be unreasonable, but it is obvious that Ebowed and DanielX don’t like this amendment very much at all, and neither do I.  I was just asking them to stand in opposition of it, instead of abstaining on it.

[Defarge]

Abstain

[12th Doctor]

Wow, this is a monument to the unreasonable nature of the "Demo-tarians".

We have given you 90% of what you want.  We have designed an approuch that cuts government speanding, keeps the market open and saves lives and you still won't sign on.  Unbelievable.

[Q]

As a testament to my UNREASONABLENESS:

I change my vote to Aye.

This is due to my careful reconsidering of the issues at hand (it was specifically the foreign aid portion that concerned me) and is not the product of these attempts at guilting the several Senators.

[Gabu]

Having read through the proposal...

Aye.

[MasterJedi]

Finally we can get something going on this now.

[DanielX]

Just to be snarky, I'll change my vote to Nay.

[CheeseWhiz]

Just to be snarky, I'll change my vote to Nay.

[MasterJedi]

5 Aye
2 Nay
1 Abstain