Foreign Aid Reduction Bill

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The notice board sez... that this is next up:

As into'ed by Senator Ebowed

Foreign Aid Reduction Bill

1. The budget of the International Assistance Programs division of the State Department shall be reduced to $3 billion immediately upon the passage of this bill.

I hereby open debate on this bill

[Jake]

Can we get a breakdown of the budget for this program and its benefactors from Senator Ebowed?

[Ebowed]

Can we get a breakdown of the budget for this program and its benefactors from Senator Ebowed?

This was introduced to compliment the 'chainsaw' budget cuts; I got the figure as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of State.  I do not know if any such breakdown is available.

[True Democrat]

Although I would prefer the foreign aid budget to not be cut, if the budget absolutely needs it, I guess we can cut it.  If I am correct, I believe it is currently at $10 billion.

[Platypus]

Down from $10 billion to $3 billion? That's a bit drastic. How about a withdrawal of all but humanitarian aid to non-democracies, if we want a reasonable cut?

[Ebowed]

How about a withdrawal of all but humanitarian aid to non-democracies?

That sounds reasonable, I'd support it, pending advice from the Secretary of State.

[MasterJedi]

How about a withdrawal of all but humanitarian aid to non-democracies?

That sounds reasonable, I'd support it, pending advice from the Secretary of State.

I'd support this also, but not the original bill at the top.

[True Democrat]

I was kind of planning on restructuring the whole aid system to be only democracies anyway.  Why not just give me say, six billion or so, I will divide to my discretion?  I think it would be easier that way.

[Ebowed]

k.

How's this:

1. The budget of the International Assistance Programs division of the State Department shall be reduced to $6 billion immediately upon the passage of this bill.
2. This funding shall be divided among countries in need of monetary aid as deemed appropriate by the Secretary of State.

[Platypus]

Add:

3. The Senate shall have $1 billion to spend at it's discretion.

[Jake]

Restricting money only to democracies is a horrible way to apportion money. Did anyone of you stop to think that supporting the democracy in all cases would lead to us not supporting something that's in our interest to support? Indeed, restricting money to only democracies would cut funding from Kuwait and Paksitan, neither of which are democratic.

[True Democrat]

Restricting money only to democracies is a horrible way to apportion money. Did anyone of you stop to think that supporting the democracy in all cases would lead to us not supporting something that's in our interest to support? Indeed, restricting money to only democracies would cut funding from Kuwait and Paksitan, neither of which are democratic.

I think the one at the SoS's discretion would be good.

[Colin]

Restricting money only to democracies is a horrible way to apportion money. Did anyone of you stop to think that supporting the democracy in all cases would lead to us not supporting something that's in our interest to support? Indeed, restricting money to only democracies would cut funding from Kuwait and Paksitan, neither of which are democratic.

I think the one at the SoS's discretion would be good.

Well I think it should remain under join SoS and Senatorial discretion. If either True Independent or one of the Senators could give me an actual country by country breakdown of current Atlasian foreign aid I believe that would help greatly. That way we could see how much we could save by the stopping of humanitarian relief to regimes like North Korea, Zimbabwe, or the Sudan, which have all been both hostile to Atlasia as well as, I believe, reciepients of humanitarian relief and aid.

[The Dowager Mod]

So let's pass this bill reducing foriegn aid and the other one raising it.

[MasterJedi]

Here's an amendment that the Sec. of State would like me to introduce that would make this the whole bill:


1. The budget of the International Assistance Programs division of the State Department shall be reduced to $7 billion immediately upon the passage of this bill.  This budget shall be used at the discretion of the State Department.

[Jake]

Once again, can we get a breakdown of foreign assistance that will be cut by this program from either Senator Ebowed or the Secretary of State. I'd like to know what I'm voting to keep or eliminate.

[True Democrat]

Once again, can we get a breakdown of foreign assistance that will be cut by this program from either Senator Ebowed or the Secretary of State. I'd like to know what I'm voting to keep or eliminate.

Honestly, right now I don't know the breakdown of foreign aid, but I plan on restructuring the whole thing if this is passed.  If you want me to come up with a plan before the bill is passed, I can do that.

[Jake]

If y'all don't know, I'm voting nay out of principle.

[True Democrat]

If y'all don't know, I'm voting nay out of principle.

Why?  Whatever the current policy is, I plan on restructuring it.  Even if this bill weren't passed, I would still restrucutre, but I just want to know how much I'll have to work with.

[Jake]

I don't cut things without knowing what they are. Nor should anyone else for that matter.

[Brandon H]

I don't cut things without knowing what they are. Nor should anyone else for that matter.

Wouldn't that imply that the government is spending money on things without knowing what they are?

[Jake]

The actual government does, it seems that this bill's supporters imply don't feel like researching it.

[Colin]

Maybe if Secretary True Independent could please tell the Senate how he would restructure the foreign aid program and where the appropriated moneys would be going he would find much less opposition than he is currently facing.

[True Democrat]

Maybe if Secretary True Independent could please tell the Senate how he would restructure the foreign aid program and where the appropriated moneys would be going he would find much less opposition than he is currently facing.

I would restrucuture it in a number of ways.  First, I would take into account two main factors when deciding which countries deserve foreign aid.  The first factor would be how willing that nation's government is to give its citizens basic human rights.  Note, this does not mean that country necessarily has to be a democracy.  The second factor I would take into effect is how desperately that nation needs the aid.  This would involve diseases present, poverty levels, and the amount of money the government has.

[Jake]

Neither should be taken into account, especially not the first one.