Public Interest Amendment

[Sam Spade]

For the sixth legislative slot, as PPT I am bringing this legislation to the floor.  Senators shall object through one of the clauses in the OSPR that I forget, but will reference if asked:

Public Interest Amendment

Section 1

The Senate shall have power, save where limited by other provisions of this Constitution:

1. To protect the Public Health and commerce by making such regulations as shall be necessary for the protection of those in employment.
2. To protect the Public Health, commerce and heritage by making such regulations as shall be necessary for the protection and preservation of natural beauty, biological diversity and other natural resources.

Section 2

All Legislation and Judicial Rulings not inconsistent with this Amendment passed prior to the Adoption of this Amendment shall remain in full force, unless superceded by subsequent legislation or Judicial Rulings.

(Sponsor: Ebowed)

[Sensei]

Looks good to me

[jokerman]

Finally.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

It doesn't seem like there's much to debate here.  I support the amendment, and would like to see the Senate act swiftly to pass it.

[Bono]

This is an outrageous interference with regional rights, and if the senate passes this it will only show that authoritarianism has finally taken over Atlasia.

[Ebowed]

This is an outrageous interference with regional rights, and if the senate passes this it will only show that authoritarianism has finally taken over Atlasia.

Note for the easily swayed: he considers the minimum wage, environmental standards, anti-discrimination laws, and health care coverage to be forms of "authoritarianism."

[Verily]

This is an outrageous interference with regional rights, and if the senate passes this it will only show that authoritarianism has finally taken over Atlasia.

Note for the easily swayed: he considers the minimum wage, environmental standards, anti-discrimination laws, and health care coverage to be forms of "authoritarianism."

Indeed, it's also not clear how the assumption of powers by an elected legislative body already held by a different elected legislative body would constitute "authoritarianism".

[minionofmidas]

Section 2

All Legislation and Judicial Rulings not inconsistent with this Amendment passed prior to the Adoption of this Amendment shall remain in full force, unless superceded by subsequent legislation or Judicial Rulings.

Isn't this sort of self-evident?

Actually, the very mention of judicial rulings here implies that this might not be the case, which I find slightly disturbing (it's like Scheisskopf's "today's parade cancelled" notes in Catch 22).

I therefore move to strike section 2.

[Brandon H]

This is an outrageous interference with regional rights, and if the senate passes this it will only show that authoritarianism has finally taken over Atlasia.

Even if it fails, I think authoritarianism has taken over Atlasia anyway.

[Ebowed]

Even if it fails, I think authoritarianism has taken over Atlasia anyway.

Speaking of authoritarianism, didn't you vote against legalizing the morning-after pill?  Aren't you sponsoring bills to ban abortion and make immigration laws more strict?

[afleitch]

Atlasia plays catch up with western Europe 60 years later

[Verily]

This is an outrageous interference with regional rights, and if the senate passes this it will only show that authoritarianism has finally taken over Atlasia.

Even if it fails, I think authoritarianism has taken over Atlasia anyway.

Ah, yes, authoritarianism, the catch-all term for things we don't like.

[Sam Spade]

Well, there's certainly no use for Regions anymore.  Whatever.

[Sam Spade]

We are now voting on the following amendment:

I therefore move to strike section 2.

Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.


Aye.

[Verily]

I'm inclined to say that Section 2 is a useful clarification, and would like to hear why it was originally included before voting to strike it.

[Brandon H]

Aye

[Sensei]

I concur with Verily

[Peter]

As the original author of the Amendment (Bono v. Atlasia back in '05), I suppose I am meant to state why the clause was included.

The Supreme Court of the day (2005) seemed to be very much of the (unofficial) opinion that if the Senate (and the People) passed a Constitutional Amendment that seemed to authorise Laws passed in the past (this Amendment would have, for example, authorised the federal Minimum Wage Laws), then the Constitutional Amendment would require an explicit clause backdating it to previous legislation. This is what Section 2 does.

[Verily]

Then I vote Nay on the amendment.

[minionofmidas]

As the original author of the Amendment (Bono v. Atlasia back in '05), I suppose I am meant to state why the clause was included.

The Supreme Court of the day (2005) seemed to be very much of the (unofficial) opinion that if the Senate (and the People) passed a Constitutional Amendment that seemed to authorise Laws passed in the past (this Amendment would have, for example, authorised the federal Minimum Wage Laws), then the Constitutional Amendment would require an explicit clause backdating it to previous legislation. This is what Section 2 does.

But we don't have an idiot-dominated SC anymore.

[Ebowed]

Aye

[Verily]

As the original author of the Amendment (Bono v. Atlasia back in '05), I suppose I am meant to state why the clause was included.

The Supreme Court of the day (2005) seemed to be very much of the (unofficial) opinion that if the Senate (and the People) passed a Constitutional Amendment that seemed to authorise Laws passed in the past (this Amendment would have, for example, authorised the federal Minimum Wage Laws), then the Constitutional Amendment would require an explicit clause backdating it to previous legislation. This is what Section 2 does.

But we don't have an idiot-dominated SC anymore.

We might again in the future.

[Јas]

Tally on Lewis's Amendment
Aye: 3 (Sam; Brandon; Ebowed)
Nay: 1 (Verily)
Yet to Vote: 6 (afleitch; Earl; Lewis; Moderate; Rob; Sensei)

[Hatman 🍁]

nay

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Nay, I s'pose.