Amended Mass Transit Infrastructure Investment Act of 2008 (Law'd)

[minionofmidas]

Amended Mass Transit Infrastructure Investment Act of 2008

Whereas the revenue expected from the FY 2009 component ($5 per metric tonne of a total $10 per metric tonne tax) of the domestic Carbon Tax is expected to be an estimated $30 billion, and;

Whereas the Atlasian Senate finds that this environmental-based impact fee is best spent through investment in new mass transit options and research into alternative energy,

Therefore be it resolved that:

1. Funding Allocation. Atlasia shall dedicate 50% of the FY2009 carbon tax component ($2.5 per metric tonne or $15 billion in total), as a one time grant towards the new construction, upgrade, and maintenance of mass transit options.

2. Funding Distribution. Said funds shall be apportioned across the regions according to logistics, population, need, cost effectiveness, and potential to reduce carbon emissions.  Funds shall be distributed in accordance with recommendations from the Department of Transportation.

Sponsor: Dwtl.

[minionofmidas]

There's a limit to the no. of bills by the same sponsor on the floor at the same time, thence why this went before the last of mine.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Presumably, this removes the earmark issue that Senators had with the previous bill, though this does ultimately wind up being much less interesting.

[Sensei]

This is good legislation, admittedly.

[DownWithTheLeft]

Just as a side note, I introduced this for Moderate, I remain undecided.

Question for Moderate in fact, is there anything to make sure this money comes from nothing but the carbon tax?

[Bacon King]

I like.

[minionofmidas]

Do we have a Department of Transportation?

[Хahar 🤔]

Do we have a Department of Transportation?

Subdepartment of the DoFA?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Just as a side note, I introduced this for Moderate, I remain undecided.

Question for Moderate in fact, is there anything to make sure this money comes from nothing but the carbon tax?

There's nothing built into the bill, no.  The expected Carbon Tax receipts are $60 billion, and this bill spends $30 billion of that.  We don't really mark each Carbon Tax dollar with a red pen.

Though admittedly, if Carbon Tax receipts fall short of the $60B, I wouldn't mind mild deficit spending to the tune of a few billion on this one to be paid for by the FY2010 Carbon Tax.

[minionofmidas]

Moving to a Final Vote.

The vote is on adoption of the Act. Please vote aye, nay or abstain.

[Sensei]

aye

[Verily]

Aye, I suppose. I would have preferred the "earmarked" version.

[Meeker]

Aye. I agree with Verily though.

[Bacon King]

aye

[DownWithTheLeft]

Nay, I wanted to be assured it would only come from the carbon tax

[Torie]

Nay

[CultureKing]

aye

[minionofmidas]

Nay.

Because I got no answer to my question.


Vote count:

Aye 5 (Sensei, Verily, Meeker, Bacon, Culture)
Nay 3 (Dwtl, Torie, Lewis)
Abstain (voted) 0
Abstain (yet to vote) 2 (Jas, Al)

[Јas]

Aye

[minionofmidas]

This Act has enough votes to pass. Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Nay.

Because I got no answer to my question.


Vote count:

Aye 5 (Sensei, Verily, Meeker, Bacon, Culture)
Nay 3 (Dwtl, Torie, Lewis)
Abstain (voted) 0
Abstain (yet to vote) 2 (Jas, Al)

Your humble President is of the opinion that yes, Atlasia does have a Department of Transportation as a result of the grandfather clause.  Unless we've specifically passed legislation to kill it, we still have all the departments of the United States, regardless of whether they seem important enough to put someone in charge of heading them up.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Nay

[minionofmidas]

Nay.

Because I got no answer to my question.


Vote count:

Aye 5 (Sensei, Verily, Meeker, Bacon, Culture)
Nay 3 (Dwtl, Torie, Lewis)
Abstain (voted) 0
Abstain (yet to vote) 2 (Jas, Al)

Your humble President is of the opinion that yes, Atlasia does have a Department of Transportation as a result of the grandfather clause.  Unless we've specifically passed legislation to kill it, we still have all the departments of the United States, regardless of whether they seem important enough to put someone in charge of heading them up.

I've searched statute, but I couldn't find anything to confirm or clearly contradict this view.

[minionofmidas]

This bill has passed. It is presented to the President for his veto or signature. If he really feels like one.

Final vote count:

Aye 6 (Sensei, Verily, Meeker, Bacon, Culture, Jas)
Nay 4 (Dwtl, Torie, Lewis, Al)
Abstain 0

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Law'd.



William F. Moderate
President