Talk Elections

Sponsor: Gov. Averroes Nix
Debate time: 150 hours
Debate expires: Friday, July 6,  8:15 am EST

:)

Oh, thought that limit was 32...

What will you be doing with the surplus?

Are you sure you meant $500 per kilogram? Because for a Chevy Corvette (curb weight 1472 kg), that's an additional $736,000 on top of the purchase price. For an average car (curb weight 2000 kg), that's $1,000,000 added to the purchase price. You could just ban cars, it'd have the same effect.

I hereby propose an amendment to change kilograms to 1000 kilograms. The amendment thus is friendly.

Mr. Governor, I strongly reccomend putting a surplus into a fund for the construction of a new capital.

Don't forget the Rainy Day fund.

I've seen other laws refer to it.

I shall leave the Governor with the dermination of the division of surplus funds.

I strongly approve of this budget and I hope that this Assembly will pass it.

An amendment

1. "kilograms" is changed to "thousand kilograms"

2. 50% of the surplus will be placed in a fund reserved for emergencies. The Northeast Assembly will have the power to allocate this funding.

3. If the Northeast Assembly passes the New Capital Act, the remaining 50% of the surplus will go toward the development of a new regional capital. If the Northeast Assembly does not pass the New Capital Act, this funding will also be placed in the emergency fund.

Would any one object to the abbreviation of debate by 24 hours?

I propose the following amendment.

100% of the surplus will be placed in a fund reserved for emergencies.  The Northeast Assembly will have the power to allocate this funding.

The following is not part of the amendment but is my view on a proposed new capital.

The government of the Northeast has not collapsed because we do not have a new capital. 

Well, we'll need money to build one.

True, if we build one, but we have no need to build a new multi multi billion dollar capital.

The money can better be used to support social, medical, and education programs for the people of the Northeast.

Winfield's or Simfan's?

I am extending debate for another 48 hours to vote upon Winfield's amendment. I am willing to truncate this period, but I am aware today is a holiday in some jurisdictions.


Voting will last for that period or until all have cast their ballots.

Nay.

This is Winfield's amendment, no? Then I vote nay.

I would be.

There is no reason to pass one law and immediately pass another one amending it.

On principle, I can support the budget as is, with the exception of half the surplus going to the new capital development.

I am not the least bit convinced any good reason we require a new capital.  This seems to be an absolute priority for some reason.

Somebody please state in clear terms why we need this new capital.  The Assembly and the citizens of the Northeast deserve clear answers, since this entire Assembly, with the exception of myself, seems to be determined to push this through.

What feasibility studies have been done?  What about cost overruns?  Anyone familiar with large scale construction projects knows very well that inevitably cost overruns are going to happen.  How will the taxpayers of the Northeast be protected against cost overruns?    

What if the economy goes south, again, and we do not have this surplus which is projected.  With the passage of this budget, we would be bound by law to devote half of the surplus to new capital development.  What if there is a natural disaster devastating some parts of the Northeast.  We would have an emergency fund sitting there, half of which is earmarked for the new capital.

So at this time, I am voting Aye on the amendment, as a matter of principle.

However, I believe the compromise as outlined by the Governor is the right path to follow, inserting my amendment into the budget bill.  Appropriations for the new capital should be in the New Capital Act.

Governor and members of the Assembly, the purpose behind my amendment is for reasons as discussed above in my statement here.  We need more clarity, the people of the Northeast require more clarity before we rush headlong into constructing a costly new capital, which I believe is unnecessary,  in particular given the difficult economic times we find ourselves living in at this time.

But rather I disagree with the construction or not, the fact remains the people of the Northeast need compelling and valid reasons that this costly project should go ahead.  

Does appropriating the emergency fund count as changing spending? If not, we can pass Winfield's amendment and do the funding in the NCA. If yes, then Simfan's amendment is good and happy and fills my heart with rainbows.

I have an amendment?

The current body of the bill makes capital funding dependent on the passage of the NCA. Winfield can support the current text, and if the NCA fails, then we won't need to change this piece.

If that issue's resolved (as I believe it is), then shall we vote?

Those were two separate statements. The first referred to Rep. Jones' speaking of my "amendment", of which I have none.

The second was me explaining what the current body of the bill says.

We are still voting upon Winfield's amendment.

Debate time expires. Winfield's resolution fails to pass, 2-1.

The final version of this bill is as follows:


Voting will last 24 hours or until all have voted.

Aye.

Where's Pyro?

If they miss 3 consecutive votes, or 1 month of debate time, you can lawfully remove them from office.

Mondale made a statement on the Conkling Act. I don't know where Pyro's been, though.

I apologize for my level of participation (abysmal) but I'm still trying to figure out what's going on and I've been really busy with work.

Anyway, I vote AYE

Sorry, it's a very busy summer on my end. Nonetheless, Aye.

Aye

I extend voting time by 24 hours.

AYE.

Voting has ended. The budget passes, 5-0. It awaits your signature, Mr. Governor.