SENATE BILL: Pacific Emergency Stimulus (Law'd)

[PJ]

It should be of note that according to the last budget, passed under Spamage, the Pacific has an $83 billion deficit. I have been working with others in private on formulating a budget for next year, but this, or at least a portion of this, is needed.

[PJ]

It should be of note that not a single current Pacific officeholder (at least not until Xahar swears in) caused the 20% unemployment rate or the $83 billion deficit. That has been caused by previous office holders, and the lack of success of a five person council. I am fine with Tmth's suggestions and Tyrion's amendment. I have already been discussing this with Superique, so that would be great.

[PJ]

Since I became an officeholder in the Pacific, the HSR Initiative, Regional Parks Act, and the Pacific Hiring Incentives Act: Take Three Corollary have been passed to address unemployment, and the Pacific Sports Venue Funding Act has been passed to reduce spending. I have also introduced 4 more bills to address unemployment, a budget for 2014, and a bill to address the deficit. We are on track to reducing both, but the emergency stimulus would be a huge help.

[PJ]

I like the committee idea.

[PJ]

Could you answer me a doubt? What does HSR really stand for, folks?

High Speed Rail

[PJ]

Broadly, I want to see us tie this money to specific goals. I know some regionalists may be up in arms over this, but I think it's the best way to make progress. I'd also like to explore providing businesses incentive to return/hire/whatever in the region, and drop their tax rate which is apparently entirely too high compared to other regions, pass their constitution, all while providing them with the capital to get this done. Maybe we should send someone like Oakvale down there to help them along?

By providing the money to the region now, the Federal government may even see a profit from the loan in the future if we are able to get them turned around. A healthy Pacific is good for all of us, and I intend to make that my dying wish should I not be around for another term.

Bold: we already did this.
Italicized: This is something I've been looking into, and I'm currently torn on what to cut. We are currently discussing the budget.
Underlined: Currently discussing this, and it is likely to pass. How exactly would this tie into the stimulus?

[PJ]

Broadly, I want to see us tie this money to specific goals. I know some regionalists may be up in arms over this, but I think it's the best way to make progress. I'd also like to explore providing businesses incentive to return/hire/whatever in the region, and drop their tax rate which is apparently entirely too high compared to other regions, pass their constitution, all while providing them with the capital to get this done. Maybe we should send someone like Oakvale down there to help them along?

By providing the money to the region now, the Federal government may even see a profit from the loan in the future if we are able to get them turned around. A healthy Pacific is good for all of us, and I intend to make that my dying wish should I not be around for another term.

Bold: we already did this.
Italicized: This is something I've been looking into, and I'm currently torn on what to cut. We are currently discussing the budget.
Underlined: Currently discussing this, and it is likely to pass. How exactly would this tie into the stimulus?

Just my general musings.. it has nothing to do with this.

I guess the problem is, I don't know what you all have done to get the ball rolling. I am on your side though in terms of wanting to get you the money though, so I am not trying to come across as critical at all. I just want to make sure we do this thing the right way. I think I speak for all of us when I say we want to see a thriving Pacific again.

How about simply stating which causes the bills should go towards? A certain portion towards unemployment/job creating programs, a certain portion towards reducing the deficit, etc.

[PJ]

I'd like to thank Riley for his involvement and I support the payroll tax amendment and allowing Oakvale to be on the committee.

[PJ]

Why not make this conditional upon the passage of a new constitution and some structural reforms in the Pacific government (such as fixing that ridiculous Council situation)? It may very well be a good idea to put the region's elections in the hands of an appointed administrator until we declare this state of "emergency" to be over (I suppose Oakvale's position could work for this role, or someone else could be asked to do it).

Dumping money at the issue isn't going to work when the regional government, for better or worse, is inept and feeble. It might bring down unemployment in the short run, but such improvement will just fade completely once the money stops pumping in, and we don't need the federal government to permanently subsidize 1 region while ignoring 4 others.

What are you referring to? The council is a body of three.

[PJ]

We are currently fixing the constitution, but like any ConCon, (even though this is not an official constitution), it takes time. The Great Reform Amendment should go to ratification by the people this month.

[PJ]

Due to the temporary constitution introduced by Oakvale, the constitution clause would be irrelevant. The Great Reform Amendment is likely to pass soon anyway, so it's largely unnecessary.

[PJ]

What are the tax rates at the moment for the pacific? Trying to gather all the info I can...

Last year's awful budget.

EDIT: Actually, due to Oakvale's changes, it's now a flat tax.

[PJ]

I support this with one exception. The decision of when Oakvale's powers as project manager end is currently under the jurisdiction of the Pacific in accordance with Judicial Decision BK0007, and I would like to keep it that way.

[PJ]

Based on what my advisors have told me, the Pacific doesn't have a functioning constitution and has failed to adopt one months after their fourth one was completed. I think they need to adopt it, so we need to tie their adopting it to the stimulus funds. It is the best way to get it passed quickly. I don't feel comfortable handing them $50 billion without the region formally adopting its constitution.

Ok.  What is the Great Reform Amendment?

My concern here is that the Senate not dictate the specifics of the Pacific Constitution so long as it is a functioning one.

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=180855.0

and

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=185197.0

[PJ]

Hm, well ok, let's consolidate what we need to amend. We're going to put Oakvale and maybe PJ and maybe DemPGH on the decision team? Can we decide on the specifics of that?

After that, we can probably change up the way by which we manage the committee.

We need to clarify that we want them to pass the 6th constitution.

We need to include the process by which we approve of Oakvale's appointment.

Anything else?

You will need to refer to it as a constitutional amendment legislatively, unless BK or Oakvale can do their magic and declare it a new constitution. I do want to be on the committee FTR, and I think DemPGH should be included as well. 3 people simplifies it at least.

[PJ]

I am fine with a 2-3 person committee if that's what you all want. I won't veto this bill over something as mundane as that.

What do I need to put in my amendment regarding Oakvale's appointment? Does the Senate need to specify in the bill that they approve of his appointment or does BK's acceptance/my special appointment suffice absent Senate approval?

You can recognize the appointment if you want to, but the regional government has already recognized the appointment via BK, so I'm not sure if it's necessary.