HOUSE BILL: The HELIOS Act (At Final Vote)

[Pericles]

As a concerned citizen(and presidential candidate), it's awful that the House gutted the great legislation sent to it by the Senate and then failed to even vote on it. The Senate legislation is broadly in line with my own vision for post high school education, though I'd prefer that it covers all post high school education, not just college. The critiques that the legislation was unfunded were partly IMO diversionary attacks just to undermine the legislation, however at the same time it would be preferable to fund it. I think a 4% surcharge on those with incomes over $5 million a year and a risk fee on all banks with over $50 billion in assets as well as on those with high debt levels or too much reliance on short-term funding. Other alternative suggestions for funding the proposal are welcome. Fundamentally I believe all Atlasians should have a quality education and the opportunity to prosper. The Federalists will say that it's too expensive or a waste, but the real cost and the real waste would be to not enact legislation like this and to deny Atlasians the opportunities they deserve.

[Pericles]

It's a good thing my plan is paid for and still helps ordinary Atlasians. No party that is really fiscally responsible should preside over a deficit of over $900 billion, and the economy isn't even in a recession. There is no excuse for this failure of leadership. They should stop playing partisan games and start actually enacting good policy, I'm happy for them to take my plan for the good of Atlasia.

[Pericles]

It's insane how negative you are. I'm saddened and disappointed for our country. I'd love to be able to talk honestly about the issues, but you don't seem to. My statement on the deficit.

The status quo just isn't good enough. Today's stunning revelations are yet more proof that Atlasia needs change. I won't pretend that this is OK or make excuses for it and try to pass the buck. When you're President, as a great President once said, the buck stops here. That's why I will look carefully at the budget to fix our fiscal situation and make the rich finally pay their fair share in taxes. It's just common sense.

[Pericles]

If funding is really the only issue, then I'm happy for the President to endorse and sign this bill that I sponsored(https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=284086.0).

[Pericles]

Interesting re-write.  I am not a fan of any form of tax on financial transactions, so this will be a Nay vote from me in the end of the day.

Is there anything that could change your mind on this bill? Also given that a lack of funding is used as an excuse to oppose the bill, if you have oppose a financial transactions tax that's fine but please people, introduce alternative funding measures. Let's be constructive and get this done.

[Pericles]

We can use these numbers and then re-scale them in proportion to the size of Atlasia's economy:
https://www.cbo.gov/budget-options/2016/52285
So it would be 18 billion per year at US population levels.

That is what the VAT raises?

Is that enough?

Total cost of the bill is just under $11 billion so that'd be revenue positive.

[Pericles]

thumb21 did a report on the final bill just before Senate passage.

[Pericles]

The veto override has passed the Senate, I'm sorry for not putting this up for a vote in the House earlier. We are voting on the text shown above. The vote is open now, and will be open for 72 hours, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[Pericles]

Aye

[Pericles]

Everyone has voted, and by a vote of 6-3, the HELIOS Act is passed into law.
Aye; 6(Pericles, OneJ, Lechasseur, Peebs, weatherboy1102, Razze)
Nay; 3(fhtagn, Old School Republican, RFayette)
Abstentions; 0
Not voting; 0