The Imperial Dominion of the South's Legislature

[Yelnoc]

Remember this is just a small piece of the new stimulus.  GPORTER, if you  have a bill you want to propose please draft one.  Taft4Prez, that's a good idea.  General question: should we pass these things together in one bill or in separate ones?

[Yelnoc]

     We could just send another bill to the states with more money to fix the roads, highways, & dams of the region.

They don't need anymore money.  We just, a week or two ago, gave each state tens of millions (or was it billions) of dollars for that.  Any more money we give them will turn into Highways To Nowhere. 

I still think renovating government buildings is a decent idea; they have been decaying since they were built decades, in some cases centuries ago. 

     It was in millions. Besides, how likely do you think that is? $80 million to update & expand upon every piece of infrastructure in the state of Texas, for example?

Alright, alright.  If someone has a bill then draft it.  I'll be busy for the next few days but I'll try to get on to put it up to vote before long.

[Yelnoc]

Sponsored for PiT.  I'll vote no as of now.

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So, can someone remind me what we need to do with the below bill.  We got completely sidetracked....

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[Yelnoc]

     Given the small size of the Legislature, there's no real point in sponsoring it if you won't support it. I appreciate it, though.

     Anyway, we need to figure out how to distribute this money, exactly. The amount specified by 4B is not a problem since we passed a bill some months ago creating a tax credit for lower & middle-class students going to institutions of higher learning.

Well then how about we peel the $7 million off the education fund since we will be "reeducating the buildings"?  Something like this.

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[Yelnoc]

     Given the small size of the Legislature, there's no real point in sponsoring it if you won't support it. I appreciate it, though.

     Anyway, we need to figure out how to distribute this money, exactly. The amount specified by 4B is not a problem since we passed a bill some months ago creating a tax credit for lower & middle-class students going to institutions of higher learning.

Well then how about we peel the $7 million off the education fund since we will be "reeducating the buildings"?  Something like this.

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     What if we devote a certain amount of the renovated space to employment training for workers laid off from jobs in declining industries?
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Ok.  How is the below?  I increased the renovation fund by $3 million to pay for the training.  Do we need to define "declining industries"?

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[Yelnoc]

That's great; I didn't spot any mistakes.  GPORTER, you have until tonight to look over this bill and propose any changes, otherwise I will put it to a 24 hour vote.

[Yelnoc]

The below bill will now go to vote which will last for twenty-four hours.

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[Yelnoc]

Aye.

[Yelnoc]

The Regional Stimulus Distribution Bill passes and is awaiting your signature, Governor PiT.

BTW, I'm out of town and won't have regular internet access until Monday.

[Yelnoc]

Does anyone have a proposal?

EDIT:
Sorry guys, I forgot about the elections.  My grandparents just got a divorce and so I have been moving things for them.  Anyway, I suppose it's time to elect a speaker.  I'd like to throw my hat in the ring for reelection.  Also, is it constitutional for Duke to be both a senator and Viceroy?

[Yelnoc]

I'm pretty sure that my emergency Viceroy powers do not carry over to the next legislative secession.  Since we don't have a Viceroy (Duke is ineligible) we need to hold a special primary ASAP.  In the meantime, PiT, would you mind opening up the vote for Imperial Speaker?  tb75 and GPORTER, if you want to be the IS speak up or forever hold your peace.

[Yelnoc]

     By tradition, you can remain Imperial Speaker (& therefore acting Viceroy) indefinitely. I once did so for two months due to the election of a Viceroy who never took the office. Besides, holding another special election would not help because there simply isn't anyone willing to assume the office in question. We need to try to recruit someone to join the region (preferably someone who resides in one of the states of this region in real life).

     At any rate, I will permit 48 hours, starting right now, for the other Legislators to declare their interest in the Viceroyship. If either of them declare, then we can hold an election. I will assume that the incumbent Speaker intends to defend his Speakership unless he states otherwise.

So the Speaker will continue to assume the duties of the Viceroy until such a time as a Viceroy is elected?  Sounds logical.  And yes, I will stand for reelection to this post.

[Yelnoc]

Alright.  So we have a full legislature that will, hopefully, be bursting with activity.  Does anyone have a proposal?

[Yelnoc]

Actually, I have a proposal.  In typing this up, I had a sudden urge for an IDS constitutional convention.  The wiki's a mess and it seems like much of our government structure is ill-defined.  Who's with me?

Jurisdiction of the Viceroy and Imperial Speaker

1.  Duties of the Viceroy

• If the currently serving Emperor is unable to fulfill his or her term the Viceroy will assume that position for the rest of the term.
• In his capacity as the president of the legislature, the Viceroy will bring bills proposed by an IDS legislator to vote and close the vote on said bills.
• If there is a vacancy in the legislature and a bill that has been put to vote receives one Aye and one Nay, the Viceroy is authorized to cast a tie-breaker vote.  This is the only case in which the Viceroy may cast a tie-breaker vote.
• The Viceroy will maintain the office of the IDS Registrar General.

2.  Duties of the Imperial Speaker

• The Imperial Speaker is third in the line of succession to the position of Emperor.
• In the absence of the Viceroy, the Imperial Speaker will assume the duties of the Viceroy; he or she will open and close the vote on bills and maintain the office of IDS Registrar General.

[Yelnoc]

I added the queue duty.  Any other suggestions?  If not, I will put it up to vote tomorrow.

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[Yelnoc]

Voting on the Jurisdiction of the Viceroy and Imperial Speaker is now open.  It will close in 24 hours.

[Yelnoc]

Aye.

[Yelnoc]

The Jurisdiction of the Viceroy and Imperial Speaker act has passed and is awaiting the signature of Governor PiT.

[Yelnoc]

I support the proposed legislation...I think its important to have a succession process in place should the event arise...

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Care to explain?

[Yelnoc]

I support the proposed legislation...I think its important to have a succession process in place should the event arise...

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Care to explain?

I had a change of heart about it...

Well...what did you disagree with?

I reformatted the below for you.

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Clause 3 is nonsensical; regions do not have military budgets.  I will not support clauses 1 or 2 until I know what the current rate of taxation in the IDS is, our current budget, and the size of our deficit or surplus.

[Yelnoc]

I say we shouldn't screw around with taxes at the regional level.  As far as I know we don't have a great surplus of steady income we can let tax cuts diminish.  Lobby for them at a federal level.

[Yelnoc]

While we wait for GPORTER to remember he is a legislator, I want to bring up the idea of a constitutional convention again.  Sections of our constitution are outdated or refer to other sections which have been deleted when the government shifted its structure years ago.  Included in the ConCon would be a general update of the wiki.  Is anyone else interested?

[Yelnoc]

While we wait for GPORTER to remember he is a legislator, I want to bring up the idea of a constitutional convention again.  Sections of our constitution are outdated or refer to other sections which have been deleted when the government shifted its structure years ago.  Included in the ConCon would be a general update of the wiki.  Is anyone else interested?

I proposed legislation...what am I not doing that a legislature should?

Involve yourself in the debate on your bill.  Do you have a response to our rebuttals?

PiT, there aren't a lot of structural changes I would necessarily make, but there are still some things I would like to change.  Maybe I have OCD but the constitution is in need of a redraft.  For example, I would add a clause to Article IV to codify that initiative elections are to be skipped if no initiatives are proposed.  I would add KS21's Regional Census Bureau thingy into the constitution under the powers of the Lieutenant Governor.  I would switch put article VI at the bottom of the constitution (but before the Bill of Rights) and do some rephrasing in various areas for clarity. 

Then I would get into the Bill of Rights.  For example: "2.  All individuals have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights - among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, and protecting, property; and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by this region."

I'm sure I could find more errors and weak spots if I really got into it.  While I was at it (with my hypothetical wiki-editing privileges) I would add some member pages and do some general updates. 

What do you guys think?

[Yelnoc]

     What's wrong with a right to possess property, aside from the fact that it is refuted by the existence of taxation?

Because as it stands that clause can be interpreted to mean that an individual who does not hold property for whatever reason has the right to demand it from the government. 

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I would rather not open up a gaping hole in the budget to honor Reagan.  If you want we can make his birthday a regional holiday along with Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Polk, and FDR.  Or we could just drop the hole issue since none of our presidents existed in Atlasia.

[Yelnoc]

     What's wrong with a right to possess property, aside from the fact that it is refuted by the existence of taxation?

Because as it stands that clause can be interpreted to mean that an individual who does not hold property for whatever reason has the right to demand it from the government. 

     Good point. Maybe change it to a right to possess property bestowed unto one's person?

But who is doing the bestowing?  I think it would be best to eliminate that word; the intended meaning is clearer without it.  But this is why I wanted a redraft, though what you just suggested should take priority.

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I would rather not open up a gaping hole in the budget to honor Reagan.  If you want we can make his birthday a regional holiday along with Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Polk, and FDR.  Or we could just drop the hole issue since none of our presidents existed in Atlasia.
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     At any rate, just saying that you change the taxation rate by x% doesn't really help, since we don't really know what the current taxation rate is. I think we ought to follow in the footsteps of the federal government & figure out what our taxation rate is & pass a bill to that effect, which shall be amended to effect any changes to the income tax rate in the future as is deemed necessary.
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Let's do it.  First, what are our expenses?