MA: Re-Establishment of a Lieutenant Governor Amendment (Debating)

[Kitteh]

I agree with the ideas of joint appointment and holding Lt Gov elections at the same time as off-month assembly elections.

Also, if anyone doubts whether this is necessary, just look at the number of candidates running in the upcoming assembly elections. We clearly have a lot of activity in this region, which is great.

[Kitteh]

Not for Assembly appointments, though - the Speaker shouldn't be appointing members to his own body.

For the Assembly appointment, who could break it then? Maybe the Judge would choose the one he deemed to be more qualified, and then issue a full explanation of his decision?

I would be okay with the Superior Court Judge breaking the tie for Assembly appointment.

I disagree.  The judge shouldn't be involved in such politically-motivated decisions.

If he was mandated by the constitution to make a decision based on qualifications, I would still be okay with it. We could define some criteria if that would make you more comfortable.

Eh, for the purposes of this game it would be hard to define qualifications. If you can come up with some I'd be ok with that, but I can't think of any that'd work.

[Kitteh]

AYE

[Kitteh]

I don't think the Governor should have that power.  That makes him too much of a legislator.  And I think that should be a separate amendment.

Is it really that much power? I can't vote on it or anything - I just think it's a nuisance that I can introduce legislation but can't add an amendment to it.

I agree with this. It's ridiculous that the governor can introduce legislation but not introduce amendments to that legislation once he's introduced it. That makes no sense.

[Kitteh]

If we think the Governor is already too much of a legislator, why not strip all his capabilities to introduce legislation? I think if we give him the power to the introduce bills, he or she should also possess the capability to propose amendments on them. It should be all (except voting of course) or nothing in my opinion.

^^^^

[Kitteh]

Nay

I'm of the same mind as Mr. X and TexasDem.

[Kitteh]

Personally,  I think we'd be better off giving up the confirmation piece instead.

I agree with this.

[Kitteh]

AYE

[Kitteh]

I agree with TexasDem and Cathcon.

[Kitteh]

AYE

(while I'm still in the assembly