HB 1251: Tangier Island Protection Act (Passed)

[Associate Justice PiT]

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People's Regional Senate:
Passed 4-0-0 in the Atlasian Senate assembled on May 8, 2018.

- R

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Sponsor: Sestak

     I hereby open the floor for debate.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Relevant debate from senate:

I’ll have a post on why this bill is necessary up this evening.

I'm leaning in support of this Bill, and do want to protect a historically significant site, but I'm a tad hesitant due to the cost of the Bill.  $45,000,000 is a rather large sum of money, and I'm worried about adding to the deficit.

Truthfully, it can be less and I would support an amendment. An article on the cost of the sea barrier said it would cost anywhere between twenty-five to thirty million, but I wanted to be on the safe side. I would wholeheartedly support an amendment for anything in that range though.

So I think I handled the funding issue and also got us some deficit pay down money.

The numbers I am relying from are from the 2018 MarAd Budget:

https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/mission/budget/304521/marad-fy-2019-cj-final-508-compliant.pdf

The Maritime Security Program is the latest name for direct government to private business subsidy payments. It is corporate welfare bloat. The 2018 level was $298,106,000. By ending the program and rescinding the funds we can set aside $29,000,000 for the Seawall and $269,106,000 for deficit reduction (minus admin costs to shutter the program). Bill is 90% funded.

The Small Shipyard Grant program is what it sounds like. Unnecessary waste. The 2018 level was $20,000,000. By ending the program and rescinding the funds we can set aside $500,000 for the Seawall and $19,500,000 for deficit reduction (minus admin costs to shutter the program). Bill is 95% funded. https://www.marad.dot.gov/ships-and-shipping/small-shipyard-grants/

For the Commemorative Coin Program, the spot price of silver is $16.61 per troy oz as of today. Prices would be lower if a bulk purchase were negotiated. Lets call it $13 per oz in material costs. I have no idea to price minting costs, so I just figured be conservative and round up the $13 to $20 total production costs. That means $12 profit per coin X 50,000 coins = $600,000. Since there was some guestimation, I left a mechanism in place to deposit any overflow into the general treasury. Seawall is 100% funded.

Additionally, we eliminate some dumb programs and bank around $300 Million towards deficit reduction.

[NeverAgain]

I would sponsor, but am still wary of the implications to which eliminating the Maritime Security Program and Small Shipyard Programs. Can I get some more examples of  why this needs to be repealed, more than just "it's bloat/corporate welfare".

[Mr. Reactionary]

I would sponsor, but am still wary of the implications to which eliminating the Maritime Security Program and Small Shipyard Programs. Can I get some more examples of  why this needs to be repealed, more than just "it's bloat/corporate welfare".

See, I kind of think of it should be the opposite. Why continue to sink money into programs without a real need? That a program currently exists does not justify its continued existence forever. That mentality is why there was an official federal tea tasting board until 1996. I see no legitimate reason to pour money into direct cash subsidies for private business. And the mere fact that corporate welfare "helps" a business is not justification enough imo, because that would literally be the case for ANY business. Why not subsidize coal or weed or hookers or casinos or glass bottles or shower curtains or every single other industry. Our goal should be creating fairer, more level playing fields. The programs slated for elimination in this bill are outdated, and I've seen no legitimate need for why they should continue, other than that they exist now which is not a legitimate argument of need. If a new need arises, congress can repass legislation, but it seems foolish to just keep funding and operating anachronistic programs because thats the status quo. The world wont end because the feds no longer give cash to domestic shipping corporations based on the number of miles they travel. Eliminating these programs is common sense, funds infrastructure, and cuts the deficit.

[Associate Justice PiT]

I would sponsor, but am still wary of the implications to which eliminating the Maritime Security Program and Small Shipyard Programs. Can I get some more examples of  why this needs to be repealed, more than just "it's bloat/corporate welfare".

     What is your response to Senator Mr. Reactionary's commentary? This bill still needs a sponsor, mind you.

[Sestak]

I'll sponsor, I guess.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Representatives have 24 hours to object to Representative Sestak assuming sponsorship.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     With no objections, Representative Sestak has assumed sponsorship. I invite the sponsor to speak on behalf of the bill.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     If no Representatives have comments, I will go ahead and open a final vote on this in 24 hours.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     A final vote is now open on the text in the OP. Representatives have 72 hours to vote aye, nay, or abstain.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

AYE

[GM Team Member and Deputy PPT WB]

Aye

[RFayette 🇻🇦]

Aye

[Leinad]

Aye

[Sestak]

Aye.

[Terry the Fat Shark]

Aye

[Sirius_]

Abstain

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

You can end this now PiT.

[Associate Justice PiT]

Final Vote:

Aye 6 (dfwlibertylover, Leinad, NC Yankee, RFayette, Sestak, Weatherboy)
Nay 0
Abstain 1 (Ninja)
Not Voting 2 (NeverAgain, Peebs)

     This bill passes and is presented to the President for her signature.

[Associate Justice PiT]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

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People's Regional Senate:
Passed 4-0-0 in the Atlasian Senate assembled on May 8, 2018.

- R

People's House of Representatives
Passed 5-0-4 in the Atlasian House Assembled,

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President of Congress:
Be it resolved, X Vice President PiT
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