Northeast Assembly Thread

[tpfkaw]

Mr. Speaker, should we begin voting on my amendment or will we not be doing so?

We need to wait for The Economist to say whether he will accept it as friendly or not.

He hasn't been online to even participate in the debate.

Unfortunately, that is the case...

Nevertheless, procedure can't just be dumped by the wayside.

[tpfkaw]

With no objections, I'm ruling that the GTO Remembrance Act has passed.

[tpfkaw]

We shall now vote on the Making Competitive Elections Amendment.  Voting shall continue until March 7, 2011, 4:29 PM EST.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[tpfkaw]

Nay.

I believe that our large assembly is an asset to the region.  New members can get a start and a feel for politics as soon as the next assembly election.  A small assembly protects the same incumbents over and over again, and prevents new members from having a say.  While some might say that it is a system similar to the Pacific or Midwest, this is not in fact the case, as the small obstacle of actually having to run a campaign for the seat at least ensures that everyone voting is genuinely interested in performing the duties of Assemblyman, as opposed to merely being a zombie told to vote one way or another by party bosses.  I think it would be a grave error for our region to change its constitution in this manner.

[tpfkaw]

This amendment fails, 2 nays, 1 aye, 1 abstaining, 2 not voting.

[tpfkaw]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Sponsor: Rep. Jake Matthews

The question is whether the bill should be considered?

The ayes have it.

Debate shall continue until March 10, 2011, 3:19 PM EST, unless debate is extended or shortened in accordance with the SOAP.

The sponsor, Jake Matthews, has the floor.

[tpfkaw]

I respectfully disagree with the sponsor of this bill.  If a person feels they have been falsely advertised to in a particularly egregious manner, they may already sue the advertiser for recompense, or file a complaint with a private organization like the Better Business Bureau.  Furthermore, nearly all retailers have return or money-back policies for unsatisfied customers.  Making "false advertisement" a criminal offense is wholly absurd, and this bill is sure to create a huge number of spurious complaints that would waste millions of dollars worth of regional court time and litigation fees ("I bought this treadmill, but I didn't lose any weight!"  "It wasn't the best movie of the year!").  The example that the sponsor gives is telling; the possibilities of a product do not always match the typical outcomes (not everyone gets fit on the treadmill or likes the movie), but that doesn't mean that it ought to be a criminal offense to advertise possibilities.  In the end, the best option simply is to allow each company to build a reputation.  If a company skirts the line with their advertising, and builds a poor reputation with consumers, then not as many people will patronize them in the future.

[tpfkaw]

Okay, I'll begin debate on the next piece of legislation at a more reasonable hour, although I'll forewarn JM that partial-birth abortion is already banned in the Northeast.

[tpfkaw]

Okay, I'll begin debate on the next piece of legislation at a more reasonable hour, although I'll forewarn JM that partial-birth abortion is already banned in the Northeast.

Oh, is it? The wiki isn't updated :/ alright, I withdraw that one too. I guess we'll move on to the Death Penalty Abolition act.

IIRC this was very early on in the history of the NE region.  Ask Dallas about it.

[tpfkaw]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Sponsor: Rep. Jake Matthews

The question is whether the bill should be considered?

The ayes have it.

Debate shall continue until March 14, 2011, 6:39 PM ESR, unless debate is extended or shortened in accordance with the SOAP.

The sponsor, Jake Matthews, has the floor.

[tpfkaw]

I believe the word you're looking for is "inalienable."

I also have a fair bit of trepidation about provisions 3 thru 9, for the reason that it would seem to imply that those rights are not inherently contained within the Atlasian constitution, but instead must be granted by this assembly.  That would also imply that those rights could be rescinded by repealing this bill.

[tpfkaw]

Debate is now closed, we shall now vote on this bill (since it hasn't been formally amended or withdrawn...)

[tpfkaw]

Abstain.

[tpfkaw]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Sponsor: Rep. Jake Matthews

The question is whether the bill should be considered?

The ayes have it.

Debate shall continue until March 21, 2011, 2:28 PM EST, unless debate is extended or shortened in accordance with the SOAP.

The sponsor, Jake Matthews, has the floor.

[tpfkaw]

While I agree with the basic idea of cutting legislative salaries, the administrative costs of redesigning tax returns and creating a new tax deduction would dwarf the savings from cutting said salaries.  I think it would be best just to simply cut legislative salaries.

[tpfkaw]

While I agree with the basic idea of cutting legislative salaries, the administrative costs of redesigning tax returns and creating a new tax deduction would dwarf the savings from cutting said salaries.  I think it would be best just to simply cut legislative salaries.

But then what would we do with the money that we cut from salaries?

Reduce deficit/increase surplus?

[tpfkaw]

Friends,

Our speaker has left Atlasia. In his absence, we must call upon Governor Ghost_white to hold an election for a new speaker. I'd like to ask anyone who is interested in becoming speaker to say so.

I would like to express my interest in filling the vacated position.

Um, I fully intend to serve out my term, I'm just not running for reelection.

[tpfkaw]

We will now vote on the NE Assembly Salary Cuts Act of 2011.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[tpfkaw]

Aye

[tpfkaw]

The bill passes with 2 ayes, no nays, and 3 abstentions by not voting.

Let's be a little better about this in the future, shall we?

[tpfkaw]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Sponsor: Rep. Jake Matthews

The question is whether the bill should be considered?

The ayes have it.

Debate shall continue until March 25, 2011, 3:32 PM EST, unless debate is extended or shortened in accordance with the SOAP.

The sponsor, Jake Matthews, has the floor.

[tpfkaw]

Debate on this bill has ended, we shall now hold a vote on it.

[tpfkaw]

Aye.

[tpfkaw]

Actually, I'm switching my vote to nay unless the measure is amended to refer solely to public schools.

[tpfkaw]

I don't think anyone wants to be lieutenant governor...