MA: Mideastern Budget Amendment (Passed)

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

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Sponsor: Tmthforu94

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I'd like to introduce the following amendment:

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I don't think I can support the original bill due to section 1, clause 2.  I agree that we should always aim for a balanced budget, but I have the same problem with that sort of cap as I would with a balanced budget amendment (especially given how low regional taxes are).

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

For the purposes of the game, we really do need something like a balanced budget (or close to balanced budget) to make this work... otherwise there's nothing stopping the Assembly from just implementing whatever programs it wants and ignoring the deficit.

[Kitteh]

For the purposes of the game, we really do need something like a balanced budget (or close to balanced budget) to make this work... otherwise there's nothing stopping the Assembly from just implementing whatever programs it wants and ignoring the deficit.

The voters?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

For the purposes of the game, we really do need something like a balanced budget (or close to balanced budget) to make this work... otherwise there's nothing stopping the Assembly from just implementing whatever programs it wants and ignoring the deficit.

The voters?

Why would they vote against us for not having a balanced budget?  For game purposes, it's pretty necessary to have a balanced budget.  I'd like to hear arguments against this.

[Kitteh]

For the purposes of the game, we really do need something like a balanced budget (or close to balanced budget) to make this work... otherwise there's nothing stopping the Assembly from just implementing whatever programs it wants and ignoring the deficit.

The voters?

Why would they vote against us for not having a balanced budget?  For game purposes, it's pretty necessary to have a balanced budget.  I'd like to hear arguments against this.

I would imagine that voters like a balanced budget even if it theoretically doesn't matter to this game.

[Talleyrand]

I support this constituitional amendment. While I wouldn't support an outright balanced budget, amendment a 125% limit on spending seems pretty reasonable to me. I highly doubt we'll spend 110% of revenue, let alone go over 125%.

And I agree with Inks that to make the game more realistic, it's a good idea to have some sort of cap to prevent the Assembly from spending too wildly (it isn't now, but if it does in the future).

[tmthforu94]

I tried to begin this by compromising, so I won't budge really on the numbers - just to give folks a rough idea, this 125% would allow for a $76 billion dollar deficit, which is incredibly high. I don't think we'll ever reach a point where we need that big of a deficit.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I did a little poll to see what the voters would do regarding someone who passed a non-balanced budget.  I purposely left out any type of "middle" option, forcing people to choose.  A full third has chosen no impact, and another third has said it would only have a small impact on their decision.  I think to make the game actually work, a requirement that the budget be close to balanced is required.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I did a little poll to see what the voters would do regarding someone who passed a non-balanced budget.  I purposely left out any type of "middle" option, forcing people to choose.  A full third has chosen no impact, and another third has said it would only have a small impact on their decision.  I think to make the game actually work, a requirement that the budget be close to balanced is required.

A third also said it would have a large or very large impact

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I did a little poll to see what the voters would do regarding someone who passed a non-balanced budget.  I purposely left out any type of "middle" option, forcing people to choose.  A full third has chosen no impact, and another third has said it would only have a small impact on their decision.  I think to make the game actually work, a requirement that the budget be close to balanced is required.

A third also said it would have a large or very large impact

Yes, which is significantly less than a majority.  And polls on single issues tend to inflate the true importance of that issue, historically.  The point is, unlike real life where there would be more consequences to passing a non-balanced budget, there would be little impact in passing a non-balanced budget here.  Honestly, it should probably be a completely balanced budget, otherwise the 25% could just build up and build up over time, but for some reason people aren't seeing this.

[Gass3268]

I support Mr. X's amendment, unless we can get an emergency protocol to allow for greater spending when needed.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I support Mr. X's amendment, unless we can get an emergency protocol to allow for greater spending when needed.

Draft something.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

And when would we ever have to spend 25% more than our revenue?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Hello?  Anybody?

[tmthforu94]

Hello?  Anybody?

I'm not saying anything because I don't have a problem with the bill. We should never even run a $76 billion deficit in the first place. If anything, I'd like it to be shortened, but I was trying to go ahead and meet the left in the middle with my original version instead of starting out with a balanced budget and then moving towards the center. This isn't "ideal" to me either - it's a compromise.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Honestly, to make the game actually function, a balanced budget should be required.  It's too easy to just pass something with 25% above the revenue?  Where's the fun/challenge in that?  The challenge is actually getting a balanced budget.

[Talleyrand]

Why don't we do 110%? That seems pretty reasonable to me.

I agree that to actually make the game worthwhile and challenging, we have to have a balanced budget or at least something pretty close.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

While I prefer 100%, I can live with 110%.  But we should limit the amount of debt the region can rack up, in order to avoid perpetual 110% budget's year after year.

[Talleyrand]

While I prefer 100%, I can live with 110%.  But we should limit the amount of debt the region can rack up, in order to avoid perpetual 110% budget's year after year.

That's a good idea. How about a $25-50 billion debt ceiling?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Well it'd have to at least be $30, since that's 10% of our revenue this budget.  So would $50B be acceptable?

[Talleyrand]

Well it'd have to at least be $30, since that's 10% of our revenue this budget.  So would $50B be acceptable?

Yes.

[tmthforu94]

Well it'd have to at least be $30, since that's 10% of our revenue this budget.  So would $50B be acceptable?

Yes.

I am also completely in support of this.

[Gass3268]

I can't support lowering it down from 125%

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

I can't support lowering it down from 125%

I too will vote against anything lowering it down from 125%