Legislation Introduction Thread

[Jake]

That is much better Sam

[Jake]

Wow, LOL

[Jake]

Wow, good bill Naso.  Can't wait to get debate on this started.

[Jake]

King, could you post what the brackets are exactly?

[Jake]

No this is getting ing stupid. Know how many people live on the majority of those islands MAS?

Navassa - 0
Jarvis - 0
Howland - 0
Baker - 0
Palmyra - 0
Wake - 200 contractors
Kingman Reef - 0

The only islands that have significant population are Am. Samoa - 70K and Virgin Islands 124K.

[Jake]

Please withdraw the Palestine crap.

[Jake]

1. The Republic of Atlasia condemns the use of terrorism by groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas in trying to destroy the nation of Israel and to kill innocent Israeli people.

Okay

2. The Republic of Atlasia deplores the nation of Israel for using curfews, walls, and other freedom restricting measures on the Palestinian people.

"Walls" are the only real thing keeping the suicide attacks down to a bare minimum lately. To denounce a nation's steps to protect itself is absurd.

3. The Republic of Atlasia hereby recognizes the nation of Palestine as being made up by Gaza Strip and West Bank upon the condemnation of terrorism by top Palestinian officials.

Or maybe when the hostilities end. Not when the PA makes a half assed declaration.

4. The Republic of Atlasia hereby calls upon the United Nations, and more specifically Israel to recognize Palestine after the said conditions are met.

As above

5. If the said conditions are met and Israel still does not recognize Palestine, the Republic of Atlasia will hereby withhold 40% of military aid to Israel and 5% more aid will be witheld for every month Israel does not recognize Palestine.

Great, so if Israel doesn't do what we want, even though it's not in their best interest, we cut off an arbitrary amount of military aid.

[Jake]

The average Palestinian may not do it, but they elect members of Hamas to represent them as their leaders, so I wouldn't put them wholly outside the blame.

[Jake]

mASShole can leave again

[Jake]

Ebowed, why drop the post requirements when we've just seen pellakan jump in and get 80 posts in less than a day. Bad idea.

Q, why ban recruiting in high schools? That's pretty much where military recruiting happens.

[Jake]

Ebowed, why drop the post requirements when we've just seen pellakan jump in and get 80 posts in less than a day. Bad idea.

I submitted the amendment before pellaken began posting like crazy.

Some people only post when they have something important to say.  While for most of us getting 50 posts in a few days is no problem, it's a big number for some newbies.

Also, I get the impression that pellaken would have posted less if he didn't need 50 posts to register.

The point of post counts is not to exclude newbies from participating, but rather try to get them involved in the forum and posting. We've seen Pellakan go for 50 posts, and right away, he's had a reason to get involved. I think one thing we all want is 100% involved participants, rather than the post 18 times and show up when Naso calls people we used to have.

[Jake]

Designation of Forgotten Atlasians Holiday Bill

1. September 3rd shall hereby be declared Forgotten Atlasians Day.
2. This day shall be a national holiday.
3. Atlasians who no longer post or who have left shall be remembered on this day for their time in and, if applicable, their service to Atlasia.

Change to the day John last posted please

[Jake]

If Senators may now introduce legislation pending approval of Presidential nominees, the final federal budget, and introduction of expired legislation.

The Colombia Bill

Recognizing the Uribe government in Colombia represents a strong ally in South America and acts as a bullwark against Hugo Chavez's Venezuela and finding that support for this ally is crucial to Atlasia's interests in the region, the Senate agrees to take the following steps to address this situation.

1. Military aid to Colombia under the Foreign Military Financing Program shall be raised from $ 108,000,000 in FY 2005 to $ 250,000,000 in FY 2006.

2. Economic aid to Colombia under the International Narcotics Control Program shall be raised from $ 484,000,000 in FY 2005 to 600,000,00) in FY 2006.

3. Sections 3201, 3204(a), 3204(b), and 3207 of H.R. 4425 (The 2001 Military Construction Appropriations Act) are hereby repealed.

4. Under the heading of Colombia in the Foreign Policy Review, it shall read:
The democratic movement in Colombia is greatly encouraged, and Atlasia will take all steps possible to support a quick transition to full and fair democracy. We recognize Colombia's support for eliminating narcotics terrorism in South America and shall designate Colombia as having no military or economic restrictions.

Constitutional Amendment of Judicial Terms

1. Clause 2 of Section One, Article III shall read:

The Supreme Court shall consist of three Justices who shall all be registered voters, one of whom shall be the Chief Justice. Justices shall hold their office for a maximum term of twelve months, excepting currently serving justices.

[Jake]

I remove the Myanmar Declaration of War Bill

[Jake]

All right, I'll agree to 10%.

Y'all do recognize what a 10% cut does right?

Choose your poison:

1. Pay increases are eliminated, resulting in even lower retention rates and more military poverty.
2. Procurement to replace older and/or damaged weapon systems is halted, resulting in a severe drop in ready weapons because of retirements/combat losses.
3. Training is cut down, resulting in less well trained soldiers overseas and more deaths.
4. Research is cut, resulting in other countries developing the weapon systems of the future rather than us.

I can give other examples for some other cuts Daniel has proposed, but at least some of those programs can be reconstituted on the regional level. The military is a federal responsibility though, and one we shouldn't be quick to ignore.

[Jake]

I'd like to co-sponsor Ebowed',s Bill.

[Jake]

Amendment to the OPSR on Legislation Introduction

Article III, Section 2, Clause 5 of the Official Senate Procedural Resolution is amended to read:

"In case of a vote on an Amendment to the Constitution, legislation may only be introduced after the Senate has approved the Amendment in question and the President Pro-Tempore has posted a thread notifying the Governor's of the Senate's approval."

[Jake]

The legislation was proposed in the middle of the session before last and still has not been debated for various reasons (budget, forum affairs). I support the bumping, even if it is simply withdrawn or voted down quickly.

[Jake]

I'll be challenging the bumping of the legislation if Defarge agrees FYI

[Jake]

I'll be challenging the bumping of the legislation if Defarge agrees FYI

Any particular reason?

Your legislation is no more important or critical than any other. If you have any legislation to propose, I'm sure you can find at least one senator (I'd propose anything) to introduce your bills. Why you have to wait until this amendment is passed is beyond me.

[Jake]

I've been thinking about changing the introduction of legislation like that. I'll PM what I have wrote up.

[Jake]

Comprehensive Energy Bill for the 21st Century

Recognizing the growing threat that dependence on foreign sources of energy posses to Atlasia’s security, the Senate approves the following measures to alleviate the current energy crisis.

Section One:

Any Atlasian corporation engaged in the active research of hydrogen fuel cells shall be given a tax break of 25% of the yearly expense of their research program.

Section Two:

Any Atlasian corporation engaged in the active research of a fusion reactor shall be given a tax break of 25% of the yearly expense of their research program.

Section Three:

The tax break for the purchase of a hybrid car shall be raised to $ 1500 in the year of purchase and $ 750 every subsequent year the car is operated by the original owner.

Section Four:

The federal government shall establish a grant program to assist local authorities in the construction, expansion, and maintenance of a public transportation system. This program shall receive funds totaling 3750 million dollars each year from FY 2007 to FY 2011.
a)   The local authority must be either planning or constructing a public transportation system in at least part of their jurisdiction.
b)   A public transportation system shall be defined as a subway, light rail, bus, or monorail line.
c)   The local authority must be independently audited and must report upon the progress of the program at the conclusion of each federal fiscal year.
d)   If federal funds are misappropriated from the program, the funds for the subsequent fiscal year shall be cancelled.
e)   No authority may request funds in excess of 150 million dollars per fiscal year nor shall any authority receive funding in excess of such an amount.

Section Five:
The Senate will authorize a commission for the study of converting certain high use interstate highways into toll roads utilizing an automated payment system. This commission shall be appointed by the Senate and shall receive funding of 0.25 million dollars. They shall prepare a report within one year on the feasibility and the economic benefits of such a conversion.

[1] & [2] -These tax breaks will help spur investment into these technologies while retaining the competition of the free market.

[3] - The present tax break is $ 500 per year.

[Jake]

Care to share any ideas?

[Jake]

Senate Resolution on Military Forces in Europe

1. The Senate recognizes the long lived threat of conventional war in Europe has ended.

2. The Senate also recognizes the usefulness of European bases for deployment to other overseas theaters.

3. Therefore, the Senate urges the President to order our conventional forces in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Low Countries to return home to continental United States bases.

4. The Senate also resolves to work as a committee to study the future of military bases in Europe and to work towards the best deployment of forces to maintain our strategic deployment capabilities.

[Jake]

They are normally defined as (traditionally) non-nuclear units, but in this context, they mean the heavy divisions based in Germany and the air force wings based in Germany and the UK.