SB 9107: Wage Insurance Act (Passed)

[Devout Centrist]

Proposing the following amendment:

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[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Going to go ahead and call 24 hours on objections to the amendment, just to be safe on the time situation with the end of Congress, I will add it to the amendment tracker and give it a number shortly.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Amendment S16:09 by Devout Centrist is adopted.

[YE]

I'd ask for someone to motion for a final vote but my ass will be out of here in like 25 mins. Besides, I should be paying attention to my dynamics lecture now anyway.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

In that case I motion for a final vote. Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Former President tack50]

Uh, will this be voted upon by the new senate or the old one?

Also, I have concerns about the funding, given that while there is a cost estimate, there doesn't seem to be any funding allocated to this new program; with no cuts in other areas or tax rises to pay for this new program. Or is that something that will be done in the budget?

I do think this program is a very good idea, but we need to pay for it somehow.

[YE]

Uh, will this be voted upon by the new senate or the old one?

Also, I have concerns about the funding, given that while there is a cost estimate, there doesn't seem to be any funding allocated to this new program; with no cuts in other areas or tax rises to pay for this new program. Or is that something that will be done in the budget?

I do think this program is a very good idea, but we need to pay for it somehow.

New and as for funding, this technically doesn't allocate any funding. From the House thread...

Ima jump in real quick before it comes up and say based upon my reading this merely authorizes a program. It does not appropriate money. Therefore this bill is budget neutral and satisfies Paygo. Ultimately funding will still have to be appropriated by Congress at a later date, but Paygo is met by this bill as currently worded.

FYI, if this wasn't revenue neutral, this wouldn't pass paygo, and thus we would need to waive the paygo rules (requiring a 2/3rd vote) in order for it to even receive a final vote.

[Devout Centrist]

I agree with Senator Yankee and motion for a final vote

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Since the VP is on leave here, I will open the final vote.

Senators, a final vote is open on this legislation, please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

[Former President tack50]

Aye

[ON Progressive]

Aye

[Devout Centrist]

Aye

[MAINEiac4434]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This has enough votes to pass, Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Abstain

[Lumine]

Aye (4): Tack, On Progressive, Devout Centrist, MAINEiac
Nay (0):
Abstaining (1): Yankee

SB 9107 has been passed in an amended version, it will be sent to the House for a final vote.

[Lumine]

AN ACT
To provide lost wages to displaced workers through the formation of a Wage Insurance Program

Section 1: Title and Definitions
1. This act may be cited as the "Wage Insurance Act."
2. "Displaced Workers" shall be defined as workers currently earning less than $40,000 a year who had previously held a job where they earned at least $40,000 before being laid off.
3. "Laid off" shall be defined as being fired without cause.

Section 2: Creation of a Wage Insurance Program
1. A federal program, entitled the "National Wage Insurance Fund", shall be formed within the federal government.

Section 3: Functioning of the Wage Insurance Program
1. The National Wage Insurance Fund shall administer categorical grants to regional unemployment insurance programs.
2. The grant money shall be spent by the regional governments on wage insurance for displaced workers.
3. Eligible workers shall receive-
a. Half of the difference between the initial wage 13 weeks prior to being laid off and an eligible worker's new wage
b. Reimbursement of any applicable job training or retraining costs
4. Congress shall be responsible for allocating the necessary funds to the federal program, and thence to the regional governments.
5. The regional governments will be responsible for determining how many people at the regional level qualify for the program, and thence distributing the grant money accordingly.

Section 4: Eligibility Requirements
1. An eligible worker shall be defined as-
a. Any displaced worker who has spent not less than 3 years in their current position of employment
b. Any displaced worker who is not eligible to receive assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act.
c. Any displaced worker who has been unemployed for not more than 15 weeks.
3. Eligible workers shall not receive wage assistance exceeding $10,000 per annum.
4. Eligibility for wage assistance shall close after a period of two fiscal years since rehiring.

Section 5: Cost
1. The Department of the Game Moderator shall be responsible for determining the cost of the fund.

Section 6: Implementation
1. This bill shall be implemented at the start of the next fiscal year.

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


People's Regional Senate
Passed 4-0-1 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

[Lumine]

The House of Representatives has rejected the amended version. The Senate must now have a final vote on the House approved version either to send this to the President or kill it:

AN ACT
To provide lost wages to displaced workers through the formation of a Wage Insurance Program

Section 1: Title and Definitions
1. This act may be cited as the "Wage Insurance Act."
2. "Displaced Workers" shall be defined as workers currently earning less than $50,000 a year who had previously held a job where they earned at least $50,000 before being laid off.
3. "Laid off" shall be defined as being fired without cause.

Section 2: Creation of a Wage Insurance Program
1. A federal program, entitled the "National Wage Insurance Fund", shall be formed within the federal government.

Section 3: Functioning of the Wage Insurance Program
1. The National Wage Insurance Fund shall administer categorical grants to regional unemployment insurance programs.
2. The grant money shall be spent by the regional governments on wage insurance for displaced workers.
a. Up to half of the difference between the initial wage before being laid off and the later wage accepted afterward is eligible for replacement through wage insurance.
3. Congress shall be responsible for allocating the necessary funds to the federal program, and thence to the regional governments.
4. The regional governments will be responsible for determining how many people at the regional level qualify for the program, and thence distributing the grant money accordingly.

Section 4: Eligibility Requirements
1. Displaced workers who spent less than 3 years at the job they were laid off from shall not be covered by this program.
2. Displaced workers whose period of unemployment between jobs was more than 15 weeks shall not be covered by this program.
3. No individual worker shall receive more than $10,000 of lost wages.
4. No individual worker shall receive wage insurance for more than 2 years.

Section 5: Cost
1. The Department of the Game Moderator shall be responsible for determining the cost of the fund.

Section 6: Implementation
1. This bill shall be implemented at the start of the next fiscal year.

The vote is open. Senators, please vote AYE, NAY or ABSTAIN.

[Devout Centrist]

Aye

[ON Progressive]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

NAY

[Former President tack50]

Aye

The Senate version is much better, but this is better than nothing I guess

[MAINEiac4434]

This version is atrocious. Only insuring workers who made at least $50,000 before being laid off? That leaves the whole underclass of Atlasian society completely bereft.

Nay. I can’t in good faith vote for a bill that leaves so many unprotected.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

This version is atrocious. Only insuring workers who made at least $50,000 before being laid off? That leaves the whole underclass of Atlasian society completely bereft.

Nay. I can’t in good faith vote for a bill that leaves so many unprotected.

The thing I realized much to my surprise, is that this acts more as an insurance policy for preserving the middle class as middle class, than it does anything else.

[Mr. Reactionary]

This version is atrocious. Only insuring workers who made at least $50,000 before being laid off? That leaves the whole underclass of Atlasian society completely bereft.

Nay. I can’t in good faith vote for a bill that leaves so many unprotected.

The thing I realized much to my surprise, is that this acts more as an insurance policy for preserving the middle class as middle class, than it does anything else.

A shame there are only 5 senators.