Mideast Assembly Thread

[afleitch]

Child Support Act

Section 1. The Abortion Reduction Act is hereby repealed

Section 2a. Parents who do not pay their child support payments if in paid employment will be subject up to a maximum $5,000 fine or 30 day's imprisonment. A repeat offence will be subject to a maximum $7,500 fine or 60 days imprisonment.

Section 2b. Parents who do not pay their child support payments if not in paid employment will be subject up to a maximum $1,000 fine or a suspension to the payment of social security if in receipt, or 30 day's imprisonment. A repeat offence will be subject to a maximum $7,500 fine, continued suspension to the payment of social security or 60 days imprisonment.

Section 2c. Courts shall be granted through this Act the authority to suspend the offenders drivers license for a maximum of 60 days.

Section 2d. Courts shall be granted through this Act the authority to make payment of the fine to the child/children equally in Trust or to the primary parent/guardian or carer of the the child/children.

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I note that the 'Abortion Reduction' Act is not yet law as a regional budget has not been passed. As I explained (and I am willing to regurgitate) the bill is not only unworkable but makes assumptions about the reasons why child support is not made. While it presumes that such people like to gamble it all away in casinos (I'd have thought it more likely they waste it down the pub myself if we're resorting to sterotypes...), it also seems to infer that people won't be able to pay a $25,000 fine so will be probably end up in prison either instead of the fine or due to non-payment. Where of course they will not have access to their child and will not have the opportunity to work to support the child. Indeed the child gets nothing of any material or financial value out of this part of the Act.

The $1000 health care reduction and associated funds have been removed. This is uneccesary; the Atlasian Health Care Act provides universal healthcare. Instead I have included a provision that the court may, through it's discretion allow the payment of any fine go directly to the child or the main parent/guardian for their benefit.

[The Artist Formerly Known As and Now Again Known As Ogis]

Speaker No Confidence Amendment

Article III, Section 6 is created to read:

Section 6: No Confidence

1. One-fourth of the registered voters in the Mideast may propose a vote of No Confidence in the Speaker of the Assembly.
2. A popular No Confidence vote shall begin within ten days of their accumulating the necessary support and shall begin between midnight Eastern Standard Time on a Thursday and 0001 Eastern Standard Time on the first Friday thereafter, and shall conclude exactly 72 hours after beginning.
3. A special Assembly meeting shall take place to accumulate the necessary support, and shall begin between midnight Eastern Standard Time on a Thursday and 0001 Eastern Standard Time on the first Friday thereafter, and shall conclude exactly 72 hours after beginning.
      i. The Governor of the Mideast shall open and close the official Assembly voting in place of the Speaker.
4. If a majority or the general populace votes No Confidence, and three of the four unaffected members of Assembly concur in a special election, then the Speaker shall be relieved of his or her duties immediately, but is permitted to retain the office of Assemblyperson.
5. The office of Speaker of the Assembly is awarded to the next in line as dictated by law.

[afleitch]

Amendment to The Public Procurement Policy Bill
Section 1 is amended to read;

The government and all public institutions of the Mideast, when they intend to purchase goods, works or services over a cost estimate of $1000, shall make a call for tenders. In their call, they shall explain the consistence of goods, works or services required, the cost estimate, the ceiling set for public spending, the process for bidding, the information required from the bidders, the criterias set to be selected.

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Amended section in italics. The amendment is proposed to ensure that a government office doesn't have to put out to tender the purchase of small/petty goods (for example; a water cooler) and services where a tendering process would inflate that cost and lead to unnecessary administrative red-tape.

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

Since nobody follows it, cares about it, or even seem to acknowledge its existance. I think it'd be pretty uncontroversial to repeal this legislation.

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[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Since nobody follows it, cares about it, or even seem to acknowledge its existance. I think it'd be pretty uncontroversial to repeal this legislation.

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I'd actually planned on starting PASLBAG up this week, but if we want to get rid of it, I guess it's up to you guys.

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

Since nobody follows it, cares about it, or even seem to acknowledge its existance. I think it'd be pretty uncontroversial to repeal this legislation.

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I'd actually planned on starting PASLBAG up this week, but if we want to get rid of it, I guess it's up to you guys.

I still think it's a terrible idea, so yes I still wish to see it replealed.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Well does anybody else have any bills?

[California8429]

I may have something soon about reforming our teaching pay system soon. No surprises, it's the same thing I spoke about many sessions ago about balancing multiple areas.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I've been thinking about the request from the region in the the stimulus bill.  My understanding (please correct me if i am wrong) is that the assembly was not directly involved in the process, and i'm thinking of putting together a bill to change that the next time this arises, as i believe the deliberation of the assembly could have improve it.
thoughts?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Well, anything we pass wouldn't have any real effect... that be change that'd have to happen at the federal level.

[California8429]

I've been thinking about the request from the region in the the stimulus bill.  My understanding (please correct me if i am wrong) is that the assembly was not directly involved in the process, and i'm thinking of putting together a bill to change that the next time this arises, as i believe the deliberation of the assembly could have improve it.
thoughts?

The Senator and Governor tmth worked together on it and I worked with tmth and eventually HW as well. So there was consent per se. However, we were given a few billion at our own dispense to use up as the Assembly deems it (which looks like it will go to make up the budget deficit).

[California8429]

I guess I'll introduce this, just to get it rolling. As you can see it's no where near complete, but I would like all of your input, debate, amendments, etc.

The Teaching Salary Act

Section 1
Public education teaching payment shall be based on the following:
30% Education acquired by degree, in any area. The greater amount of degrees and the more advanced degree will result in a higher salary.
35% Years spent teaching in public, private, charter schools, or universities. The longer a teacher has spent teaching, the greater their salary.
30% Regional test score results for their students. The higher the regional test scores the students they teach score, the greater their salary.
5% Former occupation related to teaching. For teachers who have had occupations related to their current teaching (like an engineering now teaching math), they will have a greater salary.

Section 2
The starting teacher salary will be $35,000 annually and will between this amount and $65,000 for any other given year based on Section 1’s formula. The teaching salary will be based on a sliding scale

Section 3
Each year there will be an annual test developed by the education department of the Mideast Government for grades 3-10 in the areas of math, writing, reading, science, and social studies. This regional test will be used to determine the 30% of the salary based on regional testing scores for teachers. Teachers who teach Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) will be scored on student’s results if they teach 11th or 12th grade students whom will not take the regional test due to local district requirements. Scores of the regional test will only affect the teacher teaching in their specific area (an English teacher is only scored on Writing and Reading).

Section 4
Teachers who do not teach a subject related to Math, Writing, Reading, Science, and Social Studies, and/or do not teach an AP or IB class, will not be subject to the 30% teaching salary category based on the regional test scores. Teachers who fall into the Section 4 category will only have the ability to achieve a maximum of $60,000 annually for salary.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

What about those who teach classes that emphasize the arts (band, choir, orchestra, industrial)? They should have the same incentives that the teachers that teach the standardized
test subjects. My concern is that those who teach the arts, will in the long run, be largely considered as second class by other teachers and will be the target of elimination by many school boards. Remember that the vast majority of arts students perform above their non arts classmates.

[The Artist Formerly Known As and Now Again Known As Ogis]

What about those who teach classes that emphasize the arts (band, choir, orchestra, industrial)? They should have the same incentives that the teachers that teach the standardized
test subjects. My concern is that those who teach the arts, will in the long run, be largely considered as second class by other teachers and will be the target of elimination by many school boards.

We are certainly trying to work on something to rectify this and provide more incentives for teachers of subjects outside the core.

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I'm not sure what you mean by this.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I have really had a great experience in our Assembly, and I would like to thank Inks, Swedish Cheese, Afleicht, Ogis, Gov. A-Bob and GM Badger for their fine work here during my time.
It seems that just as things were starting to get very much interesting around here again, I have been elected to the Senate.  I hope to continue to be able to do everything I can to help our region in a nonofficial capacity.

[The Artist Formerly Known As and Now Again Known As Ogis]

I have really had a great experience in our Assembly, and I would like to thank Inks, Swedish Cheese, Afleicht, Ogis, Gov. A-Bob and GM Badger for their fine work here during my time.
It seems that just as things were starting to get very much interesting around here again, I have been elected to the Senate.  I hope to continue to be able to do everything I can to help our region in a nonofficial capacity.

It was fantastic to work with you, and I wish you the best of luck in federal politics. Feel free to drop in and provide your input when you find time in your busy schedule.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

The following is introduced:

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[The Artist Formerly Known As and Now Again Known As Ogis]

Vote Deletion Act


1. Deleting one's vote from a regional voting booth after the twenty minute grace period is hereby illegal.
    a. Violators may be punished with no more than a six (6)-month ban on regional voting, a one-year ban on holding an office in the Mideast Assembly or Governorship, and two years probation.
        i. The Mideast Assembly shall open a thread and debate the innocence and/or specific punishment for the accused.
        ii. If the accused is a Mideast Assemblyman, he or she is not permitted to vote in the thread. 
    b. If a Mideastern citizen is found guilty of the said crime again during the probationary period decided by the Mideast Assembly, he or she is to receive a lifetime ban from citizenship in the Mideast.
    c. If a Mideastern election official is found guilty of said crime by the Assembly, he or she is expelled from office, in addition to the aforementioned penalties, and the vacancy is filled in accordance to law.
    d. The application of this statute is limited to ninety (90) days after the election in question.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

This session is now adjourned.  The next session will begin at noon today.  Remember to swear in some time after noon (EST).

[Badger]

Hey All:

I think its about time you all decide what you want to do with the regional budget. See linked post below.

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=128143.msg2853123#msg2853123

As noted, I'm flexable on the 4/18/11 date, just please advise ASAP if there is a consensus for another deadline date. Otherwise I'll assume you're all cool with the 4/18 date and you can rely on stopgap funding measures if there's no agreement by then.

[California8429]

New Assembly, please swear in so we can elect a Speaker for the new assembly and get the ball rolling again.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

The new session of the Assembly has begun.  As Dean of the Assembly, I will accept nominations for Speaker of the Assembly.

Ogis, Afleitch, and Swedish Cheese still have to sign in.  Nominations will close 24 hours after the last member has sworn in.

[The Artist Formerly Known As and Now Again Known As Ogis]

Present, and I nominate Inks.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Present. If need be (I'm not completely sure how this works) I'll second Inks.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Having received no other nominations, if there are no objections, I ask for unanimous consent that I am elected Speaker of the Assembly.