End Plastic Bag Pollution Bill (Law'd)

[minionofmidas]

End Plastic Bag Pollution Bill

1. A levy of $0.20 shall be made on the sale of all plastic bags within the Republic of Atlasia to take effect 6 weeks after the ratification of this Act.

2. For the purposes of this legislation, 'plastic bag’ shall be defined in as a bag 'made wholly or in part of plastic'.

3. Any and all funds raised from this levy shall be directed towards an 'environmental fund'.

4. The expenditure of monies from the environmental fund shall be made on projects dedicated to improving the environment of Atlasia as may be approved by the President of Atlasia, or such persons as he may appoint to do same.


Sponsor: Jas

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

This is a rather interesting idea, but I do want to press the issue that paper bags honestly aren't that much better.  They decompose, sure, but still take up resources and space in landfills.

Anyone interested in adding paper bags to the bill?

And a clarification as to what plastic bags we're talking about?  Are we talking about those at grocery stores to carry home our purchases?  Ziploc bags we use to take our lunches to work?

[DownWithTheLeft]

This is a rather interesting idea, but I do want to press the issue that paper bags honestly aren't that much better.  They decompose, sure, but still take up resources and space in landfills.

Anyone interested in adding paper bags to the bill?

And a clarification as to what plastic bags we're talking about?  Are we talking about those at grocery stores to carry home our purchases?  Ziploc bags we use to take our lunches to work?

I know my local supermarket (a ShopRite) offers a 2 cent credit for paper bags

[DownWithTheLeft]

Amendent to change Section 3 to read:

3. Any and all funds raised from this levy shall be directed towards an 'environmental fund'. improvements in mass transits. 

Amendment to change Section 4 to read:
4. The expenditure of monies from the environmentalbag tax shall be made on projects dedicated to improving the environment mass transit systems of Atlasia as may be approved by the President of Atlasia, or such persons as he may appoint to do same. citizens of each region

And add a Section 5:
The fund shall be run by each region individually

Sponsor: Jas
[/quote]

[Јas]

This is a rather interesting idea, but I do want to press the issue that paper bags honestly aren't that much better.  They decompose, sure, but still take up resources and space in landfills.

Anyone interested in adding paper bags to the bill?

I can't speak to paper bags unfortunately. The use of paper bags is not something I've had any real experience of; nor can I speak to the environmental impact of same.

And a clarification as to what plastic bags we're talking about?  Are we talking about those at grocery stores to carry home our purchases?  Ziploc bags we use to take our lunches to work?

My primary target would be those used to carry groceries but generally to encourage movement away from disposable plastic bag use in favour of heavy reusable bags or other alternatives.

I'm quite willing to consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

[Sensei]

I'd like to offer an amendment
End Plastic Bag Pollution Bill

1. A levy of $0.10 shall be made on the sale of all plastic bags within the Republic of Atlasia to take effect 6 months after the ratification of this Act.

2. For the purposes of this legislation, 'plastic bag’ shall be defined in as a bag 'made wholly or mostly of plastic'.

3. Any and all funds raised from this levy shall be directed towards an 'environmental fund'.

4. The expenditure of monies from the environmental fund shall be made on projects dedicated to improving the environment of Atlasia as may be approved by the President of Atlasia, or such persons as he may appoint to do same.


Sponsor: Jas

[Torie]

I don't think giving the Prez a blank check to spend the money at will is a good idea. It might even violate the concept of separation of powers, assuming such a concept is embraced by Atlasia's fundamental document. Why not use the money to subsidize alternative fuels or something? 

[Јas]

I don't think giving the Prez a blank check to spend the money at will is a good idea. It might even violate the concept of separation of powers, assuming such a concept is embraced by Atlasia's fundamental document. Why not use the money to subsidize alternative fuels or something? 

I'm not really that pushed on what the funds should be used for preferably towards something environmentally positive or else to general government funds. (I'd considered adding a section asking that the use of the funds be reported on periodically as a condition for continued receipt of the same funds.) Feel free to submit something for consideration.

[Јas]

I'd like to offer an amendment
End Plastic Bag Pollution Bill

1. A levy of $0.10 shall be made on the sale of all plastic bags within the Republic of Atlasia to take effect 6 months after the ratification of this Act.

2. For the purposes of this legislation, 'plastic bag’ shall be defined in as a bag 'made wholly or mostly of plastic'.

3. Any and all funds raised from this levy shall be directed towards an 'environmental fund'.

4. The expenditure of monies from the environmental fund shall be made on projects dedicated to improving the environment of Atlasia as may be approved by the President of Atlasia, or such persons as he may appoint to do same.

I'll vote against the reduction to $0.10, it's probably too nominal a charge.
I'm open to extending the timeframe for introduction by friendly amendment, subject to some reasoning being offered as to why it would be preferable.
Not sure what the 3^rd amendment is trying to address.

[minionofmidas]

Obviously the amendments on the floor need a little more debate before going to any votes...

meanwhile I would urge the esteemed Senator who is down with the left to reword his amendment slightly, as it currently reads (in part):

Amendment to change Section 3 to read:

"3. Any and all funds raised from this levy shall be directed towards toward improvements in mass transits. 

[snip]

And add a Section 5:
"The fund shall be run be each region individually"

[DownWithTheLeft]

Amendment typos fixed for Lewis

Anyone have thoughts on my amendments?

[minionofmidas]

It would probably make sense to specify (at least approximately) the process by which each region's citizens would decide what to spend the money on.

[DownWithTheLeft]

It would probably make sense to specify (at least approximately) the process by which each region's citizens would decide what to spend the money on.

My point was really to make it broad and allow the regions to decide, I think is not bad but doing it on a federal level is

[Torie]

It would probably make sense to specify (at least approximately) the process by which each region's citizens would decide what to spend the money on.

My point was really to make it broad and allow the regions to decide, I think is not bad but doing it on a federal level is

The spoils are used for revenue sharing eh?  Maybe we should just use the money to reduce the national debt.

[minionofmidas]

Amendent to change Section 3 to read:

3. Any and all funds raised from this levy shall be directed towards an 'environmental fund'. improvements in mass transits. 

Amendment to change Section 4 to read:
4. The expenditure of monies from the environmentalbag tax shall be made on projects dedicated to improving the environment mass transit systems of Atlasia as may be approved by the President of Atlasia, or such persons as he may appoint to do same. citizens of each region

And add a Section 5:
The fund shall be run by each region individually

The vote is on the amendment (Sensei's amendment to come up afterwards).

Please vote aye, nay or abstain.


Nay.


We voted in new money for mass transits already. My vote is nothing to do with the regional thingy, nor with the amendment's sponsor.

[Јas]

Nay

[Torie]

Nay

[DownWithTheLeft]

Aye

[Filuwaúrdjan]

non

[Bacon King]

nay

[Sensei]

no sir

[minionofmidas]

This amendment has failed.
Vote count:
Aye 1 (Dwtl)
Nay 6 (Lewis, Jas, Torie, Al, Bacon, Sensei)
did not vote 3 (Verily, Meeker, Culture)

I'd like to offer an amendment
End Plastic Bag Pollution Bill

1. A levy of $0.10 shall be made on the sale of all plastic bags within the Republic of Atlasia to take effect 6 months after the ratification of this Act.

2. For the purposes of this legislation, 'plastic bag’ shall be defined in as a bag 'made wholly or mostly of plastic'.

3. Any and all funds raised from this levy shall be directed towards an 'environmental fund'.

4. The expenditure of monies from the environmental fund shall be made on projects dedicated to improving the environment of Atlasia as may be approved by the President of Atlasia, or such persons as he may appoint to do same.

The vote is on the amendment. Please vote aye, nay or abstain.


Nay.

[Torie]

Nay

[Јas]

Nay

[DownWithTheLeft]

Aye