Mideast Assembly Thread

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Inks as Speaker is fine by me.

more than fine by me.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

i'm not sure what this means. did Ogis just change the bills from last session back to their original, unamended form?  and is he officially the sponsor of the legislation now?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

is there an index of all standing Mideast statutes?
if not, I think it would be good to create one.

[🐒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?

[🐒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.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

30 sessions, 131 pages - maybe it's time for a new volume (thread)?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Inks

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Adequate Bill Consideration and Deliberation Act

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(I think this would be an amendment to current legislation but I can't remember what it's called.)

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

The Mideast Elections Are For Mideasterners Amendment

Article IV Section 1, clauses 1 and 2 of the Mideast Constitution is amended as follows:

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[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

when does the next term begin?  (and btw is this in the Constitution or statute somewhere?)

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Seeing no objection, the request is granted, and Inks.LWC is elected Speaker.

Members may now begin introducing legislation.

forty seconds of no one objecting qualifies as unanimous consent?   

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

MLK Day Act

Martin Luther King Jr. Day shall be a public holiday for the Mideast Region, to be celebrated on January 15 of each year.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

The Mideast Mass Transit Reform Act

1.The Mideast Region shall establish the Mideast Transit Projects Fund (MTPF) that shall provide grants in order to assist municipalities and metropolitan areas in the establishment and improvement of mass transit systems. 

2. Eligible mass transit proposals may include light rail, street car, metro, and bus rapid transit systems, as well as bus routes. Other systems of an innovative nature may also be eligible.

3.These grants shall be distributed according to considerations to include:
  a. improved accessibility and reliability of mass transit in connectivity to the general public and employment locations
  b. serving needs in a way that is relatively equitable geographically and with particular attention to the needs of the poor and under-served.
  c. cost-effectiveness and financial responsibility
  d. environmental sustainability and energy efficiency
  e. enhancements in aesthetic quality and user-friendliness
  f. minimization of the use of eminent domain toward homes and small businesses

4. $5 billion per year shall be allocated toward MTPF capital investments in fiscal years 2013-14 and 2014-15.  This shall be funded by reducing the annual allocation to High Speed Rail for these years by an equivalent amount and extending the remaining funding into the following year. 

5. An additional $500 million shall be allocated in the annual budget toward the funding the operation of these investments where necessary.

6. Electric utility companies shall be allowed to invest in the development and operation of electric-based mass transit in the Mideast to the extent permitted under federal law.

7. $100 million shall be added to the annual budget to improve freight rail in ways that encourage lessening of the contribution of freight to road congestion.