Welfare Reform Bill 2009 (On the President's Desk)

[Marokai Backbeat]

This bill is garbage, Nay.

I'm sad that election season distracted everyone from actual legislating.

[Fritz]

NAY

[MaxQue]

Nay

[Hash]

Aye

[afleitch]

Aye

[MasterJedi]

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

[Marokai Backbeat]

I hope we can work on Amendments to this again in the next session since apparently the entire Senate went on a vacation in this last week or so.

[Vepres]

I hope we can work on Amendments to this again in the next session since apparently the entire Senate went on a vacation in this last week or so.

Agreed, this bill is very meh-inspiring IMO.

[MasterJedi]

With 6 Ayes, 3 Nays and 0 Abstentions this bill has passed. I hereby present it to the President for his signature.

[Lief 🗽]

After much thought, I must unfortunately VETO this piece of legislation. I believe that it unfairly stigmatizes unemployment and hardship, and some of the measures, specifically the requirement to do volunteer service, make the unemployed or those Atlasians who have fallen on to hard times into criminals. Nonetheless, there are parts of this bill I support, and, if my veto is not overridden, I'd encourage and would be willing to work with the Senate on passing a bill that increases funding for vocational training programs, as I believe that is very important. I hope the Senate understands my reasons for this veto.

[Marokai Backbeat]

I hope that we can just let this veto stand and then re-do this bill in the next session. No one really likes this bill and there's a fair bit we should change.

[Purple State]

I hope that we can just let this veto stand and then re-do this bill in the next session. No one really likes this bill and there's a fair bit we should change.

I doubt it could happen before the end of the term, so I imagine that this will be the case.

[afleitch]

After much thought, I must unfortunately VETO this piece of legislation. I believe that it unfairly stigmatizes unemployment and hardship, and some of the measures, specifically the requirement to do volunteer service, make the unemployed or those Atlasians who have fallen on to hard times into criminals. Nonetheless, there are parts of this bill I support, and, if my veto is not overridden, I'd encourage and would be willing to work with the Senate on passing a bill that increases funding for vocational training programs, as I believe that is very important. I hope the Senate understands my reasons for this veto.

I hope that the President is aware that vetoing this bill does nothing to help establish a workable welfare policy and encourage people to find jobs. We have no welfare policy. I also strongly object to his notion that 'voluntary work' makes the unemployed 'like criminals'; such a comparison is greatly offensive to the thousands if not millions of employed and unemployed Atlasians who undertake voluntary work for the benefit of their families and their communities.

To give the unemployed the chance to do something is important for their dignity. At present (as the longstanding Welfare Bill this legislation was based on was overturned) they are simply given handouts. There are no opportunities for work. No opportunities for training. The state, legislatively does nothing for them other than give them a cheque and hope they fend for themselves.

The President has, will all due respect just left the unemployed and those looking for work at the mercy of the market.