Northeast Assembly Thread

[homelycooking]

On the previous question the ayes are two; the nays are two. It will be up to acting Lt. Governor Winfield to break the tie.

[homelycooking]

On the previous question the ayes are two and the nays are three; the motion is not agreed to.

The House will now consider the next bill in the queue.

Natural Beauty Preservation Act

No billboard advertisements may be placed along roads, highways, freeways, or interstates in areas classified as rural.
Municipalities shall have the power to ban billboards within their jurisdiction.

Debate will last 48 hours, beginning now and lasting through to 9 AM Monday morning.

Members are also reminded that a recommendation for Lieutenant Governor is needed. Should any new business arise regarding the recommendation, feel free to discuss it during the debate if necessary.

[homelycooking]

I would support a ban on all billboards in rural areas, but another problem that would arise would be the necessity of establishing a meaningful and effective definition of "rural". I can accept the amendment by FM.

Does Atlasia have an interstate commerce clause in its constitution? If so, such legislation as the one we're debating might be unconstitutional.

[homelycooking]

I found no relevant clause in the Atlasian constitution parallel to the mentioned clause found in America's constitution.

Thanks. That's all I was looking for.

[homelycooking]

The amendment offered by FallenMorgan, having not been designated by the bill's sponsor as friendly, will come to a vote. Members will vote aye or nay on the following language:

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This vote will last 24 hours. Should the amendment fail, it will immediately be followed by a vote on the original language.

[homelycooking]

Aye on the amendment.

[homelycooking]

On the previous question the ayes are four; the nays are zero. The bill is amended to read:

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Members will vote aye or nay on passing the bill with this language. This will be a 24 hour vote. Concurrently, members will vote on a recommendation for Lieutenant Governor. Please nominate at least one Northeast Citizen to serve in that office. This will also be a 24 hour vote.

Ballot:

[] Napoleon (nom. Cincinnatus)
[] Write-in

[homelycooking]

Aye.

• Napoleon

[homelycooking]

On the previous question the ayes are four; the nays are two. The bill is passed.

On the vote to recommend, the votes for Napoleon are three and the write-in votes for Dallasfan are three. Without objection, both candidates will be recommended to the Governor.

The Assembly will now consider the next bill in the queue, proposed by the honorable member from New York. Debate will last forty-eight hours.

Amendment to the Northeast Assembly Speaker Act

The Northeast Assembly shall elect a Speaker from among its members by a majority vote of all members of the Northeast Assembly at the start of each new Northeast Assembly term. In the event that the members of the Assembly cannot come to a decision 48 hours after voting has commenced, the Lt. Gov [or in the case of vacancy, the acting Lt. Gov] shall break any ties and declare the new Speaker.

[homelycooking]

You may want to address what would happen if there are insufficient votes to elect a speaker (a minority of Assemblymen). Otherwise, as long as you clearly specify that this would occur only in the case of a tie, I'm fine with your amendment.

[homelycooking]

Time for debate has expired. This legislation will come to a vote - members will vote aye or nay on the following bill. This vote will last 24 hours.

Amendment to the Northeast Assembly Speaker Act

The Northeast Assembly shall elect a Speaker from among its members by a majority vote of all members of the Northeast Assembly at the start of each new Northeast Assembly term. In the event that the members of the Assembly cannot come to a decision 48 hours after voting has commenced, the Lt. Gov [or in the case of vacancy, the acting Lt. Gov] shall break any ties and declare the new Speaker.

[/quote]

[homelycooking]

Aye

The chair would like to remind the gentleman from New York that Napoleon has already been recommended to the Governor for appointment to the office of Lieutenant Governor.

On the vote to recommend, the votes for Napoleon are three and the write-in votes for Dallasfan are three. Without objection, both candidates will be recommended to the Governor.

If a member wishes to introduce a motion to retract that recommendation, then our procedure will follow from there. Barring that, there is no need to re-recommend.

[homelycooking]

On the previous question the ayes are two and the nays are three. The bill is not agreed to.

The Assembly will now consider the next bill in the queue, proposed by the honorable member from New York.

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Debate on this bill will last 48 hours.

[homelycooking]

I worked with Cincinnatus on writing this bill, and I believe that he's created a fine piece of legislation. This is exactly what needs to be done to save the Wiki. My only concern is that we may not have many citizens interested in working on the Wiki Reform Commission.

[homelycooking]

Question..........

Just how bad of a shape is the Northeast Wiki in?

I am reading from some of the comments that it is way outdated. 

I am also reading that some of you, who will form the Commission, will get the Wiki updated, and from there it becomes the responsibility of the Governor to keep it updated, or, at least, the Governor can designate someone, or perhaps more than one, if they accept of course, to keep it updated.

Perhaps those interested in keeping the Wiki updated can do so on a rotating basis, under the direction of the Governor.  Just a suggestion.  This way, perhaps all interested can participate, and one individual is not doing everything for the Northeast on Wiki.     

So what I see this boiling down to is a joint collaboration between the Governor and legislators and or citizens of the Northeast, with the Governor being ultimately responsible.

This being the case, perhaps something like the above should be written into the bill.

Just some thoughts to consider.

The Wiki is not just outdated, it is unorganized and incomplete. No new legislation has been added to the appropriate wiki pages in at least a year.

Also, considering that the Assembly is acting upon a new piece of legislation every three days, the work of keeping the wiki updated once the work of the Commission is completed would be relatively simple.

[homelycooking]

Time for debate has expired. Members will vote aye or nay on the bill at question. This will be a 24 hour vote.

[homelycooking]

Aye

[homelycooking]

On the previous question the ayes are four, the nays are zero. The bill is passed.

We will now consider, simultaneously, the size and membership of the future Wiki commission and the next bill in the queue, proposed by the honorable member from Pennsylvania.

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Time for debate on both questions will last 48 hours.

[homelycooking]

The bill needs lots of work if it's going to win my support. Section three is unnecessary, and it seems unconscionable to me that we should automatically grant all companies that don't outsource (a term not defined) a 15% tax deduction.

I don't think that the commission needs more than three members, but I would be willing to serve in Cincinnatus', Winfield's or Simfan's place should any of the three find themselves unable to work for the commission.

[homelycooking]

Time for debate has expired. Members will now vote on the bill - this will be a 24 hour vote.

Members will also recommend three potential members for the Wiki Review Commission.

[homelycooking]

Nay on the bill. I recommend Cincinnatus, Simfan and Winfield.

[homelycooking]

I'm rather disappointed we didn't get a better debate on on this. It was a good opportunity to tackle unemployment.

Well, to be fair, its sponsor called it "crap" and didn't seem willing to amend it. Another bill would probably be the best vehicle for that debate.

[homelycooking]

On the previous question the ayes are one and the nays are three. The bill is not agreed to.

Cincinnatus, Simfan, Winfield and homelycooking have been recommended to the Wiki Review Commission. If you are among these four, please notify your acceptance or rejection of your recommendation and, if you accept, become a member of the commission.

The Assembly will now consider the following bill, proposed by the gentleman from Rhode Island, Governor Winfield.

The Northeast Region Voting Act

In all Northeast Region elections, the 20 minute rule whereby a voter can change their vote within 20 minutes of casting it shall be eliminated.  The original vote as cast by the voter shall be their only valid vote.

Debate will last 48 hours and begins now.

[homelycooking]

I agree with the sponsor's sentiments and support this bill. I would just amend it thus for clarity as follows, since "20 minute rule" isn't precise.

Vote Sanctity Act

A voter who edits his ballot any length of time after it has been posted in the voting booth thread for any Northeast Election nullifies it. Election authorities shall not count a ballot altered in the above manner.

I accept my recommendation to the commission.

[homelycooking]

I believe that people should be allowed the opportunity to change their vote within a reasonable timeframe, if they so wish.

I do not. One's vote should be not be a bargaining chip, to be altered as one wishes after the fact to sway potential political allies or punish political enemies. It should reflect the final and irrevocable outcome of a voter's personal deliberation over the merits of the candidates at hand, and should be treated as such.

Should a voter make an error in his ballot, he still should not be permitted to fix it. That voter should have made sure that his ballot was accurate before posting it.