Environmental Policy Act of 2009 (Final Vote)

[Franzl]

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I'm willing to discuss eliminating Section 3.....and making Section 1 less strict (or alternatively, I'd be willing to completely eliminate Section 1 if accompanied by a pretty large increase in the gas tax).

Otherwise, I'm not prepared under any circumstances to repeal this act entirely.

[Franzl]

The limits set in Section 1 are artificial and I don't trust that we can accurately determine what cars "must" reach, in theory.

Now, I suppose I'd be willing to keep it....if the limits were made less strict, and pushed back, etc.

How about we drop Section 1, instead, and push a big gasoline tax increase?
If somebody wants to buy a car that only gets 28 mpg...well ok, that's fine....but let's increase the federal gas tax...by....let's say, $1.50/gallon.

All depends on how much people drive and the like....and artificially setting fuel consumption limits might not benefit everyone as it should, as it setting these restrictions invariably will make automobiles more expensive, and this would only be economically sensible if enough miles are driven. That, in my opinion, would be a more market friendly alternative.

[Franzl]

How about a compromise, to make it so Section 1 is less strict, Section 2 requires a consumer safety warning if it doesn't meet the requirements, rather than imprisonment, and Section 3 is repealed?

I'm willing to compromise on Sections 1 & 3, but I don't see why Section 2 is bad. Knowingly and willingly providing bad drinking water is a crime, in my opinion, that needs to be punished.

I submit the following amendment:

Section 1:
a: Repeal of Sections 2, 4 and 5 is eliminated.

b: Section 3 is repealed entirely.

c: The minimum standards outlined in Section 1 will be reduced in all categories for 2009 by 3 mpg, for 2011 by 4 mpg, and the standards for 2014 will be eliminated entirely and discussed again when the need arises.

Section 2: The federal Atlasian gasoline tax will be raised by $0.25/gallon to encourage the operation of fuel efficient cars.

[Franzl]

Take it or leave it

[Franzl]

Take it or leave it

Will you accept my amendment as friendly, SPC?

If not, I'd like a vote on it.

[Franzl]

I submit the following amendment:

Section 1:
a: Repeal of Sections 2, 4 and 5 is eliminated.

b: Section 3 is repealed entirely.

c: The minimum standards outlined in Section 1 will be reduced in all categories for 2009 by 3 mpg, for 2011 by 4 mpg, and the standards for 2014 will be eliminated entirely and discussed again when the need arises.

Section 2: The federal Atlasian gasoline tax will be raised by $0.25/gallon to encourage the operation of fuel efficient cars.

I'd like to bring this amendment to a vote now.


I do support Smid's idea (and Lief is correct too ).

I'll let Smid create his own amendment about that, though, after this is done.

[Franzl]

AYE

[Franzl]

Nay.

I like the bill as is, except for a change in the section 3. I don't see a need to impose a regressive gas tax.

Wait, you like my version of the bill as is, or Franzl's amendment as is?

Neither, I think. Lief prefers to keep the "Environmental Policy Act of 2007" as it is.

Should my amendment not be accepted by the Senate, then I will also join Lief in rejecting any repeal.

[Franzl]

Nay, I support sections 2, 4 and 5 so I can't vote for this amendment.

ah, so do I!

My amendment eliminates the repeal of those sections...thereby keeping them actually

[Franzl]

Nay, I support sections 2, 4 and 5 so I can't vote for this amendment.

ah, so do I!

My amendment eliminates the repeal of those sections...thereby keeping them actually

Thanks for the clarification, it was confusing language and I was wondering about the double negatives.

A quick query - would the increase in the gasoline tax/fuel excise be limited to petrol/gasoline, or would it include other fuel types such as biodiesel and fuel that contains ethanol? Leaving the level of taxation constant on biodiesel and fuel with an ethanol content (or at least an ethanol content of more than 5 or 10%) would consequently make that fuel cheaper and therefore create an incentive for people to convert their engines/buy cars which can run on these types of fuel. The tax on gasoline could also be funnelled into a subsidy for converting engines and/or new cars using those types of fuel. A subsidy would require a further, future amendment but I'd still like a clarification on the extent of the additional fuel tax.

I apologize for not clarifying that. I intended for that to only include gasoline.

[Franzl]

I hope Smid doesn't mind if I take his idea. (But I think he'll be in bed in Australia at the moment , and I'd like to get it through.)

Amendment:

Section 1: The Atlasian government will prohibit the sale of incandescent lightbulbs effective January 1, 2010.

Section 2: The gas tax increase of $0.25 will only apply to gasoline. The taxation of other energy forms will not be changed.

[Franzl]

As I said before, I'd like some clarification as to where the tax money will be going.

the gas tax, which has already been approved, can be used for a variety of projects. Personally, I'd just leave it open....and use it for stuff like: road construction, education, etc.

If you'd like to use it for something specific, please propose an amendment. I'm more than happy to listen to it

[Franzl]

If Franzl is open to it I will happily bring it up for a vote as one amendment.

Absolutely, I accept it.

Great work, realisticidealist.

[Franzl]

AYE

[Franzl]

7-2-1 on the amendment. It has passed.

Come on, I encourage the Senate to not sink into inactivity again, let's keep the ball rolling.

[Franzl]

Aye

[Franzl]

We could have our first unanimous vote!

Only on the amendment. Not the bill yet. Let's hope we get some consensus though.

Consensus for the sake of consensus is useless.

True. I'd rather some of these repeals be tabled right off the bat than have you all trying to create compromises that gut useful legislation for the purpose of consensus.

And there have been motions to table, one of them successful. There are also cases where compromises are legitimate, like this bill, in my opinion.

[Franzl]

I agree with the Senator from the Pacific.

But besides that....I think I'm ready for a final vote here.

[Franzl]

As such, I move that we change the title to the Environmental Policy Act of 2009.

I agree with realisticidealist.

[Franzl]

I think we do need a vote unless SPC accepts the proposal as friendly.

[Franzl]

Section 1:
a: Repeal of Sections 2, 4 and 5 is eliminated.

b: Section 3 is repealed entirely.

c: The minimum standards outlined in Section 1 will be reduced in all categories for 2009 by 3 mpg, for 2011 by 4 mpg, and the standards for 2014 will be eliminated entirely and discussed again when the need arises.

Section 2: The federal Atlasian gasoline tax will be raised by $0.25/gallon to encourage the operation of fuel efficient cars.

Section 2B: The gas tax increase of $0.25 will only apply to gasoline. The taxation of other energy forms will not be changed.

Section 3: The Atlasian government will prohibit the sale of incandescent lightbulbs effective January 1, 2010.

Section 3B:
(a) Any person or registered business may return incandescent lightbulbs to a government-approved recycling centre until 30 June 2010.

(b) If an incandescent lightbulb returned under section 1B(a) is sealed in its original packaging, the person or business returning the bulb shall be compensated $1. The recycling centre shall act as an agent on behalf of the Atlasian Government.

(c) To qualify for compensation, the lightbulb must have been produced no later than the date on which this Bill is signed by the President of Atlasia and may have been purchased by the person or registered business no later than 30 June 2009 as determined using a First In First Out (FIFO) inventory recording system.

(d) Any person found tampering with any lightbulb packaging or purchase records in order to receive compensation may be charged with fraud, at the discretion of the Office of the Attorney-General.

Section 4: All revenue from said tax will be reused as a subsidy for alternative energy usage.

(a) 50% of funds shall be allocated as a subsidy for the purchase of alternative energy vehicles.
*(i) Alternative energy shall be defined as non-gasoline consuming such as, but not limited, to ethanol, solar, and fuel cell technologies.
*(ii) Any person who seeks to purchase an alternative energy vehicle shall have up to one half of the cost of the vehicle reimbursed upon completion of the transaction.

(b) 25% of funds shall be allocated for the conversion of gasoline engines to ethanol usage.
*(i) Any person who seeks to convert a gasoline-powered vehicle to an ethanol-powered vehicle shall have up to one half of the cost of the conversion reimbursed upon completion.

(c) 25% of funds shall be allocated for the research of alternative energy technologies in vehicles.
*(i) Any person who seeks to research alternative energy technologies for their usage in vehicles may receive a grant of up to $100,000. Any money not used for alternative energy research will be recollected.


This is my summary of what the Senate has voted for.

[Franzl]

Oh it certainly does, thanks

[Franzl]

I second the call for a final vote.

[Franzl]

Aye

[Franzl]

Section 1: The Atlasian government will prohibit the sale of incandescent lightbulbs effective January 1, 2010.

a) Any person or registered business may return incandescent lightbulbs to a government-approved recycling centre until 30 June 2010.

b) If an incandescent lightbulb returned under section 1a is sealed in its original packaging, the person or business returning the bulb shall be compensated $1. The recycling centre shall act as an agent on behalf of the Atlasian Government.

c) To qualify for compensation, the lightbulb must have been produced no later than the date on which this Bill is signed by the President of Atlasia and may have been purchased by the person or registered business no later than 30 June 2009 as determined using a First In First Out (FIFO) inventory recording system.

d) Any person found tampering with any lightbulb packaging or purchase records in order to receive compensation may be charged with fraud, at the discretion of the Office of the Attorney-General.

Section 2: The minimum standards outlined in Section 1 [of the Environmental Policy Act of 2007] will be reduced in all categories for 2009 by 3 mpg, for 2011 by 4 mpg, and the standards for 2014 will be eliminated entirely and discussed again when the need arises.

Section 3: The gas tax increase of $0.25 will only apply to gasoline. The taxation of other energy forms will not be changed.

Section 4: All revenue from said tax will be reused as a subsidy for alternative energy usage.

(a) 50% of funds shall be allocated as a subsidy for the purchase of alternative energy vehicles.
*(i) Alternative energy shall be defined as non-gasoline consuming such as, but not limited, to ethanol, solar, and fuel cell technologies.
*(ii) Any person who seeks to purchase an alternative energy vehicle shall have up to one half of the cost of the vehicle reimbursed upon completion of the transaction.

(b) 25% of funds shall be allocated for the conversion of gasoline engines to ethanol usage.
*(i) Any person who seeks to convert a gasoline-powered vehicle to an ethanol-powered vehicle shall have up to one half of the cost of the conversion reimbursed upon completion.

(c) 25% of funds shall be allocated for the research of alternative energy technologies in vehicles.
*(i) Any person who seeks to research alternative energy technologies for their usage in vehicles may receive a grant of up to $100,000. Any money not used for alternative energy research will be recollected.