SB 117-41: Constructing a new Capitol District - Passed

[Joseph Cao]

If people are bothered by the naming, we can change that. It's a bill i drafted a while ago and am just introducing now

lol

Senators Laki!

[Joseph Cao]

Anyway, for worldbuilding purposes this is… intriguing. Is the President supposed to write his own bill funding this or what?

[Joseph Cao]

Funding issues, current residents of the area , and possible name (I'm not sure what would fit well for that though) aside I actually could get behind the idea, considering the South's attempt to secede earlier this year. Having the Capitol surrounded/located solely in one region as is the case now could place the government hostage to that region should they attempt to do such a thing in the future.

Name can be changed if that is the issue.

If people are bothered by the naming, we can change that. It's a bill i drafted a while ago and am just introducing now

lol

Senators Laki!

Not that you have really shown opposition to that.

To what, the nepotism bill? This bill? Check my posts in either thread. TIL if someone doesn't register all their complaints immediately then they support every part of the bill.

I like this concept, Laki. I think this bill actually stands a good chance of being improved through constructive amendments. I will offer an amendment when i think of a better name than the frankly toadying one you're using here.

[Joseph Cao]

Objection to the motion, still working on an amendment.

[Joseph Cao]

Objection to the motion, still working on an amendment.

What will your amendment be covering?

I could tell you but I might as well write it all out, all this is courtesy of the Lokcord convo we had about this three years ago that I had to dig up from one of my old folders.

Constructing a new Capitol District

Section 1: Establishment

1.1 Location and Naming:
a) The towns of Keokuk, Alexandria, Warsaw, and Hamilton with surrounding areas as indicated in the Addendum shall be acquired from their respective states and regions to form the new capital district. The capital district shall be no larger than one hundred square miles and shall be centered on the tri-point of Lincoln, Fremont, and the South.

1.2 Suburbs and Neighborhoods:
a) The suburbs surrounding the district shall be named after legendary presidents of the country, chosen through public debate and consensus.
b) The specific names for each suburb shall be determined by relevant authorities in consultation with the public.

Section 2: Administrative Changes

2.1 Census and Registration:
a) The designation of Nyman, D.C. in the census shall be changed to reflect the new capital's name.
b) Individuals registering in the district shall indicate if they want to have voting rights in Lincoln (treated as a citizen of Illinois), Fremont (treated as a citizen of Iowa), or the South (treated as a citizen of Missouri).
c) Individuals currently registered in Nyman, D.C., shall retain their current registration (in the Southern region and Upper South subregion).

2.2 Status of Nyman (current D.C.)
 a) The federal buildings in Nyman shall be converted into museums, preserving their historical significance and ensuring public access and appreciation.

2.3 Expedited Construction of the New Capital
a) Allocate a dedicated workforce, consisting of skilled laborers and construction experts, to expedite development.
b) Establish a timetable for construction milestones and completion of key infrastructure projects, aiming to complete the new capital within two years from the start of construction.
c) Prioritize the allocation of resources, including financial, material, and human resources, to ensure efficient and timely construction.
d) Regularly assess progress, address potential bottlenecks, and adapt strategies as needed to maintain the construction schedule.

Section 3: Functionality and Districts

3.1 Military District:
a) A dedicated military complex shall be established adjacent to the Capitol, to facilitate military operations, exercises, and coordination.

3.2 Housing District:
a) A designated residential area shall be created exclusively for government personnel, providing suitable housing options for officials and employees.

3.3 Intelligence District:
a) An area shall be designated for intelligence agencies and related institutions to promote collaboration, effective information sharing, and strategic intelligence operations.

3.4 Trading/Commerce District:
a) A central district shall be developed to accommodate commercial and trading activities, attracting businesses and fostering economic growth.

3.5 Transport District:
a) A comprehensive transport hub shall be established, featuring modern infrastructure for aviation, railway, and Mississippi River shipping facilities.
b) An airport shall be constructed on suitable land within the capital district, taking into account other transport links and proximity to residential areas.
c) Upgrades to roads and state and interstate highways proceeding from the capital district shall be considered during initial development in order to facilitate accessible travel.
d) The Keokuk-Hamilton Bridge shall be upgraded and construction of other cross-Mississippi bridges shall be considered in order to better integrate both halves of the capital district.

Section 4: Implementation and Funding

4.1 Naming of Districts:
a) The specific names for each district within the capital district shall be determined through public participation and consultation.
b) Relevant authorities shall facilitate the naming process, ensuring transparency and inclusivity.

4.2 Commencement of Activities:
a) The competentrelevant authorities shall initiate the necessary actions to implement the provisions outlined in this Act, including the establishment of administrative bodies, infrastructure development, and public engagement.

4.3 Allocation of Funds:
a) An initial budget of $10 billion shall be made available for construction and development. This funding shall be allocated within two years from the enactment of this act.
b) The President, in collaboration with relevant government agencies, shall oversee the allocation and disbursement of these funds, ensuring transparency and accountability. The President shall present a bill to the Senate authorizing such allocations within six months from the effective date of this legislation.

4.4 Prioritization of Construction:
a) Construction shall be carried out in a phased approach, with certain parts of the city prioritized to ensure efficient and timely development.
b) The following areas shall be designated as priority areas for construction:
i) The new White House: Construction of a new presidential building to serve as the official residence and workplace of the President of the Republic of Atlasia.
ii) Military District: Expedited development of the military complex adjacent to the Capitol to facilitate military operations, exercises, and coordination.

4.5 Implementation Schedule:
a) The President, in consultation with relevant authorities, shall establish an implementation schedule that outlines the timeline and milestones for construction.
b) The schedule shall include specific deadlines and benchmarks for the completion of priority areas, ensuring progress and accountability throughout the construction process.

4.6 Reporting and Oversight:
a) The President shall provide regular progress reports to the Senate and the public, detailing the utilization of funds, milestones achieved, and any challenges encountered during construction.
b) The Senate shall exercise oversight to ensure that the allocated funds are utilized efficiently and in accordance with the objectives of the act.

Section 5: Selection of a Name

a) Upon passage of this legislation, there will be a public thread to suggest names for the new Capital. Submissions will be open for a period of 14 calendar days. Following this, the Senate shall vote for a new name by STV among all submissions received, and the top five names will be forwarded to referendum.

b) A federally-administrated referendum will be held the weekend beginning November 17, 2023. Voters will vote among the five finalists by STV, and the winner shall be declared the name of the new Capital.

c) Where not otherwise stated, this legislation shall take effect upon the certification of this referendum.

Addendum:



Map

The bill as-is incorporates precisely zero square miles of the Southern Region, so I fixed that.

§2.3 is empty corporatespeak that the relevant authorities can come up with themselves, these don't even count as "guidelines" for them because of how vaguely it's worded.

The absolute most important first consideration for a planned city (and most of the fun of doing this in the first place) is establishing how people get to, from, and around the city to begin with. I think this amendment covers most of the initial bases so this doesn't immediately become a white elephant.

Also made clear that the appropriations for this have to run through us at some point so they can be put in their proper budgetary place.

[Joseph Cao]

I entered this debate as an opponent of a new capital. My fellow senators, however, have raised good points about the rebellious nature of certain regions and the potential dangers in having the federal capital potentially surrounded by a hostile government. I support this act.

The obvious justification for the act and situating it at the regional tripoint is to foster goodwill between all regions but if this is the one that most motivates your thinking, sure, I can't stop you…

[Joseph Cao]

No objections but if we’re going to move the Capitol, wouldn’t it make more sense to move it near Lebanon Kansas which is the geographical halfway point?

Why is the geographical center relevant? The capitol district is a political entity and the obvious neutral place to put it is at the tripoint of Atlasia's three important political entities.

[Joseph Cao]

All I can say, as the one person who cares about the budget, is:

Not bailing out whichever administration inevitably causes our surplus to vanish because "it's not like we can't afford" any of the 120 other things we'll be allocating boatloads of cash to in the meantime!

[Joseph Cao]

All I can say, as the one person who cares about the budget, is:

Not bailing out whichever administration inevitably causes our surplus to vanish because "it's not like we can't afford" any of the 120 other things we'll be allocating boatloads of cash to in the meantime!

Well, the reasons why we have to move the capital have been stated before. Will this require a cost, yes. Obviously. And sure, we do have to be careful with budget

But the goal of a government should be to invest so that people / the government can even get wealthier and have bigger returns. No investment and no spending is stagnation.

We are running a surplus of $1044.28 Billion. What happens with that money? It should be spent. It's not healthy for an economy to have that much reserve. No government globally does that.

Yes, that is because no government globally (IRL, and almost the case in-game) could manage its fiscal affairs to save its life.

Personally I am amenable to this bill's concept, and it will certainly pass with or without my vote. The arguments Peace has made in favor of it, aside from Wulfric's, are uniformly pretty bad and I thought I'd point that out.