Mideast Assembly Thread

[Peter]

Given full consideration, I will not vote to override a veto on this issue.

Does Badger/SC still wish to proceed to amend the bill, have it vetoed, and then have the override fail?

[Peter]

The Mideast Equal Rights Under the Law for All Act.

"All Mideastern statutes and regulations which prohibit discrimination or disparate treatment under the law on the basis of, or guarantee legal rights or privileges regardless of, a subject's race, national origin, religion, or gender, shall henceforth be amended to include "sexual orientation" as a similarly illegal basis of discrimination or denial of legal rights."

The above bill is on the table.

I support the bil, but I would note the following things - the equal protection clause arguably provides a sturdy defense against all discrimination by government on grounds of sexual orientation. Obviously this does not impede private actors, and so I am willing to support this bill.

[Peter]

May I take this as no objeciton to proceeding to vote?

[Peter]

The vote is on the bill that I quoted above. Please vote now.

[Peter]

Aye
I introduce the following:
Mideast Sexual Health Bill
For the purposes of this statute:

   1. Public Medical Facility means any medical or family planning centre under the direct control of the Regional government or a private medical or family planning centre that draws more than one-tenth of its funding from Regional funds.
   2. Non-Public Medical Facility means any medical or family planning centre not included in Clause 1.

Therefore,

   1. All Public medical facilities are hereby required to provide a reasonable amount of barrier contraception free of charge to any person who requests it.
   2. Any private facility covered under clause one that fails to comply shall have its Regional funding reduced to a point where it comprises exactly 10% of the facility's funding.
   3. Any non-Public medical facilities, and private facilities covered under clause one, that provide barrier contraception free of charge to persons may reclaim their costs subject to such rules and regulations as the Mideast Department of the Treasury shall deem necessary.
   4.  Each person who receives barrier contraception under the terms of this statute will be provided with a leaflet produced by the Mideast Department of Health explaining how to use the contraception, the dangers of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, the potential problems associated with unwanted pregnancies and any other facts that the Department of Health finds relevant.

[Peter]

The Ayes have it. The Ayes have it.
The bill is transmitted to the Governor for his signature or veto.

[Peter]

The bill longer term will, I suspect, pay for itself. If there is a wide availability of barrier contraception, this will decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies. If this is the case, there is a lower number of abortions, thus reducing any health complications from an abortion, thus reducing the exposure of the taxpayer to pay to treat these patients.

It also will hopefully decrease the number of STD infections, thus again reducing the exposure of the taxpayer to these patients. Most of all, I think that the very people this bill will protect are the future of the Mideast economy - it will stop the hard-working Atlasians of tomorrow from contracting an illness that inhibits their ability to work and thus grow the economy.

I originally considered an age cap when I wrote this bill (it was in fact written some years ago and lied dormant on my wiki page). On balance, I do not like to discriminate against individuals based on age, and I think the probability is that there will be few people over a certain age who would use the service, thus meaning the age cap would not save much money.

My intent in the "reasonable" amount of contraception was to stop a joker going into a clinic and asking for 100000 condoms. Not sensible, and a waste of resources. As far as I am concerned, it is the medical professionals judgement as to what is reasonable in the case before them. I trust doctors, nurses and all hard working public servants to make these decisions.

My bill would ultimately open free contraception to teenagers who at the moment would probably not have sufficient independent financial means to buy their own, and certainly would not ask their parents for it. This is a critical age group for the future of the economy and we must do everything in our power to protect it.

- Finally, I ask a question about the timeliness of this proposal, just before the election, whereas our Region is plagued with foreclosures, budgetary constraints with less tax revenues and, furthermore, high unemployment, , as Sweedish Cheese underlined it accurately in his candidacy speech.

One may wonder whether it is a real priority on the Assembly's agenda or if it is a way of intervening in the campaign ?

Whilst you are welcome to your opinions and may voice them as you please, I must take great exception to this comment. I have always proposed bills that I feel are in the best interests of whomever my constituents were at the time - I do not propose bills for the purposes of my own electability (not that I am a candidate for election at any rate).

[Peter]

There has been no substantive debate in 24 hours. A vote is hereby opened.

[Peter]

Mideast Sexual Health Bill
For the purposes of this statute:

   1. Public Medical Facility means any medical or family planning centre under the direct control of the Regional government or a private medical or family planning centre that draws more than one-tenth of its funding from Regional funds.
   2. Non-Public Medical Facility means any medical or family planning centre not included in Clause 1.

Therefore,

   1. All Public medical facilities are hereby required to provide a reasonable amount of barrier contraception free of charge to any person who requests it.
   2. Any private facility covered under clause one that fails to comply shall have its Regional funding reduced to a point where it comprises exactly 10% of the facility's funding.
   3. Any non-Public medical facilities, and private facilities covered under clause one, that provide barrier contraception free of charge to persons may reclaim their costs subject to such rules and regulations as the Mideast Department of the Treasury shall deem necessary.
   4.  Each person who receives barrier contraception under the terms of this statute will be provided with a leaflet produced by the Mideast Department of Health explaining how to use the contraception, the dangers of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, the potential problems associated with unwanted pregnancies and any other facts that the Department of Health finds relevant.

Aye. The bill is transmitted to the Governor for his signature or veto.

[Peter]

The Mideast Dog Breed Equity Under the Law Act

1) All Mideast regional statutes and regulations which currently place additional legal restrictions, duties, penalties, or legal presumptions upon the keeper, owner or harborer of dogs based solely upon the breed of said dog, including but not limited to the breed of dogs known as "American Pit Bull Terriers", "Staffordshire Terriers", or "Pit Bulls", are hereby repealed.

2) Nothing in this act shall be construed to remove legal restrictions, duties, penalties, or legal presumptions upon the keeper, owner or harborer of any dog based on prior misconduct of that particular dog or owner.

Given that the Governor has not yet taken action on the Sexual Health Bill, this bill is brought to the floor for consideration, and if necessary debate will be suspended to take further action on the Sexual Health Bill.

I am undecided on the bill having no strong feelings either way. I will consider the debate and vote accordingly.

[Peter]

Indeed, a vote on the bill in my last post is hereby opened.

[Peter]

On the Dog Bill, Abstain.
The bill is transmitted to the President for his signature or veto.
The motion to override the veto is recognised and is given a minimum of 24 hour debate time.
I feel the bill should pass for the many reasons that I proposed it - the bill will reduce STDs and unwanted pregnancies. I cannot believe that there are pro-life conservatives who would oppose reducing unwanted pregnancies. I did my very best to make the bill appealing to those conservatives by only including barrier contraception and not a drug that would kill an embryo however early in development. Many of you speak about "personal responsibility" - by choosing to use contraception the couple are exercising this responsibility - sadly there will still be many who do not avail themselves of this service.

From an economic perspective, ultimately it will save money for the economy of the Mideast Region due to more people able to work because not off work sick, and thus increase tax revenues, albeit marginally.

[Peter]

There has been no further debate.

The vote is to override the veto of the Sexual Health Bill.

[Peter]

Aye.
The motion carries and the veto of the Governor is overriden.

[Peter]

I'm afraid that of late I have become very discontented with Atlasia. Recently I have only tended to the forum to see to my duties as Speaker. I have no desire to continue that on a prolonged basis.

The use of what us older posters would call tomato-souping, and the newer posters, zombie voting, has become politically acceptable, and I think that destroys a lot of what made Atlasia a great place.

I now seek a peaceful retirement from Atlasia and the forum at large. Whilst I confess I will likely post next Spring in the run-up to the general election in the UK, that will probably be the height of my participation.

To my successors as Speaker and Assemblymen, I wish you all the luck in the world. The curtain has fallen, its time to get off the stage, and its exactly what I intend to do.

[Peter]

Thank you for the well wishes. I really was quite surprised by it. To be honest, I had expected to simply fade away barely noticed. Maybe I was a bit wrong about the present state of Atlasia.

Anyway, I do need a break, and to those who ask me to stay on the forum - other than a few posts on the international boards, I barely post outside Atlasia, so whilst I'll undoubtedly browse from time to time, its best to consider this a retirement.

Thank you for the many bills - the watch I'm sure would go with my new real life suit. The pony might not do it so much good, though hopefully it'll keep the lawn down. I really do consider it a high honour that somebody has even considered it fitting to rename the capital for me. Once again, thank you.

I will give a final address when I adjourn the Assembly on Friday.
The Badger resolution is on the floor. If the SC bill is to be combined with it, may I suggest that it is rewritten in the same style? I'll leave that for one of you guys.

[Peter]

The act will be treated wholely as a Law, as oppoesd to resolution. Whilst small, I think my watch and pony do constitute an expenditure, so need to be a Law, as does the capital thing.
Assuming no objection, I open the vote on the whole bill.

[Peter]

The Ayes have it. The Ayes have it.

The bill is transmitted to the Governor for his signature or veto.

[Peter]

I wish to thank the many people who have made my time on here as enjoyable as it has been. My particular warm regards to Al, who has been a good friend throughout my years on this forum. His counsel and his support have been exemplary, and I must say that he has contributed so much that I think Atlasia would be much the worse if we had not had him.

In my time here, I've seen a lot of history and whilst it is important we see new blood, I do think it is important that we do not lose sight of the past. The machine voting of the AFDNC/AFRNC has returned in another guise, and whilst in some way they may be sustaining Atlasia's "activity", that is but a false dawn. You must take this nation beyond machine voting, and seek a truly energised electorate, and a level of debate and non-partisanship that sees every vote genuinely in contention and voters going outside their parties. That, ladies and gentlemen, is exciting, not a race to see who can turn out their core, inactive vote out the best.

Another man who I wish to honour who is active, but no longer in office, is an Irishman, Jas. His commitment to this nation has been stalwart - he helped run the federal government with efficiency and humour at the same time. In so many ways he combined these two key attributes, and again, I think we would be much the worse without him.

I wish to thank the Assembly for the great honour it has done me. I suppose now the future generations won’t forget my existence as the capital of our Region bears my name. To the future Assembly, good luck. To you all, good luck.

That leaves one last thing.

*Order, Order*
This Assembly is adjourned Sine Die.
Omnis Tuus Castra Sunt Inesse Nos

*Peter climbs on to pony back and gallops into the sunset*

[Peter]

[...]
Reinforcement of Rights Amendment to the Third Mideast Constitution
[...]

Mr Speaker, I must beg the chamber's pardon for my interruption, but I believe that these proposals must be given serious pause for consideration.

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The author here misunderstands what the phrase due process of Law entails. Due Process of Law is not the sum of the protections afforded by statutory Law, but by the Law of the Land, i.e. the protections of Constitutional Law, Statutory Law and Precedental Law (the decisions of the Courts).

The phrase "due process of Constitutional Law" therefore doesn't make any sense, and certainly has no history of interpretation in the Common Law system.

If the author's desire is to ban the death penalty except in the case of another amendment, then he should do just that, not something that obfuscates the true purpose.

No person shall be deprived of life by any agency of government whatsoever.

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This is a wonderful piece of circular logic, and again stems from a misunderstanding of the phrase "Constitutional Law". The amendment as read literally says "The State cannot take private property for private use unless the Constitution allows it". Thats a very large hole through which to drive a truck - all one needs to be able to do is argue that some other provision of the Constitution does allow it, and you're home.

There is already a reasonably robust piece of eminent domain restriction on the books, although conceivably it could be stronger.

Ultimately the biggest problem with eminent domain precedent is what "public use" actually means - a better approach to this problem may be to state that public use means only that the property may come into state ownership, not to be transferred to private owners at some later point (though that probably needs a time limit).

I thank the Assembly for its time

[Peter]

"1.  Human Life shall not be removed under any circumstance. No person shall be denied of Liberty or Property without due process of Law, Nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of Law."

This wording remains overly broad - not only does it bar the death penalty, but as you have already identified the euthanasia laws. It could also be picked up by the pro life crowd as a constitutional ban on abortion.

Perhaps most chilling is that it prevents law enforcement officers from using deadly force to protect innocent lives, because as government agents, they cannot kill.

If you wish to pursue this amendment I would have to advise a constitutional amendment restricted to only the death penalty, reading "Termination of human life shall not be permitted as a punishment for a crime committed under the jurisdiction of the Mideast Region" or words to that effect.

[Peter]

Members of the Assembly,

Due to the nature of some of the discussion elsewhere, I feel I ought to elucidate my feelings on a few things.

Whilst I can never be totally sure that I have eliminated all subjective bias (we are great self-kidders after all), if appointed I will swear an additional judicial oath stating my desire to dispose of this case without regard to the identities of the parties or the political outcome of my judgement. I think in my time here I have shown that I will always put the rule of Law above my own personal feelings.

Before I received a PM from Inks asking my availability for this case, I knew little of it other than the original controversy; I had a few thoughts at the time, but fortunately I kept these to myself, and for no particular reason did I keep them to myself. Since his PM, I have read a little more into the case, naturally, but I remain open to persuasion from all parties if confirmed.

In terms of disposing of the case, if confirmed I will do my best to push arguments through quickly and to have a final opinion by the end of the weekend.

I hope this gives some feeling as to my initial thoughts, and suitability, to take the case.

[Peter]

Omnis Tuus Castra Sunt Inesse Nos (What ever that means)

All your base are belonging to us.

[Peter]

Giovanni's disappearance may be explained by this.

[Peter]

Mideast Anti-Troll Act

1.   All people on the “Troll List” shall be barred from holding office in the Mideast Region and voting in the Mideast Region.
2.   The “Troll List” shall be defined as the list kept by the Moderators on the main Atlas Fantasy Board until the title, “Troll List.”
3.   This law shall not apply to people posted on the “Troll List” at the time of the signing of this legislation.
4.   This legislation shall take effect immediately upon signing.

This is getting like Guantanamo - once you were an enemy combatant there was no right of appeal to get you off.

Basically there is no right of appeal to being on the troll list, so once you are on, there is no independent arbiter to get you off it. Any bill like this is going to have a serious due process of Law issue.