Afleitch for Mideast Assembly.

[California8429]

Good luck,

And thank you for our criticisms, too bad you didn't participate in the discussion when we were crafting the legislation

[California8429]

On the Bake Sale Act.  You have an excellent point.  That's something that I don't think crossed the minds of the Assemblymen, and if you'd have brought the issue up, we'd gladly have rectified that in the chambers before voting on it.

I think all of us specifically read the text as "bakesale" items, however I'm sure we can clear up the text with BBF to be definite.

[California8429]

lol, you don't like the Abortion Reduction Act because of the name? Wow. The bill punishes dead beat dads and gives more options to new families so they can be encouraged not to get an abortion. This started in the last session and made it through to the current one with complete bi-partisan support. This is one of those bills where Badger and I agreed would help the region. That is one bold move to repeal one of the best works of legislation that has come out of the Assembly recently with support from all sides on an issue that bitterly divides Atlasia and focussing on how we can work together to encourage life.

I agree we need to reword the BakeSale bill, but you seriously want to work to overturn everything that has been turned into law?

[California8429]

Thank you for posting that. But why is there reason to overturn the entire bill and not just simply amend it? And also we can't just let dead beat dads and moms off the hook, that doesn't get child support payments in either.

[California8429]

Thank you for posting that. But why is there reason to overturn the entire bill and not just simply amend it? And also we can't just let dead beat dads and moms off the hook, that doesn't get child support payments in either.

It could be amended, but it would be gutted in such a way that it would cease to be the bill it was. Why on earth was it called an 'Abortion Reduction' bill in the first instance as abortion is not touched in the bill at all? (On a side note if anything it encourages potential 'dead-beat dads' to pressure easily led and vulnerable partners to have an abortion rather than risk picking up the financial tab later)

What would be required is a Child Support and Maintenance Bill (call it for what it is) that sets out levels of child support payments, a payment programme and appropriate penalties for those who do not pay.

So once again, you think we shouldn't prosecute dead beat dads to stop abortions? If they're going to be a dead beat dad, chances are they are already out of the picture, or the mother doesn't even want his consent in the choice, this in fact supports a mother's choice for life because what we set up is a system that will help protect the child's financial future.

[California8429]

I  am sorry, but I think the "practical" concerns here do not take into account the role of prosecutors and judges in these matters.  While all are not perfect, I believe those on the ground currently making those decisions are doing a superb job in very tough situations.  Our bill (yeah the name sucks, but who cares) establishes a great framework for the system to remedy very tough matters.

The way to check if a bill works is to run through a few scenarios.

If a deadbeat dad is faced with a $25,000 fine will he pay it or abscond?

If he absconds will he pay any maintenance if he wants to remain hidden from the authorities?

If he is faced with jail for a maximum of a few years will his child receive any maintenance from him when he is in prison?

The Act has clauses which make an already difficult existance for the child even worse because of the actions of the offending parent.

If he has to pay 25k obviously he's done something wrong here, and if he isn't going to pay, he's probably never going to pay, and that needs to be punished. I mean, I'd be open to a bill you could introduce about maximum penalities at one time, but deadbeat parents should not be rewarded at all, it's not fair to the kid or the parent raising the kid.

[California8429]

What specific cuts would you make in our current budget and/or tax increases to make up for our current assumed budget shortfall?

[California8429]

Congrats