Afleitch for Mideast Assembly.

[afleitch]

I am running for the Mideast Assembly this month. Suprisingly this has been the first time I've ran for office in six months and this notion to run has been somewhat induced by general boredom.

In comparison to the political leanings of the current assembly members, I seem (despite being in the same party as most of them) somewhat to the 'left' which is a curious development.

On political matters you know where I stand; you know what I support and what I oppose however it is only fair for me to elaborate on some of the recent bills that have passed

The Charter Schools Act is not comprehensive enough to ensure that the public interest is protected; what we mean by 'statewide standards' regarding education must be outlined. Therefore I support a bill that commits all public and publically funded schools in the Mideast to commit themselves to the academic truth and to respect the scientific concensus.

The Bake Sale Act concerns more than home cooking and the current Act makes no exemptions. My reading of the Act (and I would be grateful for clarification) suggests that it would be perfectly legal for a licenced gun owner to sell guns and other paraphenalia in school grounds. The school yard is not the high street. The bill is dangerous because it lacks sensible exemptions.

EDIT: It appears this bill had something to do with allowing kids to sell cupcakes - though the bill doesn't specifiy who is to do the selling - its so overly comprehensive it reads to allow the selling of anything legal by anyone in school grounds.

The Abortion Reduction Act is also worrying. Section 2 is both extraordinarily harsh and based on often false stereotypes; child support payments may be missed due to factors such as sickness, immediate unemployment or even due to administrative error. The Act makes no account for any legitimate reason given for those who 'do not pay' and slaps down a $25,000 fine which is punitive and may make it even more difficult for them to pay continuous child support. And up to 3 years in prison is a sure fire way of depriving the child of further child support payments from the offending parent. If you're the sort of parent who won't pay child support, you won't pay the fine anyway and even if you are imprisoned you won't pay the fine, you won't work and you definitely will not be paying child support.

I have already raised concerns about the purpose of the Labor Relations Act.

My concern therefore is that while the Assembly can be held up as an example of political concensus, it is clear that while the debate is lively and at many times seriously contemplative of the issues put before it, recent legislation is in dire need of scrutiny if not amendment. I believe I have a keen mind for such things and promise to engage actively in the writing and tabling of new legislation to meet the needs of the Mideast.

[afleitch]

On the Labour Relations Act.

Some of my concern for the bill rests, I admit on semantics. Section 1D states that 'employees shall have the right to collective bargaining without having to join any union or organization to do so.' However in forming a group for the purposes of collective bargaining in the workplace you have just formed a union, particularly when the bill allows for negotiations and group fees on the members behalf. To then differentiate between these 'non unions which are nonetheless unions' and 'unions like the ones you think of as unions' is not sound legislation. Furthermore stating that non members of a union are not entitled to union representation should not be a decision taken by the Assembly; it is up to each union to decide what assistance they provide to members and non members. My own union for example offers non members representation. This is based on the premise that regardless of whether or not a worker is a member of the union the union bargains and negotiates on behalf of the whole workplace.

On the matter of Junkies amendment as to who is classified as an 'emergency public service employee', I have to take issue. It is commonplace in most nations for the police not be unionised and likewise for other offices of law enforcement. As much as I believe firefighters and other emergency service staff have a right to strike I will concede that too, however to insist that 'local and regional employees of departments dealing with road repair, snow removal, trash collection, and disaster relief' are prohibited from striking' is curious. While these are no doubt essential services they are not by any means on par with law enforcement. Not having your trash collected for one day is far less damaging to families than not having the schools open due to a teachers strike (which is not and should not be illegal) It also affects some of the poorest paid workers.

[afleitch]

Good luck,

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

I though such things were best left to the legislators

[afleitch]

Many thanks for the endorsements so far

[afleitch]

At present, despite the Governor's veto of the Labor Relations bill, some Assembly members are pushing through a veto override without taking into consideration any of the objections levelled at the original bill.

There has been a serious problem during the last session of the Assembly. We have an 'Abortion Reduction' bill that has nothing to do with abortion at all but seeks punitive measures that, as I have outlined, do nothing for the welfare of the child. We have a Bake Sale act that again has nothing to do with its title and it's loose wording has the potential to turn schoolyards into Main Streets and lastly we have a Labor Relations bill that does nothing to improve labour relations at all, has no regard for the history of organised labour, bars unions from offering assistance to non union members as they see fit and seeks to create a distinction between different types of 'union' where none exist.

I will, if elected seek to repeal the 'Abortion Reduction' Act. I will repeal or heavily amend the Bake Sake Act which is probably the most bizarre bill I've ever seen passed by the Assembly. I will seek funding for a Second Garden Festival to regenerate a rust-belt city. I will ensure that I have looked through every Federal bill to ensure that any monies awarded to our region have been appropriated.

[afleitch]

lol, you don't like the Abortion Reduction Act because of the name? Wow.

No. As I outlined below;

The Abortion Reduction Act is also worrying. Section 2 is both extraordinarily harsh and based on often false stereotypes; child support payments may be missed due to factors such as sickness, immediate unemployment or even due to administrative error. The Act makes no account for any legitimate reason given for those who 'do not pay' and slaps down a $25,000 fine which is punitive and may make it even more difficult for them to pay continuous child support. And up to 3 years in prison is a sure fire way of depriving the child of further child support payments from the offending parent. If you're the sort of parent who won't pay child support, you won't pay the fine anyway and even if you are imprisoned you won't pay the fine, you won't work and you definitely will not be paying child support.

The impracticality of the legislation is pretty glaring.

[afleitch]

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.

[afleitch]

Feel free to weigh in on this: https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=130752.0

I support it. How about you, afleitch?

It is a welcome amendment It's simple additions such as these that can make a bill workable.

[afleitch]

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.

[afleitch]

Voting has opened

If you want a moderate voice in the Assembly and a member with an eye for detail please consider preferencing me

Andrew

[afleitch]

Thank you kindly to all of you who voted for me Now when do I get my perks!