The Imperial Dominion of the South's Legislature

[Donerail]

DOCKET A:
-IDS Independence Resolution
-Aliya Mustafina Day
-Dogs & Cats
-Imperial Empiricism
-Blue Laws
-Tips & Commissions

Since I figure we should decide on some sort of docket, I'd put this forth as my suggested one. Put the bills that are mostly ceremonial or will have little debate first so we can get through with them, and the bigger bills later (in order of introduction for part as well).

[Donerail]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Why not simply define this as the continent of Antarctica from 90w-150w?

Because we also want to include territorial waters (and the rich fisheries that accompany it), so it's south of the 60th.

[Donerail]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

This act is merely a request that we have our own regional sub-board so our stuff is organized and not lost amidst the business of the other regions. Purely ceremonial, and purely beneficial. I would assume the other regions would do the same if we actually got one.

[Donerail]

This thereby would crystallize 'The Imperial Dominion of the South' as the official name of the region now and forever, which is something that I simply cannot support.

And your proposed alternative is...?

[Donerail]

I accept the amendment as friendly.

[Donerail]

Aye.

My apologies for not being more active; at a national debate tournament.

[Donerail]

With 4 votes in the affirmative and none in the negative, this bill is passed.

[Donerail]

I have no problem with this, shamelessly partisan though it is, as it is at least a step to address our region's obesity problem. Fully support.

[Donerail]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to amend the bill as following.

Duly registered; does the sponsor accept it as friendly?

[Donerail]

Seeing no further debate, this bill is now at a final vote. Legislators, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.


Aye

[Donerail]

With a vote of All to None, this bill does pass and is presented to the Emperor for his signature or veto.

[Donerail]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Some basic regulations in order to create semi-humane conditions at dog/cat breeding facilities. Let debate commence.

[Donerail]

     Didn't we already do something with this? Anyway, I do think that co-Speaker Griffin has a point; this is somewhat overboard with a decent amount of redundancy.

We did one involving horses and farm animals; this is for dogs and cats.

[Donerail]

4, 8, and 12 are accepted as friendly and striken. The purpose of 16 is to prevent the impulse buy and thus cut down on the numbers of dogs and cats that are abandoned.

[Donerail]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Mr. Speaker.

Most shelters operate on a rather tight time limit, usually around a week. Dogs arrive and if they are not claimed by another person by then - they will be killed.

Shelters cannot afford to keep dogs for 3 more days just to accommodate this law. They will end up either turning dogs away, or shortening the limit to claiming animals to 4 days from a week. The result will be more dogs killed and fewer dogs placed with loving families, the exact opposite of what this bill wants to do.

A better solution would be to fine owners if their pets are abandoned.

I foresaw this part; that's why it only applies to pet stores and does not apply to shelters.

[Donerail]

Pardon my interruption everyone, but I just wanted to inform all that, given the change in power and the amount of time passed, I am giving an additional 48 hours to all regions to formally request a portion of the $8 billion from the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act for the "repair, expansion, or construction of rapid bus lines in metropolitan areas", or to modify the request which was made of the former SoIA. Should you all wish to make any request or modification, please let me know in my Official Department Office. Thank you!

Free infrastructure money? Surely SJoyce can put some of this to use.This report shows that for $1.4 billion:

We can deploy 2,000 CNG-powered buses, each running a route of 37,000 miles per year for a period of 12 years.

Also, if there is no further debate to be had on the Protect Our Dogs And Cats Act of 2012, a vote will be opened sometime today.

I do need to find my shiny shiny maps. I had a beautiful one with all sorts of different colored lines representing stages of implementation of a high-speed rail network.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Mr. Speaker, Addressing the honourable member from the fantastic state of Florida.

I did not see that. I concede this point is well-taken and retract that objection.

However, I still have concerns. How are we going to enforce this waiting period? Won't this  incentivize private sales not subject to the wait period and reward businesses that choose to ignore the law?

The businesses that choose to ignore the law would be operating in violation of the law and would thus be in danger of losing their business license, which they don't want to do. As for private sales, while it would be a small incentive for them, it'd also function as an incentive for people to get pets from shelters by the same logic.

[Donerail]

I'll take Ben's government money if he doesn't want it.

I believe it will be used for a high-speed rail connection from Greenville to Atlanta and Charlotte, so yeah, it goes to you.

[Donerail]

We appear to have skipped to a new discussion. Let's dispatch this bill before we address that. Speaker Griffin has posted the updated version.


Legislators, this bill is now at a final vote. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.


Aye.

[Donerail]

I would support such legislation being moved to the top of the docket.

[Donerail]

With a vote of 4-0, this bill passes and awaits the Emperor.

[Donerail]

I'm not sure that Speaker SJoyceFla (IB-St. Petersburg) approves of these changes...

[Donerail]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I shall bring this to the floor, co-sponsor it, and suggest the further amendment of:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Donerail]

New threads created. Does sponsor Adam Griffin accept my amendment as friendly?

[Donerail]

     I don't think the language specifications are particularly needed, as long as it is something that can be readily translated on the internet (which is probably everything). If someone casts a ballot in Japanese, Google Translate can handle it.

I agree. While I accepted the amendment as friendly, I mainly just want to address this issue as soon as possible. I do not find it particularly necessary considering that in this context we are attempting to relax how votes are interpreted.

Yeah, I know; the Judicial Overlord merely recommended we address languages in his opinion.

[Donerail]

I think the message we should be giving is that we favor and encourage the people to express his vote. So I think now is not the time to add a technicality in the language department while we substract one in the office identification department.

Then I do withdraw my amendment. We just need to pass this ASAP.

Also, personnel note: the presence of Legislators Ben and Duke is requested in the 'Defender of the Realm' thread.