SB 2018-158: Free Higher Education for Atlasia Act (Passed)

[Lumine]

Senators, where do we stand on this?

Much like the Atlasian Drone Regulation Act, I cannot support this bill as presented. I would necessarily have to echo several of the concerns made by cinyc in the past, particularly regarding cost and means (which I do find a bit irresponsible or too idealistic in outlook). There is also the fact that universities are far from the sole option for the future, and even further, that having ever increasing numbers of college graduates is not necessarily sound when it is rather evident there already is a significant degree of oversaturation.

I myself am not convinced it is a good idea to pursue such policies when already thousands of college graduates in Atlasia cannot find a job in what they studied for, particularly when accounting for the cost and for other priorities which might be more efficient than this particular (and rather ambitious) subsidy.

[Lumine]

I'd have to argue that, small part of the deficit or not, continuously adding into the deficit is not something we should be doing even if the impact would, at a first glance, appear not to be that critical. I support some types of spending on potentially ambitious bills, but within contexts in which the benefit of the bill is immediate or rather clear.

I am not convinced at the present this bill is either, for there are other methods to finance college (which is but one of many paths someone can follow, even within higher education), there's a question as to whether it is really beneficial to have an excess of college graduates in an economic context in which many of those will end up working in vastly different jobs than what they studied for. There's even a question to be asked as to whether some particular careers are worth the cost and effort of being funded by the state, and I can perfectly argue there's plenty of degrees which are a very questionable priority in terms of funding.

Myself I wonder if perhaps the time is right to take this to a final vote, unless someone wishes to make an amendment or answer to those concerns more thoroughly.

[Lumine]

Sponsor, is the amendment friendly or hostile?

[Lumine]

Amendment considered hostile. Per Senate rules a vote will start 24 hours after the amendment was introduced (tomorrow night).

[Lumine]

Per Senate rules I'm mandated to start a vote, so we will now vote on LouisvilleThunder's amendment (and after that we should be voting on Pericles's amendment):

Amendment S11:06

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Here is my idea to encourage students to choose majors that are more likely to get them jobs. I also include offer a voluntary opt-out option for students who do not wish to attend college in favor of other choices which can be better suited to them. Hopefully, these tweaks also make this deficit neutral. I also struck through some sections that threaten regional autonomy such as that line giving preference to tenured teachers and professors which I don't deem as necessary to include in this bill. This amendment is necessary because it protects freedom of choice for students while it still allows any working or middle-class student to choose to go to college for free if he or she wishes to do so.

72 hours, gentlemen, unless a majority has voted for or against before that deadline.

[Lumine]

Nay.

[Lumine]

The amendment is defeated. Pericles, is the earlier amendment you proposed still to be considered?

[Lumine]

If there is no further feedback here, I think I'll motion for a final vote myself tomorrow.

[Lumine]

Duly noted. Amendment offered by the sponsor, 24 hours for objections:

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[Lumine]

Right, ignore my earlier post. 24 hours for objections on the latest Pericles amendment.

[Lumine]

The amendment is adopted (no objections). Senator Pericles has motioned for a final vote, 24 hours for objections.

[Lumine]

Right, I'll consider the motion withdrawn.

[Lumine]

Motion to final vote acknowledged.

I ask that given we've waited a significant amount of time to vote already that we skip the 24 hour waiting period and get right to voting.

Right, I don't think there will be any objections to a vote either. I invoke Article 10, Section II of the Senate Rules, allowing me to suspend the 24 delay for objections rule on this motion. Senators are entitled to object if they so desire.

Senators, we move to a final vote. Please vote AYE, NAY, or ABSTAIN:

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[Lumine]

Nay.

[Lumine]

*Sigh*

Okay, the rules are not exactly clear on the matter, although it would seem that to continue holding the vote two-thirds of sitting Senators would have to concurr. It also seems at least two votes already cast were deleted.

Right, to spare me a headache I will invoke Article 10, Section II of the Senate Rules again to reverse the earlier decision, thus the final vote is cancelled for now and the motion to a final vote is withdrawn. For what it's worth I introduce a motion for a final vote myself, so a final vote will start in exactly 24 hours if there aren't objections to that.

For the record I'll state I find it supremely irresponsible to put forward motions to final votes and then withdraw or object to those, and the same applies with voting and then deleting the actual votes. There are good reasons to have a given process in the Senate, and I would hope Senators at a bit more mindful of that.

[Lumine]

Okay, let's try this again. Once again I invoke Article 10 so the motion to vote goes forward, I don't think there should be further objections to a vote.

Senators, we move to a final vote. Please vote AYE, NAY, or ABSTAIN:

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[Lumine]

Nay.

[Lumine]

This is currently on a tie. Senators have 24 hours to change their votes.

[Lumine]

With 3 votes in favor this bill passes the Atlasian Senate:

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People's Regional Senate:
Passed 3-2-0 in the Atlasian Senate assembled

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