Northeast Assembly Thread

[homelycooking]

I echo the governor's concerns, and would oppose an override.

Giovanni, why don't you take a few minutes and read the report? The SRC spent a lot of time on that, and it's rather insulting to see people oppose it because it's long and they're too lazy to read it and understand the changes the report makes.

In regards to the Northeast parks and recreation act, I cannot support taking away user fees from parks. We need to fund those parks somehow, whether it is through user fees or through taxes. I strongly feel that those who are actually using the parks should at least pay for a part of the costs.

User fees are not completely taken away, though they are reduced significantly (assuming most of the visitors to our parks are NE residents). We'd have to determine how our parks are currently being paid for and whether admission fees are sufficient for their maintainance.

[Sbane]

In regards to the Northeast parks and recreation act, I cannot support taking away user fees from parks. We need to fund those parks somehow, whether it is through user fees or through taxes. I strongly feel that those who are actually using the parks should at least pay for a part of the costs.

User fees are not completely taken away, though they are reduced significantly (assuming most of the visitors to our parks are NE residents). We'd have to determine how our parks are currently being paid for and whether admission fees are sufficient for their maintainance.

I can see why we might want to make entry fees higher for non-residents, but I still don't think we should take away all user fees for residents. They should also help pay for the parks, but they can pay less since they are also paying taxes which go towards the operation of parks as well.

Also keep in mind that while some popular parks near the cities might be able to get enough money from non-residents to pay all of it's costs, I doubt that will be the case in more remote parks which might be protecting very important habitats. The user fees from the more popular parks also help support parks that might not get as many visitors.

[Napoleon]

Northeasterners should be allowed to view the natural beauty found in many state and regional parks free of cost. I don't have too much of a problem finding a way to parks other than user fees, which probably don't come close to covering costs anyway.

[tpfkaw]

Please note that all regionally-owned unimproved land has been transferred back to the original indigenous tribes under the "Un-Stealing Act," signed here.  Therefore your current debate over user fees is moot.

[Napoleon]

Is there a record of the executive actually doing such a thing?

[tpfkaw]

Is there a record of the executive actually doing such a thing?

Yes, he signed the bill, as I pointed out earlier.

If you're referring to the implementation of the act in question, the text of it says:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Key word is "immediately" - as in, "as soon as this bill becomes law."  It therefore has already happened.  By signing the bill, the governor implied that he meant to implement it - it would be ridiculous if the governor had to make two posts for every bill, one to sign and one to implement.  If that were the case, I believe there would have been absolutely nothing accomplished by the NE government in its entire history...

[Napoleon]

It is perfectly legitimate for me to believe that this law has not been executed and therefore has not done any transfer of lands. The governor has the authority to execute laws after exercising his ability to sign them. However, with no executive order issued, we still own these lands.

I disagree with the premise of the legislation and find it unconstitutional for it to be considered policy as our Assembly only legislates and we have no executive authority whatsoever. I will be requesting a CJO injunction.

[tpfkaw]

Are you seriously claiming that the assembly has no power to sell, purchase, or transfer anything?

[tpfkaw]

As Lt. Governor, I hereby cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the Un-Stealing Bill.

[Napoleon]

As Lt. Governor, I hereby cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the Un-Stealing Bill.

That legislation is no longer in session so I'm afraid you're too late.

[tpfkaw]

As Lt. Governor, I hereby cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the Un-Stealing Bill.

That legislation is no longer in session so I'm afraid you're too late.

There is no time limit specified in the constitution as to when the Lt. Governor may cast a tie-breaking vote.

[Napoleon]

As Lt. Governor, I hereby cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the Un-Stealing Bill.

That legislation is no longer in session so I'm afraid you're too late.

There is no time limit specified in the constitution as to when the Lt. Governor may cast a tie-breaking vote.

Legislation does not carry over from session to session. The Lt. Governor as the constitutional presiding offeicer of the Assembly, is unable to cast votes on legislation that is from a previous session after multiple new ones have come and gone. Nice try though.

[tpfkaw]

As Lt. Governor, I hereby cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the Un-Stealing Bill.

That legislation is no longer in session so I'm afraid you're too late.

There is no time limit specified in the constitution as to when the Lt. Governor may cast a tie-breaking vote.

Legislation does not carry over from session to session. The Lt. Governor as the constitutional presiding offeicer of the Assembly, is unable to cast votes on legislation that is from a previous session after multiple new ones have come and gone. Nice try though.

Says who?  Certainly not the Northeast Constitution.

[Napoleon]

SOAP buddy.

[tpfkaw]

SOAP buddy.

I don't see anything in the SOAP that would prevent the Lt. Gov. from breaking a tie at a late point.  In any case, if you really want to go down that road, the SOAP says that the Lt. Governor must certify bills as having passed, and you may find me a rather unwilling partner.

[Napoleon]

That would be a poor strategy given that it is guaranteed to backfire.

[tpfkaw]

Okay, now that we've cleared up that there's nothing preventing me from casting my tie-breaking vote, onwards to the governor's desk!  I, as Lt. Governor, hereby certify the Un-Stealing Act as having passed.

[Sbane]

Are all state parks "unimproved" lands? What if they have hiking trails and visitor centers? Did we just give away whatever wilderness that is left in the Northeast?

And I guess it's about time we got rid of our wilderness. It's such a waste of space. I am sure Native Americans of the 1600s would have felt the same way.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

As usual, jumping right over the top of the sublime and going straight for the ridiculous.

[Lambsbread]

TIME OUT.

Everyone just shut up for a second.

What just happened here?!?

[homelycooking]

Jake, it looks to me like wormyguy, during the debate over user fees in the Parks and Recreation Act, pulled up this old bill which, if legally passed, would have transferred all unimproved lands to the Native tribes that originally lived upon them. It looks like the worst piece of legislation I've ever seen come out of the Northeast, and it should be nullified if it was improperly passed.

But if it was properly passed, then there isn't a lot we can do. That bill transferred all of the Northeast's unimproved lands to the Native tribes - who knows if that was actually implemented or accomplished, given the massive legal and logistical headache that would cause. But by repealing the bill, the NE government would be retaking millions of square miles from the Natives without compensation.

I'm really pissed off that we're even talking about this. We have to clean up the mess left behind by a bunch of legislative flunkies who didn't give a rat's ass about good public policy. I appreciate that wormy brought it to the Assembly's attention, but not the spiteful manner in which he did so.

[Lambsbread]

Ay caramba...

[Napoleon]

Vote to override veto on SRC report is now going.
AYE

[Lambsbread]

Aye

[Yelnoc]

If the native tribes that originally lived on them have been wiped out, what would happen to the land?  How would claims by multiple tribes be settled.

Fear not!  A story from the SoIA's Office is a'comin'!