Northeast Assembly Thread

[homelycooking]

On the previous question the ayes are three and the nays are four. The bill is not agreed to.

The Assembly will now consider the following bill:

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Debate will last 48 hours.

[Napoleon]

Subject to auditing right?

[homelycooking]

I amend the bill as follows:

Partners in Civic Engagement Act

The Government of the Northeast shall match any individual contribution dollar-for-dollar, up to five hundred thousand dollars, to any tax-exempt charity or organization that promotes, and is actively engaged in, the establishment and continued operation of:

- after-school programs in school districts in which more than one quarter of the student population is impoverished;
- educational or recreational summer camps for disabled or handicapped youth;
- public libraries;
- educational, domestic or recreational services for senior citizens;
- parks and land conservation organizations;
- animal shelters;
- soup kitchens for the poor, addiction rehabilitation centers or groups and homeless shelters; and
- medical research into finding a cure or more effective treatment for a communicable disease or genetic disorder.

[tpfkaw]

While the idea of the taxpayer matching a $500,000 "donation" to the Church of Scientology in order to hawk their "NarcoNon" program might warm the hearts of many, others might see that this bill presents a profoundly flawed idea.

[homelycooking]

While the idea of the taxpayer matching a $500,000 "donation" to the Church of Scientology in order to hawk their "NarcoNon" program might warm the hearts of many, others might see that this bill presents a profoundly flawed idea.

It certainly may be flawed in that the definitions of the individual groups may be impossible to write so as to restrict any efforts toward exploitation or malfeasance.

[tpfkaw]

The Church of Scientology is a tax-exempt organization, NarcoNon is an addiction rehabilitation center.

[Napoleon]

Remove their tax exempt status then.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I amend this bill.

Partners in Civic Engagement Act

The Government of the Northeast shall match any individual contribution dollar-for-dollar, up to five hundred thousand dollars, to any tax-exempt charity or organization intended to promote the establishment and continued operation of:

- after-school programs in school districts in which more than one quarter of the student population is impoverished;
- educational or recreational summer camps for disabled or handicapped youth;
- public libraries;
- educational, domestic or recreational services for senior citizens;
- parks and land conservation organizations;
- animal shelters;
- soup kitchens for the poor, addiction rehabilitation centers or groups and homeless shelters; and
- financial support for the poor
- medical research into finding a cure or more effective treatment for a communicable disease or genetic disorder.

[Cincinnatus]

I can't support this amendment.  Donations are wonderful in helping our poor, but I'm willing to leave an open-ended for someone to give to any low-income (or whatever we define poor as ), individual, even with the $500,000 limit.  I appreciate your intent, but I will be an assured Nay if this amendment is received friendly, or passes.

Also, I'm worried about what tax payer dollars are going to actually go to here.  I do support the intent of supporting food shelters, libraries, ect, but I'm very wary of this bill.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I can't support this amendment.  Donations are wonderful in helping our poor, but I'm willing to leave an open-ended for someone to give to any low-income (or whatever we define poor as ), individual, even with the $500,000 limit.  I appreciate your intent, but I will be an assured Nay if this amendment is received friendly, or passes.

Also, I'm worried about what tax payer dollars are going to actually go to here.  I do support the intent of supporting food shelters, libraries, ect, but I'm very wary of this bill.

Would you please clarify and be more specific with what you said?

[Napoleon]

My parents could get matching money for supporting me of they set up a shady charity fund.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I amend this bill a second time.

Partners in Civic Engagement Act

The Government of the Northeast shall match any individual contribution dollar-for-dollar, up to five hundred thousand dollars, to any tax-exempt charity or organization intended to promote the establishment and continued operation of:

- after-school programs in school districts in which more than one quarter of the student population is impoverished;
- educational or recreational summer camps for disabled or handicapped youth;
- public libraries;
- educational, domestic or recreational services for senior citizens;
- parks and land conservation organizations;
- animal shelters;
- soup kitchens for the poor, addiction rehabilitation centers or groups and homeless shelters; and
- medical research into finding a cure or more effective treatment for a communicable disease or genetic disorder.

All charities and organizations must be certified by a government commission before being eligible.

[tpfkaw]

So now you want to have a completely unaccountable government commission setting up taxpayer-funded slush funds for the pet causes of whoever is on the commission?  Perhaps the taxpayer will be forced to fund labor unions, but not churches, or churches, but not labor unions.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

So now you want to have a completely unaccountable government commission setting up taxpayer-funded slush funds for the pet causes of whoever is on the commission?  Perhaps the taxpayer will be forced to fund labor unions, but not churches, or churches, but not labor unions.

Well, no.  The commission would review charities and organizations and reject them if they are "shady", like Napoleon brought up.  They'd merely perform background checks to prevent abuse of the system.  Without a commission, there would be no oversight.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Minor change of plans.  I am extending my leave of absence to Friday, August 26th.  We made a little error here.  I leave tomorrow.

Chances of me stopping by here when I'm at the hotel are possible, but slim.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I'd be tempted to lower the cap; this could be too big a drain.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

I'd support lowering the cap. I also support Scott's second amendment, unless wormyguy has some idea that could achieve the same effect in a way that would alleviate his concerns.

[homelycooking]

I am considering withdrawing this bill. The problems of enforcement, protection against abuse or fraud and overall ambiguity that this bill might bring about seem to be too great at this point to overcome.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Unless I have the time to stop by here tomorrow morning, this will likely be my last post in the thread for now.  I will come back if I am elected to serve a full term.  In any case, I would like to (if possible) be marked as Yea for my two amendments.  Do NOT mark me for the entire bill, however.

[Cincinnatus]

I am considering withdrawing this bill. The problems of enforcement, protection against abuse or fraud and overall ambiguity that this bill might bring about seem to be too great at this point to overcome.

This is why I will be voting Nay.  Good intentions, just not a practical bill in my opinion.

[homelycooking]

The honorable member from Connecticut withdraws his bill.

The Assembly will now consider the following constitutional amendment, proposed by the Governor of the Northeast, Winfield.

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Debate will last 48 hours.

[Cincinnatus]

Not that I want to skip over the bill, but homely is in the Senate, so I think it's of utmost importance to determine a new Speaker.  I suppose Governor Winfield will have to handle this.

[Lincoln Republican]

As Governor, I wish to warmly welcome all Representatives to this new session of the Northeast Assembly.

I am confident that this session will produce much meaningful legislation for the advancement of the Northeast.

First order of business is to elect an Assembly Speaker.

We will have nominations then a vote.

Please proceed as soon as possible on this important matter so that the business of the Assembly can move forward.

Thank you.

[Simfan34]

In light of the resignation of the speaker, I have deemed it appropriate and necessary that I assume the affairs of the Assembly according to my office.

This is effective immediately.

x Lt. Gov. Simfan34

[Cincinnatus]

In light of the resignation of the speaker, I have deemed it appropriate and necessary that I assume the affairs of the Assembly according to my office.

This is effective immediately.

x Lt. Gov. Simfan34

He is not Speaker, as he was not elected under this new Assembly.  We are nominating a new Speaker...