Poirot for Senate(s)

[Poirot]

I have noticed the Mideast region could increase its sales tax if the proposed budget is adopted.
Our sales tax would be lower. Perhaps some mideasteners would be interested in paying less tax and saving money. I propose to help our retailers and local chambers of commerce that want to lure customers from out of region (people living near our border and not a great effort to them to shop in our region) by coordinating and paying a share of promotional efforts.

This is a small expense since it will be very local. I make this proposal in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This state has practically all of our border with the mideast.

[Poirot]

It's from Wilmington in Delaware that I end my campaign. I encourage everyone in the Northeast to go vote during the voting period.

Thank you kindly to everyone who followed my campaign activities.

[Poirot]

Thank you to people who have left congratulations messages and to the people of the Northeast for electing me. I didn't think I could get that many votes. I hope I can live up to expectations in working in the assembly. I'm nervous so I'm afraid of stuttering.

I want to congratulate snowball and sirnick for their campaign and contributing to this special election. Having three candidates run in a special election is a sign of a healthy democracy in our region. You are good citizens interested in public affairs.

It was an exhaustive and enriching campaign; I have visited every state and met some of you. November was an ideal month for me, being Movember. With your vote you have proved that facial hair is not a liability in elections.

Thank you kindly.

[Poirot]

Office of Northeast Representative Poirot

Welcome to my office.

I've been busy setting it up, trying to find my way in the Assembly and following a legislation 101 seminar. Quite a life change but exhilarating.

[Poirot]

It's time for an update. I will tell you how I voted on the bills presented to the Assembly.

I supported the Smarter Spending Act and the Northeast Independence Act. The latter is asking for the creation of a sub-board for the Northeast region.

I voted for the proposed Rainy Day Fund Act but it failed. I voted for it because I thought it would be more binding to set rules for the emergency fund in a separate Act. The contribution was based on the revenues so the amount is more secure and permanent. The way it is now, we put money in the emergency fund when making the budget and it is based on the surplus. If there is no surplus there could be no money set aside in the emergency fund. There is a risk at each budget drawing time that the emergency fund is forgotten or eliminated.

I voted for an Amendment to the SOAP. It was to extend budget debate time. In case you don't know, soap is not for washing. Politics is not that clean. It stands for Standing Order on Assembly Procedure.

I supported the wiki resolution. It was sent to the Senate on the topic of the wiki lacking updates. Finally, I voted for an amendment for the Vacancy Filling Act. I ensured there were a minimum of days during a special election.
 

[Poirot]

I am very pleased to report that one of my proposal during my November campaign has become law. It aims to protect people from the noise of windfarms by requiring they are built at a certain distance from residential areas. I thank the Representatives and Governor for adopting this.

I also have taken action on another campaign proposal. During a meeting in Pennsylvania I talked about attracting Mideast citizens living near our border to come shop in our region following a rise in their sales tax rate. I created a logo and posted it in my signature for publicity and try to give a boost to our local businesses.

[Poirot]

Our employment has gone up a bit following the hurricane.

I should have put more context to my logo. During my campaign I said I would support effort by businesses near the border to attract Mideast shoppers and hopefully increase sales. That was at a time of a sales tax hike in the Mideast budget. It is aimed at those angry of paying more in sales tax and living near the border, it reminds them the sales tax in lower in the Northeast.

It is not a major economic development policy. It is just benefiting on short term anger of having to pay more tax. The difference in sales tax is not that big so it will probably have very low long term effect if the saving is minor. I was just using current events.

[Poirot]

I have a new logo for the upcoming assembly election. The voting booth should open December 21st. The vote takes place the weekend before Christmas so my logo incorporates Holiday season's spirit.

The free food available at my office are exquisite Belgian chocolates.

[Poirot]

Damn you! Do I still get chocolate even if I don't explicitly endorse you?

Yes, chocolate is freely available on the table near the door to all visitors. There is no commitment asked or paper to sign to get it. If you don't want to be seen near the office, you could send one of your aides.

[Poirot]

Since chocolates are a popular item and goes fast, we wish to inform visitors of a new chocolate policy. Each visitor is allowed a maximum of three chocolates. Thank you for your cooperation. 

[Poirot]

I have a sort of inforercial on the airwaves. It is to remind people that yes we are during the pre-holiday season, busy with shopping and planning but it is also time to vote. Note that the video starts with December 21 which is the day voting booth opens. It subliminally means on December 21st don't forget to vote Poirot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuXD6f79YMg

[Poirot]

Two bills I have proposed have passed. They were campaign promises I had made in my November campaign.

The original form of my proposed Official Language Act met opposition. There was no desire to have an official language. The bill was reduced in scope to only be one aspect and became the official ballot language act.

I also proposed to make ice hockey the official winter sport of the region. At the suggestion of a citizen, we dropped winter and hockey became the official sport.

I have proposed the No Tax Account Act to encourage saving and let them enjoy the fruits of their savings. There is a limit of 2,500$ contribution per fiscal period. There is some reluctance in the assembly so it's not sure if it will pass or it could also be vetoed. 

[Poirot]

I wanted to address the capital relocation amendment of 2013 to change the constitution. Debate in the assembly was unexpectedly cut short.

It was said that I voted for the last budget and when I went to reply debate time had ended:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I have checked and I did not vote for the last budget (Nov-March). I was not sitting in the assembly at the time. I wanted to correct this fact. I don't see why it would matter since money set aside from the surplus is when and if the constitution is changed.

I voted against this bill. This plan looks extremely costly and money could be used to better the lives of the citizens like spending in education and social areas, infrastructure needing repairs. When there were proposals like electrifying railroads, we could not do it because we didn't have money. I don't feel capital relocation is a priority or a good move.

I dont mind Buffalo receiving aid to develop its economy but capital relocation is not the best solution. We could regionalize some services there or favor that city if new offices need to be build. In moving everything we will lose a lot of expertise from personnel. Trying to find private companies and help them locate in Buffalo would be aid less costly.

Buffalo is less easily accesible than New York City and on the limit of the Mideast. There is talk of possible annexation of Canada. If that happens the northeast will probably get the easternmost parts of Canada and Buffalo will be less accessible to even more people.

So we don't need to change the constitution to help Buffalo and the relocation plan is money not well spent. The capital is already well established in New York City, it's a transportaion hub and better located to a vast majprity of our citizens..

[Poirot]

Also, Mr. Representative, will you run for reelection?

I have not made a decision about this.

[Poirot]

It has been more than a week since the Northeast No Tax Accounts Act was passed in the assembly. The Governor didn't take action on this, so after a week of waiting it has becomes law.
Start saving so you can put money in your account when they start being offered to the public soon.

[Poirot]

I like the banner!

Thank you. I would define it as love-ly. I like the cute dogs on your banner.

some human interest story to try and make emotional connection between the candidate and the voters:

We had a boxer dog when I was little. Sadly it died hit by a delivery truck on the street in from of the house. And no, before someone asks, we did not eat him. I am against dog eating.

Now excuse me, I have campaign(s) to run.   

[Poirot]

I have declared my candidacy for the Northeast assembly and also for the regional Senate seat. I know it is difficult to win as an independent candidate in the senate but it is worth a try. When I look at the census, the Northeast has the most independents. I need some "independent solidarity" and support from members of the different parties. The TPP party holds already many senate seats and I think it would be good to have a broader diversity in light of the growing dominance from one party.

My campaign(s) theme is based on love, hearts and things of that nature since it is Valentine's Day just before the election. It is a symbol of my love affair with the region. For campaign logo I am using this:


My campaign song is Love is in the air
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HswyA9tZD9I

I have not forgotten to court the growing latino population. I also have Love is in the air in Spanish!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnV_xLpp6Xo

The last promotional item is the official campaign food. It is Hershey's Kisses, because of kiss and there is a regional debate in Lancaster PA. My food can get quite popular with visitors to the office so I have to set a limit of six per visitor.

[Poirot]

Thank you. Don't forget to take your share of chocolate. Scott and Napoleon can also have up to six since they visited before I made that announcement.

[Poirot]

I'm sorry to be disappointing to you. You can still have Hershey's kisses.

The Griffgraph balance of power aristocracy watch shows by regions one party is overrepresented relative to population.   

[Poirot]

If I am elected to Senate I plan on introducing a bill to have a national No tax on savings plan based on the No tax accounts Act adopted in the Northeast. This will encourage citizens to save money and plan for future expenses. People will be allowed to put a couple thousand dollars per year into the plan. Since contributions are made with after tax dollars, withdrawals are tax free. Income generated inside the plan from the savings is tax free. Citizens work hard to earn money and will be able to benefit more from the income generated by their savings. The yearly contribution will be low enough so that big income earners can't put big sums in the plan.

The mechanisms of this type of account is based on the TFSA, to learn more how it works
http://www.tfsa.gc.ca/

There was an international deal on capital and liquidity requirements for financial institutions called Basel III to make them more resistent to shocks. Requirements have been watered down and institutions were given more time to comply probably because of the banks lobbying. I would like Atlasia to be a world leader in the world scene on this and try to return to the terms of the original accord.

(some explanation here)
http://www.standard.co.uk/business/markets/nick-goodway-no-wonder-the-banks-cheer--basel-iii-is-business-as-usual-8442480.html

Citizens can post on the Senate Protest and Analysis thread. I would like to try and make it a more inviting place to encourage participation. It starts by a more friendly name: the Senate Coffee shop. This reflects a place less formal where citizens can gather, comment on what is going on, debate, even meet the senators in a friendly environment. There will be a tv always turned on the politics channel.

It is difficult for regions to increase their revenues by increasing tax rates for the richer because the federal tax rates are already very high. I have heard comments on very high federal tax rates a few times. More money could be useful to regions, it could spur debate on choosing different projects in the regional assemblies. I propose a decrease in some federal income tax rate to leave room for regions to increase theirs and get more revenues. It would be for the different regions to decide if they tax to replace all the federal tax or not. The possible transfer of federal tax room to the regions would be done months before taking place so regions have time to decide on their tax structure during their budget debates and have a coordinate change between levels of government.

[Poirot]

On a regional issue, I support a promising energy project. It is the construction of a transmission line underwater and underground from lake Champlain to the New York area. It would bring 1,000 megawatts. Cleaner energy, diversity of supply, should help consumer rates.

Reference:
http://www.chpexpress.com/about.php

The cost estimate is $2.1 billion. I don't know what the future will be but if we move to public utilities to do this project, I would be willing to support financing this. 

[Poirot]

1,000 MW? That's nothing.

To give an idea, I have found the Arthur Kill Generating Station on Staten Island is 842 MW.

[Poirot]

Some businesses are starting to charge extra for consumers who receive their monthly statements / bills by mail instead of using electronic statements by computers. I want consumers to have the choice between the two at no extra cost. Older people and poorer ones could have more trouble with electronic statements. Businesses are already saving money by the growing use of electronic communication. I will protect consumer's choice by forbidding charging extra to consumers to get monthly bill or statement on paper. 

[Poirot]

Happy Valentine's day

The campaign is ending. I would like to thank everyone who have read my words here. (I gave food and words) Running for a national office was interesting because we can talk about different issues. I represent renewal in national politics and I have tried to bring new topics. I hope you enjoyed my campaign.

I can actually say Vote for me many times since I am appearing more than once on ballots.

Thank you kindly. 

[Poirot]

I guess there was not enough love in the air. Or that the love was not shared equally.




As I clean my office, packing my documents and pictures, I listen to Bonnie Raitt's I can't make you love me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

I remember the good memories of the different campaigns, people met, assembly work, the campaigns. I want to thank people who encouraged me or supported me.

I was against the capital amendment so you would think that I would be happy it failed again. I thought it would mean the end of the project. The voting period was not even ended that people pushing for this had already started with the shenanigans. It is frustrating that they won't respect the will of the people.

Congratulations to the new representatives. I have never seen so many people interested in running.

Thank you kindly