Programs to cut...

[Colin]

We are you cutting benign programs? We need benign programs. We need more benign programs.

And Naso look here to see the actual meaning of benign: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=benign

[Colin]

Cosmo Kramer, as future Sec. of the Treasury, and I have talked about trying to introduce an actual federal budget for Atlasia next term (at least in somewhat general terms).

If there are specific programs that you would like to see some cuts enacted in, please let the Senate know.

Otherwise, please wait until you're a Senator or until a budget is introduced before you try to propose your unconstitutional tax cuts.

Thank you Sam. It should be the first priority of the new Senate to pass new budget legislation. We have gone for many months without a functioning budget. We should first pass a Senate Resolution stating how often a budget has to be proposed then we should work on a budget that will actually not get voted down by the Senate.

[Colin]

Cosmo Kramer, as future Sec. of the Treasury, and I have talked about trying to introduce an actual federal budget for Atlasia next term (at least in somewhat general terms).

If there are specific programs that you would like to see some cuts enacted in, please let the Senate know.

Otherwise, please wait until you're a Senator or until a budget is introduced before you try to propose your unconstitutional tax cuts.

Thank you Sam. It should be the first priority of the new Senate to pass new budget legislation. We have gone for many months without a functioning budget. We should first pass a Senate Resolution stating how often a budget has to be proposed then we should work on a budget that will actually not get voted down by the Senate.

I believe I sent Gabu something on the budget a few weeks back.  Gabu?

Oops, so you did.  My apologies; I haven't a clue how I missed that...

For everyone else, here's what he sent me; it's an updated version of the Budget Amendment (with some cosmetic changes added by me):

The Budget Amendment

§ 1. The Senate shall be responsible for drafting and approving a budget at the opening of each individual Congress.

§ 2. The Budget must be approved by a majority vote of the Senate and then approved by the President.

§ 3. The Senate shall approve the budget before moving on to any other matter.

§ 4. After the budget is approved by the Senate, the Senate shall appropriate money raised by the budget as it deems appropriate.

§ 5. The total overspent on the budget and appropriations must not exceed 2% of the GDP except in those situations specified by Section 6.

§ 6. Section 5 shall not be in effect in a time of war or in a time of economic crisis.  A time of war shall be defined as a time when the Atlasian Senate has voted to declare war and a situation of war exists.  A time of economic crisis shall be defined as a time when the real GDP has been in decline for two or more quarters.

Senator-Elect Spade I have to say that this is a very good piece of legislation. It will solve the problem of not having a working budget in place in Atlasia. The only problem that I can see is that the Senate would not be able to come to a consensus on the budget and spend a majority of time in the session on the budget while other things are not handled. This could lead to an even greater impass in the Senate than we have now. While this is the best plan that I have seen I think Section 3 should be changed to something along the lines of, "The Senate must approve a budget before the end of the first two weeks of the new session." While this will not solve all the problems it will set a firm time limit on how long the Senate must spend on the budget but that raises the question of how will this be enforced. Well we will have to iron out the problems when the Senate actually begins.

[Colin]

Senator-Elect Spade I have to say that this is a very good piece of legislation. It will solve the problem of not having a working budget in place in Atlasia. The only problem that I can see is that the Senate would not be able to come to a consensus on the budget and spend a majority of time in the session on the budget while other things are not handled. This could lead to an even greater impass in the Senate than we have now. While this is the best plan that I have seen I think Section 3 should be changed to something along the lines of, "The Senate must approve a budget before the end of the first two weeks of the new session." While this will not solve all the problems it will set a firm time limit on how long the Senate must spend on the budget but that raises the question of how will this be enforced. Well we will have to iron out the problems when the Senate actually begins.

Er, as Al said, Jake wrote that, not Sam.

Oh whoops. I thought I saw Sam's name in there so I assumed it was his bill. Sorry about that.