Goods and Services Taxation Bill (WITHDRAWN)

[Gabu]

As introduced by Sen. Hughento:

Goods and Services Taxation Bill

1. The federal government shall introduce a Goods and Services Tax at rates determined by the Treasury Department, alhough advised by the senate to be 0% for neccessities, 10% for luxuries and 5% for other goods and services.

2.To determine the category each good or service is placed in, the Treasury Department will be given $5 million over 2 years to fund staff and resources to analyse need, benefit to our economy, and other factors of it's choosing for all goods and services.

3.After the Treasury department determines the placement of goods and services into catergories, this bill shall take effect.

I hereby open debate on this bill.

[Sam Spade]

I have so many questions on this one that I would prefer hughento come here and explain exactly what this will mean to the rest of the tax code and what he plans to do to the rest of the tax code.

Also, if this is part of a larger plan, why not introduce it when the rest of the plan is ready (or if the rest of the plan is ready, introduce it now as an amendment).  I hate voting on partial measures without knowing the future of the plan right in front of me.

If this is simply a tax increase, I will not vote for it.

[Colin]

I have so many questions on this one that I would prefer hughento come here and explain exactly what this will mean to the rest of the tax code and what he plans to do to the rest of the tax code.

Also, if this is part of a larger plan, why not introduce it when the rest of the plan is ready (or if the rest of the plan is ready, introduce it now as an amendment).  I hate voting on partial measures without knowing the future of the plan right in front of me.

If this is simply a tax increase, I will not vote for it.

First off I agree with Sam. I believe that for this to be put into effect we need to overhaul the current IRS and the current Tax System. Otherwise this will be one of the most major tax increases in Atlasian history. For us to put a GST into effect we will have to revamp our tax system so as to make sure that the tax burden on the people either remains the same or is decreased. While I believe that a National Sales Tax/GST would be a step in the right direction for Atlasia it must also be accompanied by a reworking of the current IRS and the current tax code.

[King]

Hugh, this is a little incomplete.  You said you would drastically cut all income taxes with the GST, your current proposal is leaving all existing taxes the same.  So, until the rest of the plan is put in, this is just a tax increase.

[Colin]

Also for this to work all regional sales taxes would need to be declared null and void. Otherwise you could have people in the Northeast paying 6.5% on top of the 5 or 10% GST.

[King]

Also for this to work all regional sales taxes would need to be declared null and void. Otherwise you could have people in the Northeast paying 6.5% on top of the 5 or 10% GST.

Hughento also said he would do that in a previous statement, but that would pretty much send all the regions spiraling further into bankruptcy.

[John Dibble]

Also for this to work all regional sales taxes would need to be declared null and void. Otherwise you could have people in the Northeast paying 6.5% on top of the 5 or 10% GST.

Hughento also said he would do that in a previous statement, but that would pretty much send all the regions spiraling further into bankruptcy.

And let's not forget such an action would be blatantly unconstitutional, as it would violate Section 2, Clause 7 of the Powers Amendment.

[Platypus]

Also for this to work all regional sales taxes would need to be declared null and void. Otherwise you could have people in the Northeast paying 6.5% on top of the 5 or 10% GST.

That is what I wanted to happen, but I've been told it was unconstitutional. I would STRONGLY suggest for the sake of their citizens regions gety rid of sales taxes. (Before Dibble just said it).
Either way, regions don't matter. It's all about federalism, baby

In terms of the income tax-I had presumed this was a long way from being introduced, so I don't have that bill. Basically it would be a reduction that provides for a 2% buffer on the budget and would come into effect once the GST did after it had completed it's investigations.

Overall my tax plan provides for less tax if you only buy necessities, about the same if you buy the 5% goods, and more if you purchase multiple luxuries-but that's not just one box of chocolate or anything

I'll write up my income tax proposal, but I would not like it to be an amendment to this bill. I will write it so that it would be introduced at the same time as the GST, however.

[A18]

This is terrible, because (A) it gives the executive branch of government legislative power, and (B) who wants the government categorizing each item we buy (socialism)?

[Sam Spade]

I am leaning towards being against this already, as a de facto and unnecessary tax increase.

Any major restructuring of tax code needs to be a well-thought-out proposal, not a series of vague proposals which don't take into account the regions.  King's sales tax proposal was as similarly vague and disjointed and I was against it (though not in the Senate) for the same reasons

[Platypus]

vague and disjointed? It outlines everything that needs to be done, and is a complete and effective Goods and Services Tax bill. US congress passing dozens of bills relating to taxation.

[John Dibble]

Either way, regions don't matter. It's all about federalism, baby

Clearly you don't understand what federalism means. Let me enlighten you.

fed·er·al·ism
Function: noun
often cap : distribution of power in a federation between the central authority and the constituent units (as states) involving esp. the allocation of significant lawmaking powers to those constituent units

[A18]

Yeah, but in this game, is there really a point?

[King]

Either way, regions don't matter. It's all about federalism, baby

Since you are about to become the Pacific Regional Senator after the new Constitution's ratification, I would stop the conversation right there.

[jokerman]

If this bill passes I will  tax neccisities 0%, Luxuries 5%, and other 1%, at most.

[Platypus]

Either way, regions don't matter. It's all about federalism, baby

Clearly you don't understand what federalism means. Let me enlighten you.

fed·er·al·ism
Function: noun
often cap : distribution of power in a federation between the central authority and the constituent units (as states) involving esp. the allocation of significant lawmaking powers to those constituent units

That's AMERICAN federalism, John.

Aussie federalism=Commonwealth has all power but gives the states the ability to do stuff it doesn't want to do Much better.

[John Dibble]

Either way, regions don't matter. It's all about federalism, baby

Clearly you don't understand what federalism means. Let me enlighten you.

fed·er·al·ism
Function: noun
often cap : distribution of power in a federation between the central authority and the constituent units (as states) involving esp. the allocation of significant lawmaking powers to those constituent units

That's AMERICAN federalism, John.

Aussie federalism=Commonwealth has all power but gives the states the ability to do stuff it doesn't want to do Much better.

No, not really. Besides, our government IS modeled after the U.S.A. to an extent.

[King]

Does this bill get withdrawn since the introductee is no longer a Senator?

[Sam Spade]

Does this bill get withdrawn since the introductee is no longer a Senator?

There is no precedent on the books for this, nor any resolution that has been passed dealing with it.

My own personal opinion is that we treat this like a piece of legislation that has been introduced, but has not had a chance to reach the floor before the Session ends.

Gabu gives any Senator 48 hours to reintroduce it, otherwise it is withdrawn.

Thoughts, Gabu?

[Gabu]

Does this bill get withdrawn since the introductee is no longer a Senator?

There is no precedent on the books for this, nor any resolution that has been passed dealing with it.

My own personal opinion is that we treat this like a piece of legislation that has been introduced, but has not had a chance to reach the floor before the Session ends.

Gabu gives any Senator 48 hours to reintroduce it, otherwise it is withdrawn.

Thoughts, Gabu?

Given that Hughento is not a senator anymore, it seems to me that this legislation is essentially a private bill without any legitimate sponsors in the government, so it really shouldn't be here.  Unless a Senator comes forward to sponsor this bill within 24 hours (48 seems too long), I'll remove this from the Senate floor.

[Sam Spade]

Does this bill get withdrawn since the introductee is no longer a Senator?

There is no precedent on the books for this, nor any resolution that has been passed dealing with it.

My own personal opinion is that we treat this like a piece of legislation that has been introduced, but has not had a chance to reach the floor before the Session ends.

Gabu gives any Senator 48 hours to reintroduce it, otherwise it is withdrawn.

Thoughts, Gabu?

Given that Hughento is not a senator anymore, it seems to me that this legislation is essentially a private bill without any legitimate sponsors in the government, so it really shouldn't be here.  Unless a Senator comes forward to sponsor this bill within 24 hours (48 seems too long), I'll remove this from the Senate floor.

Fine with me.

[12th Doctor]

Unless this bill is combined with a general tax cut (say 5% accross the board) I will not vote for it.

[Gabu]

Unless this bill is combined with a general tax cut (say 5% accross the board) I will not vote for it.

Unless this bill gets a Senatorial sponsor within the next four hours, it won't be coming to a vote at all.

[12th Doctor]

Unless this bill is combined with a general tax cut (say 5% accross the board) I will not vote for it.

Unless this bill gets a Senatorial sponsor within the next four hours, it won't be coming to a vote at all.

Oh, ha, yes.  I forgot Hugh retired.

[The Duke]

How is it Constitutional for the executive to be empowered to raise the GST by fiat?

Why would any moderate or conservative vote for a tax increase without reductions in spending?