HB 1177: Open Ports Act (Failed)

[Associate Justice PiT]

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People's Regional Senate
Passed 5-1 in the Atlasian Senate assembled
Be it resolved, X President pro tempore
[/quote]

Sponsor: JGibson

     I hereby open the floor for debate.

[JGibson]

I'll take up the reins of sponsoring this bill.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Representatives have 24 hours to object to Representative JGibson assuming sponsorship.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     With no objections, Representative JGibson is now the sponsor of the bill.

[VPH]

I cannot support this bill. The Atlasian shipping industry is crucial to many states, so requiring the use of domestic ships at domestic ports ensures that our shipbuilders have jobs and succeed. The last thing we need is Chinese ships running our trade.

[JGibson]

As the bill's sponsor, I rise up to support HB1177. This bill will give Atlasia a major advantage on trade if passed.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

I cannot support this bill. The Atlasian shipping industry is crucial to many states, so requiring the use of domestic ships at domestic ports ensures that our shipbuilders have jobs and succeed. The last thing we need is Chinese ships running our trade.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I also share concerns about the affect on the shipping industry.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I would note to the House that our Secretary of State, who supports this bill, has voiced his intention to renegotiate trade policies that do not work to the benefit of Atlasia.  The Jones Act may have helped a few domestic shipping jobs, but it also unfairly impacts states like Hawaii and Alaska and the territories, such as Puerto Rico, which do not share a border with the Lower 48 states.

[RFayette]

I also share concerns about the affect on the shipping industry.

This.  I'd favor the bill if there were some form of tax incentive paired with it to help replace the lost jobs in the area, but as written I don't like its impact.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I would note to the House that our Secretary of State, who supports this bill, has voiced his intention to renegotiate trade policies that do not work to the benefit of Atlasia.  The Jones Act may have helped a few domestic shipping jobs, but it also unfairly impacts states like Hawaii and Alaska and the territories, such as Puerto Rico, which do not share a border with the Lower 48 states.

How about some exceptions being established by statute for storm response and so forth?

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

I would note to the House that our Secretary of State, who supports this bill, has voiced his intention to renegotiate trade policies that do not work to the benefit of Atlasia.  The Jones Act may have helped a few domestic shipping jobs, but it also unfairly impacts states like Hawaii and Alaska and the territories, such as Puerto Rico, which do not share a border with the Lower 48 states.

How about some exceptions being established by statute for storm response and so forth?

Well the president can already suspend the Jones Act for states and territories during emergencies, which has happened on several IRL occasions.

I also share concerns about the affect on the shipping industry.

This.  I'd favor the bill if there were some form of tax incentive paired with it to help replace the lost jobs in the area, but as written I don't like its impact.

What would the incentive look like?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     A few days have passed without comment, so I can proceed to a final vote in 24 hours if there are no more comments. I would like to see Senator Scott's question be addressed though.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

How about a permanent exemption for HI/AK/the territories?

[JGibson]

How about a permanent exemption for HI/AK/the territories?

I'd be OK with a permanent HI/AK/Territories exemption.

[RFayette]

I also share concerns about the affect on the shipping industry.

This.  I'd favor the bill if there were some form of tax incentive paired with it to help replace the lost jobs in the area, but as written I don't like its impact.

What would the incentive look like?

Personally, I'd just favor a reduced overall rate in the region for companies who want to start up there and promise to stay for a set period of time.

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

Would the members of the House prefer either a tax incentive like RFayette proposed, or a permanent exemption for the aforementioned states and territories?

[VPH]

I'd vote for this measure if it didn't end the Jones Act, but instead excepted the aforementioned states along with US territories like Guam

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Would the members of the House prefer either a tax incentive like RFayette proposed, or a permanent exemption for the aforementioned states and territories?

I am open to having both, but if we want a tax incentive, we need to find a way to make up the lost revenue in order to avoid increasing the deficit.

[Former Senator Haslam2020]

Well put, Representative Louisville.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I see several suggestions for amendments here. Would any of the Representatives like to propose one of them?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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[Associate Justice PiT]

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Status: No sponsor
Sponsor feedback: Pending
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     I notice that JGibson is no longer part of this body, so we should probably find another Representative to sponsor this bill.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

In the absence of sponsor feedback for one reason or another, the best approach is to just put it too a vote. In the old days when amendment votes lasted five days, it was worth going to any length to avoid them.

[Associate Justice PiT]

In the absence of sponsor feedback for one reason or another, the best approach is to just put it too a vote. In the old days when amendment votes lasted five days, it was worth going to any length to avoid them.

     My preference has been, in lieu of a sponsor, to give all Representatives the right to object, and if nobody objects then it passes. A much more convenient practice than having a sponsor at all, but it is not one that is well-supported within statute.