HB 19-19: Let’s Support Our Friends Act (Failed)

[YE]

LET’S SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS ACT

House Bill
to ensure we aren't risking our relationships with our allies

SECTION I. NAME
a. This bill shall be known as the Let’s Support Our Friends Act

SECTION II. DEFINITIONS
a. “Boycott” is hereby defined as refusing to deal with, terminating business activities with, or otherwise taking any action that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations with Israel, but does not include an action taken for bona fide business or economic reasons or a boycott that is specifically required by federal or Regional law.

SECTION III. CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS
a. No federal department or agency may enter into a contract with a contractor unless the contract includes a representation by the contractor that the contractor is not currently engaged in, and will not for the duration of the contract engage in, the boycott of a person or an entity based in or doing business with Israel.
b. The government of Atlasia shall reserve the right to terminate any contract where a contractor falsely represented their participation in a boycott of Israel.
c. All future contract bids shall include these regulations in the bid solicitation.

SECTION IV: TIMING
a. This act shall take effect sixty (60) days from the passage of this law.

Sponsor: fhtagn
72 hours to debate.

[Dr. MB]

Bad idea. I'm no fan of BDS but people and organizations should have the right to freely associate with who they want, and the government should respect that.

[fhtagn]

Bad idea. I'm no fan of BDS but people and organizations should have the right to freely associate with who they want, and the government should respect that.

Nothing prevents people and organizations from doing that if they wish to. However, if a company wants to be awarded a federal contract, or continue having a federal contract, they have a responsibility to ensure their practices align with the federal government and aren't boycotting one of our most important allies. If they cannot avoid a simple conflict of interest, they shouldn't be doing business with the government.

[JGibson]

This bill is pure suppression of speech that is critical of BDS and of Israel in general. I hope to see this bill fail on those merits.

[fhtagn]

This bill is pure suppression of speech that is critical of BDS and of Israel in general. I hope to see this bill fail on those merits.

Most federal employees are at the very least restricted from voicing political opinions in the workplace or in any capacity related to their job. This just extends it to contractors.

Individuals who work for them are still allowed to express political opinions outside of work, which includes criticizing Israel. However, I have yet to see anyone provide a legitimate, convincing argument for why we should be allowing companies that engage in practices that don't align with our goals to be awarded federal contracts. Because the whole argument of "free speech" doesn't work when federal employees also have restrictions.

This also doesn't apply to all companies. This only applies to federal contractors. It puts us at an unnecessary risk allowing the federal government to award contracts to companies that are openly against one of our most important allies.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

I opposed similar legislation in the South and will continue to oppose the conservative obsession with Israel.

[fhtagn]

I opposed similar legislation in the South and will continue to oppose the conservative obsession with Israel.

I support the federal government not engaging with companies that potentially harm relations with our allies, especially our most important ally in the region. I also oppose movements that are blatantly anti-Semitic, and anyone with a conscience should understand why our government shouldn't be endorsing the BDS movement and actively awarding contracts to companies that practice it.  Nothing about this prevents your average person, their businesses, or even larger companies from engaging in it, it simply holds federal contractors to the same standards we hold federal employees, which is how it should be.

[lfromnj]

Really don't support this in general except maybe military contracters? Even then it's still pretty strong against free speech issues.

[fhtagn]

Really don't support this in general except maybe military contracters? Even then it's still pretty strong against free speech issues.

Once again, this literally holds contractors to the same standard as most federal employees. Yet no one here is complaining about restricted speech in the workplace for them...

[lfromnj]

Really don't support this in general except maybe military contracters? Even then it's still pretty strong against free speech issues.

Once again, this literally holds contractors to the same standard as most federal employees. Yet no one here is complaining about restricted speech in the workplace for them...

You say federal contractors cant have any political  speech. This is restrictive but atleast equal and doesnt judge based on the content of said speech. We should ban all federal contractor political speech if you want to be equal.

[Dr. MB]

This bill is pure suppression of speech that is critical of BDS and of Israel in general. I hope to see this bill fail on those merits.

Most federal employees are at the very least restricted from voicing political opinions in the workplace or in any capacity related to their job. This just extends it to contractors.

Individuals who work for them are still allowed to express political opinions outside of work, which includes criticizing Israel. However, I have yet to see anyone provide a legitimate, convincing argument for why we should be allowing companies that engage in practices that don't align with our goals to be awarded federal contracts. Because the whole argument of "free speech" doesn't work when federal employees also have restrictions.

This also doesn't apply to all companies. This only applies to federal contractors. It puts us at an unnecessary risk allowing the federal government to award contracts to companies that are openly against one of our most important allies.

I don't support federal employees not being able to voice their opinions, first of all, and it's not a good idea to restrict it further by also applying it to contracted companies.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

This is a bad bill and I will be joining my colleagues in voting against it

[lfromnj]

Anyone else want to specifically talk about this bill relating to nation defense contractors?

It might make some degree of sense there.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I don't support this bill.

[Mr. Reactionary]

Anyone else want to specifically talk about this bill relating to nation defense contractors?

It might make some degree of sense there.

Im mostly just amused at how the same people who think it violates the free speech rights of contractors for the government to refuse to contract with firms boycotting an ally were many of the same people arguing that its perfectly fine to refuse to contract with firms that didn't "affirm the importance of unions" or whatever that language was in the model employer bills.

[lfromnj]

Anyone else want to specifically talk about this bill relating to nation defense contractors?

It might make some degree of sense there.

Im mostly just amused at how the same people who think it violates the free speech rights of contractors for the government to refuse to contract with firms boycotting an ally were many of the same people arguing that its perfectly fine to refuse to contract with firms that didn't "affirm the importance of unions" or whatever that language was in the model employer bills.

Can Any labor representative  defend this?

[Devout Centrist]

I oppose this.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Motion for a final vote.

Time to reject this and free up the slot

[lfromnj]

Nay because I just want to see why labor believes it is against free speech but doesnt want to work with companies that are anti union.

[fhtagn]

Also opposing the final vote motion in case lfromnj's doesn't count.

[YE]

A vote to start a final vote has started.

[YE]

Aye

I don't see what, broadly speaking, labor unions has to do with free speech or the Isreali-Palestine conflict.

[fhtagn]

Nay

[fhtagn]

I don't see what, broadly speaking, labor unions has to do with free speech or the Isreali-Palestine conflict.

Im mostly just amused at how the same people who think it violates the free speech rights of contractors for the government to refuse to contract with firms boycotting an ally were many of the same people arguing that its perfectly fine to refuse to contract with firms that didn't "affirm the importance of unions" or whatever that language was in the model employer bills.

[JGibson]

AYE