HB 22-14: The Red-Green New Deal (Passed)

[Peanut]

The Red-Green New Deal

SENATE BILL

To address climate change in Atlasia

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled,

Section I: Title

1. This Act may be cited as the "Red-Green New Deal" or "RGND".

Section II: Resolution

1. We Recognize:

  a. The seriousness and urgency associated with climate change must be met with swift action in order to ensure the continued welfare and prosperity of all Atlasians.

  b. Those at fault must be held accountable, and the industries polluting our environment must be eliminated.

  c. We must aim for a total phase-out of fossil fuels by 2035.

  d. We can spark a green revolution in Atlasia and become a focal point in a new age of industry and technology.

Section III: Extraction

1. Offshore drilling within 25 miles of the Atlasian coastline is hereby prohibited.

2. The use of hydraulic fracking in Atlasia is hereby prohibited.

3. The placing of new oil pipeline, other than for the use of repair or renovation of existing lines, is hereby prohibited.

  a. Any update, repair, or alteration to existing pipeline must comply with existing regulation and be reviewed by appropriate local and federal agencies.

Section IV: Utility Ownership

1. The Office of the Secretary of Internal Affairs shall be instructed to create a Social Energy Fund.

  a. The Fund shall receive an amount equivalent to gaining public control over the top twenty five largest publicly traded energy companies.

    i. "Public Control" is defined as at least 51% of total shares.

  b. The Fund shall offer to voluntarily purchase up to 51% of the total shares in the companies described in IV.1.a.
 
    i. With each offer, the Department of Internal Affairs shall release a statement declaring its aim to compulsorily purchase the shares required to acquire a majority within sixteen months.

  c. The Fund shall be chartered to utilize its stake in the companies described in IV.1.a to achieve the following.

    i. Compliance with international de-carbonization objectives.
    
    ii. The transition to an energy sector led by publicly owned renewable energy companies.
  
    iii. The gradual phase-out of fossil fuel extraction.

Section V: Public Works

1. The Office of the Secretary of Internal Affairs shall be instructed to create a New Public Works Administration

  a. The NPWA shall develop, administrate, maintain and oversee public building projects.

  b. The NPWA shall be led by the Secretary of Internal Affairs.

    i. Shall the position of Secretary of Internal Affairs be vacant, these duties shall fall to the President of Atlasia.

2. The Office of the Secretary of Internal Affairs may appoint a board of NPCs to assist in the development of NPWA projects.

3. NPWA projects shall include

    a. Steel and Auto Manufacturing

    b. Construction and Enginering

    c. Renewable Energy Development and Energy Efficiency Retrofitting

    d. Coding, Server Farms and Technological Development

    e. Sustainable Agriculture

    f. Civil Corps
 
    g. Finance and Information

    h. Statistics and Social Research

4. All NPWA projects shall provide workers with the following.

  a. Pay equivalent to 10% above a "living wage" determined by residency.

  b. Full membership in a labor union.

  c. Employment benefits delegated per project.

5. The NPWA shall seek to employ twenty million workers over a ten-year period.

6. The NPWA shall operate with an annual budget of $250 billion.

Section VI: Effective Date

1. This act takes effect on June 1st, 2020.

People's Regional Senate
Passed 5-1 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,


People's House of Representatives

Ok, so now that habemus VP, I'll start moving the backlog from the Senate over to here, and this is the first bill you guys get to debate.

[Peanut]

This lonely bill right here is looking for a brave sponsor to shepherd it through the terrifying process of House debate. Any takers?

[Blair]

happy to sponsor

[Peanut]

24 hours to object to the Congressman sponsoring.

[thumb21]

I'm broadly supportive but have a few questions/issues.

1. This is fairly minor, but there is no SoIA anymore.
2. A couple of months seems to me to be too short to ban all offshore drilling and fracking, I think we should allow a little bit more time.
3. Do we have some sort of just transition plan for workers? A lot of workers will be made redundant by these changes.
4. We could add more could be added on the international front, we could be doing a lot more to work with other countries on this too.
5. How much money will be going into the Social Energy Fund?
6. This bill will cost a lot of money and I'd prefer if we also had an amendment to help pay for this, or a seperate revenue bill.

[Peanut]

With no objection, Blair is recognized as sponsor and this House shall now debate the bill.

[fhtagn]

There are quite a few issues with this bill that needs to be addressed here, especially since Labor Senators were too lazy to deal with it before passing it.

[Peanut]

Sponsor?

[Blair]

will be addressing hopefully today! on Wednesday

[Blair]

Apologies for the delay- I will be speaking for longer about this over the weekend and I might bring some amendments that keep the spirit of the bill but I believe it is crucial that we move and actively prepare our economy for Net Zero Emissions.

It will require an economic shift but one that I believe can be sustainable for jobs, whilst ensuring investment, skills and development in our economy- what is clear and what I know that everyone will agree on is that we can't have a business as usual approach.

[Peanut]

Anything further, Congressmen?

[thumb21]

Just an amendment dealing with some basic issues first.

The Red-Green New Deal

SENATE BILL

To address climate change in Atlasia

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled,

Section I: Title

1. This Act may be cited as the "Red-Green New Deal" or "RGND".

Section II: Resolution

1. We Recognize:

  a. The seriousness and urgency associated with climate change must be met with swift action in order to ensure the continued welfare and prosperity of all Atlasians.

  b. Those at fault must be held accountable, and the industries polluting our environment must be eliminated.

  c. We must aim for a total phase-out of fossil fuels by 2035.

  d. We can spark a green revolution in Atlasia and become a focal point in a new age of industry and technology.

Section III: Extraction

1. Offshore drilling within 25 miles of the Atlasian coastline is hereby prohibited shall be prohibited 5 months from the passage of this bill.

2. The use of hydraulic fracking in Atlasia is hereby prohibited shall be prohibited 5 months from the passage of this bill.

3. The placing of new oil pipeline, other than for the use of repair or renovation of existing lines, is hereby prohibited.

  a. Any update, repair, or alteration to existing pipeline must comply with existing regulation and be reviewed by appropriate local and federal agencies.

Section IV: Utility Ownership

1. The Office of the Secretary Department of Internal Affairs shall be instructed to create a Social Energy Fund.

  a. The Fund shall receive an amount equivalent to gaining public control over the top twenty five largest publicly traded energy companies.

    i. "Public Control" is defined as at least 51% of total shares.

  b. The Fund shall offer to voluntarily purchase up to 51% of the total shares in the companies described in IV.1.a.
 
    i. With each offer, the Department of Internal Affairs shall release a statement declaring its aim to compulsorily purchase the shares required to acquire a majority within sixteen months.

  c. The Fund shall be chartered to utilize its stake in the companies described in IV.1.a to achieve the following.

    i. Compliance with international de-carbonization objectives.
    
    ii. The transition to an energy sector led by publicly owned renewable energy companies.
  
    iii. The gradual phase-out of fossil fuel extraction.

Section V: Public Works

1. The Office of the Secretary Department Internal Affairs shall be instructed to create a New Public Works Administration

  a. The NPWA shall develop, administrate, maintain and oversee public building projects.

  b. The NPWA shall be led by the Secretary ranking officer for the Department of Internal Affairs.

    i. Shall the position of Secretary of there be no ranking officer for the Department Internal Affairs be vacant, these duties shall fall to the President of Atlasia.

2. The Office of the Secretary ranking officer for the Department Internal Affairs may appoint a board of NPCs to assist in the development of NPWA projects.

3. NPWA projects shall include

    a. Steel and Auto Manufacturing

    b. Construction and Enginering

    c. Renewable Energy Development and Energy Efficiency Retrofitting

    d. Coding, Server Farms and Technological Development

    e. Sustainable Agriculture

    f. Civil Corps
 
    g. Finance and Information

    h. Statistics and Social Research

4. All NPWA projects shall provide workers with the following.

  a. Pay equivalent to 10% above a "living wage" determined by residency.

  b. Full membership in a labor union.

  c. Employment benefits delegated per project.

5. The NPWA shall seek to employ twenty million workers over a ten-year period.

6. The NPWA shall operate with an annual budget of $250 billion.

Section VI: Effective Date

1. This act takes effect on June 1st, 2020.

[fhtagn]

Is 5 months really a reasonable time to completely stop offshore drilling and fracking? Seems like that is still too soon for a complete halt.

[thumb21]

Is 5 months really a reasonable time to completely stop offshore drilling and fracking? Seems like that is still too soon for a complete halt.

Probably not no. There'd also need to be some sort of compensation for workers.

[Elcaspar]

Is 5 months really a reasonable time to completely stop offshore drilling and fracking? Seems like that is still too soon for a complete halt.

Probably not no. There'd also need to be some sort of compensation for workers.

Maybe a year would be a more reasonable amount of time? Also agree that workers need some sort of compensation.

[cinyc]

I oppose this bill in its current form, and probably will in any form. It will put hard-working Atlasians out of work in search of some green pipe dream. Things do not get changed over night. We still need natural gas. Fracking it ensures that a lower carbon fuel is used for electricity and to heat homes. Would you prefer we go back to coal - because that’s what will ultimately have to happen. And prices will spike.

Bad bill. Bad idea.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

I oppose this bill in its current form, and probably will in any form. It will put hard-working Atlasians out of work in search of some green pipe dream. Things do not get changed over night. We still need natural gas. Fracking it ensures that a lower carbon fuel is used for electricity and to heat homes. Would you prefer we go back to coal - because that’s what will ultimately have to happen. And prices will spike.

Bad bill. Bad idea.

I fully agree with you on this.

[Elcaspar]

I oppose this bill in its current form, and probably will in any form. It will put hard-working Atlasians out of work in search of some green pipe dream. Things do not get changed over night. We still need natural gas. Fracking it ensures that a lower carbon fuel is used for electricity and to heat homes. Would you prefer we go back to coal - because that’s what will ultimately have to happen. And prices will spike.

Bad bill. Bad idea.

Clearly our dear new Representative can't read what's in the actual bill, or what has been discussed.
It clearly states in the bill that:

The NPWA shall seek to employ twenty million workers over a ten-year period.

This would very likely include said hard-working Atlasian workers, not to mention that a potential worker's compensation might be included in the bill as Speaker Thumb21 has mentioned. So your concerns are ill-founded when it comes to this bill "putting people out of work". Not to mention the ridiculous claims that we still need to rely on coal and natural gas by 2035, because apparently that is supposedly not enough time for our supposed "Green pipe dream".

[cinyc]

I oppose this bill in its current form, and probably will in any form. It will put hard-working Atlasians out of work in search of some green pipe dream. Things do not get changed over night. We still need natural gas. Fracking it ensures that a lower carbon fuel is used for electricity and to heat homes. Would you prefer we go back to coal - because that’s what will ultimately have to happen. And prices will spike.

Bad bill. Bad idea.

Clearly our dear new Representative can't read what's in the actual bill, or what has been discussed.
It clearly states in the bill that:

The NPWA shall seek to employ twenty million workers over a ten-year period.

This would very likely include said hard-working Atlasian workers, not to mention that a potential worker's compensation might be included in the bill as Speaker Thumb21 has mentioned. So your concerns are ill-founded when it comes to this bill "putting people out of work". Not to mention the ridiculous claims that we still need to rely on coal and natural gas by 2035, because apparently that is supposedly not enough time for our supposed "Green pipe dream".

The fracking ban starts today or in a few months, depending on whether the amendment is adopted. That's not enough time to ramp up the socialist government jobs program created by the bill - which I also oppose. LOL Learn To Code and be forced to join a union is not a solution to people making a lot of money in their current jobs doing something that's both economically and environmentally beneficial to the country.

The Atlasian left seems to think there's no downsides to their government-mandated policies. You can't heat your house in the winter with rainbow and unicorn farts. You need to use some sort of fuel or electricity. Banning fracking will reduce the supply of natural gas. What happens when there's less supply? Prices go up. This bill will cause our senior citizens to literally freeze because they can't afford to heat their houses any more.

Motion to table this bad piece of legislation.

[Peanut]

With no objections, the Amendment is adopted.

24 hours to object to the motion to table.

[Blair]

iirc a motion to table needs to be seconded.

[Blair]

I oppose this bill in its current form, and probably will in any form. It will put hard-working Atlasians out of work in search of some green pipe dream. Things do not get changed over night. We still need natural gas. Fracking it ensures that a lower carbon fuel is used for electricity and to heat homes. Would you prefer we go back to coal - because that’s what will ultimately have to happen. And prices will spike.

Bad bill. Bad idea.

Clearly our dear new Representative can't read what's in the actual bill, or what has been discussed.
It clearly states in the bill that:

The NPWA shall seek to employ twenty million workers over a ten-year period.

This would very likely include said hard-working Atlasian workers, not to mention that a potential worker's compensation might be included in the bill as Speaker Thumb21 has mentioned. So your concerns are ill-founded when it comes to this bill "putting people out of work". Not to mention the ridiculous claims that we still need to rely on coal and natural gas by 2035, because apparently that is supposedly not enough time for our supposed "Green pipe dream".

The fracking ban starts today or in a few months, depending on whether the amendment is adopted. That's not enough time to ramp up the socialist government jobs program created by the bill - which I also oppose. LOL Learn To Code and be forced to join a union is not a solution to people making a lot of money in their current jobs doing something that's both economically and environmentally beneficial to the country.

The Atlasian left seems to think there's no downsides to their government-mandated policies. You can't heat your house in the winter with rainbow and unicorn farts. You need to use some sort of fuel or electricity. Banning fracking will reduce the supply of natural gas. What happens when there's less supply? Prices go up. This bill will cause our senior citizens to literally freeze because they can't afford to heat their houses any more.

Motion to table this bad piece of legislation.

Welcome to the People's House Cinyc; and to think I was worried we wouldn't have fireworks after our recent departures.

[cinyc]

I oppose this bill in its current form, and probably will in any form. It will put hard-working Atlasians out of work in search of some green pipe dream. Things do not get changed over night. We still need natural gas. Fracking it ensures that a lower carbon fuel is used for electricity and to heat homes. Would you prefer we go back to coal - because that’s what will ultimately have to happen. And prices will spike.

Bad bill. Bad idea.

Clearly our dear new Representative can't read what's in the actual bill, or what has been discussed.
It clearly states in the bill that:

The NPWA shall seek to employ twenty million workers over a ten-year period.

This would very likely include said hard-working Atlasian workers, not to mention that a potential worker's compensation might be included in the bill as Speaker Thumb21 has mentioned. So your concerns are ill-founded when it comes to this bill "putting people out of work". Not to mention the ridiculous claims that we still need to rely on coal and natural gas by 2035, because apparently that is supposedly not enough time for our supposed "Green pipe dream".

The fracking ban starts today or in a few months, depending on whether the amendment is adopted. That's not enough time to ramp up the socialist government jobs program created by the bill - which I also oppose. LOL Learn To Code and be forced to join a union is not a solution to people making a lot of money in their current jobs doing something that's both economically and environmentally beneficial to the country.

The Atlasian left seems to think there's no downsides to their government-mandated policies. You can't heat your house in the winter with rainbow and unicorn farts. You need to use some sort of fuel or electricity. Banning fracking will reduce the supply of natural gas. What happens when there's less supply? Prices go up. This bill will cause our senior citizens to literally freeze because they can't afford to heat their houses any more.

Motion to table this bad piece of legislation.

Welcome to the People's House Cinyc; and to think I was worried we wouldn't have fireworks after our recent departures.

Thanks! Don't worry - I'll bring some fireworks sometimes. But I'm usually not a bomb thrower.

[Pericles]

Don't the rl proposals take until 2025 to phase out fracking? While I support this bill, a few months to get rid of fracking may be unrealistic.

[Blair]

Current Text

The Red-Green New Deal

SENATE BILL

To address climate change in Atlasia

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled,

Section I: Title

1. This Act may be cited as the "Red-Green New Deal" or "RGND".

Section II: Resolution

1. We Recognize:

  a. The seriousness and urgency associated with climate change must be met with swift action in order to ensure the continued welfare and prosperity of all Atlasians.

  b. Those at fault must be held accountable, and the industries polluting our environment must be eliminated.

  c. We must aim for a total phase-out of fossil fuels by 2035.

  d. We can spark a green revolution in Atlasia and become a focal point in a new age of industry and technology.

Section III: Extraction

1. Offshore drilling within 25 miles of the Atlasian coastline shall be prohibited 5 months from the passage of this bill

2. The use of hydraulic fracking in Atlasia shall be prohibited 5 months from the passage of this bill.

3. The placing of new oil pipeline, other than for the use of repair or renovation of existing lines, is hereby prohibited.

  a. Any update, repair, or alteration to existing pipeline must comply with existing regulation and be reviewed by appropriate local and federal agencies.

Section IV: Utility Ownership

1. The Department of Internal Affairs shall be instructed to create a Social Energy Fund.

  a. The Fund shall receive an amount equivalent to gaining public control over the top twenty five largest publicly traded energy companies.

    i. "Public Control" is defined as at least 51% of total shares.

  b. The Fund shall offer to voluntarily purchase up to 51% of the total shares in the companies described in IV.1.a.
 
    i. With each offer, the Department of Internal Affairs shall release a statement declaring its aim to compulsorily purchase the shares required to acquire a majority within sixteen months.

  c. The Fund shall be chartered to utilize its stake in the companies described in IV.1.a to achieve the following.

    i. Compliance with international de-carbonization objectives.
    
    ii. The transition to an energy sector led by publicly owned renewable energy companies.
  
    iii. The gradual phase-out of fossil fuel extraction.

Section V: Public Works

1. The Department Internal Affairs shall be instructed to create a New Public Works Administration

  a. The NPWA shall develop, administrate, maintain and oversee public building projects.

  b. The NPWA shall be led by the ranking officer for the Department of Internal Affairs.

    i. Shall there be no ranking officer for the Department Internal Affairs be vacant, these duties shall fall to the President of Atlasia.

2. The ranking officer for the Department Internal Affairs may appoint a board of NPCs to assist in the development of NPWA projects.

3. NPWA projects shall include

    a. Steel and Auto Manufacturing

    b. Construction and Enginering

    c. Renewable Energy Development and Energy Efficiency Retrofitting

    d. Coding, Server Farms and Technological Development

    e. Sustainable Agriculture

    f. Civil Corps
 
    g. Finance and Information

    h. Statistics and Social Research

4. All NPWA projects shall provide workers with the following.

  a. Pay equivalent to 10% above a "living wage" determined by residency.

  b. Full membership in a labor union.

  c. Employment benefits delegated per project.

5. The NPWA shall seek to employ twenty million workers over a ten-year period.

6. The NPWA shall operate with an annual budget of $250 billion.

Section VI: Effective Date

1. This act takes effect on June 1st, 2020.