Southern Legislation Introduction Thread

[Biden his time]

Considering our presumed large budget surplus, I thought this bill would be a good idea (I made campaign promises and am obligated to fulfill them). The Southern region has long lagged in internet access when compared to the other parts of the country, and I think that a little more investment in this sector can help improve these indicators, maybe even boosting them above Lincoln's and Frémont's. In fact, some counties in Mississippi and Alabama reported having less than 50% of their population with broadband internet access in 2018.

Universal Broadband Access Act

1.) Authorizes $32 Billion ($7 Billion each year from FY 2022 - FY 2025 and $4 Billion in FY 2026) to be spent in five years that shall be used to deploy secure and resilient broadband infrastructure for communities of all types (rural, suburban, or urban) throughout the Southern region which currently are underserved in terms of infrastructure, focusing on areas with poverty rates above the regional average. The funds are to be used efficiently and effectively and will be directed to the Governor's office. There the governor shall establish a commission that shall work in tandem with and coordinate with other regional agencies in order to ensure efficient usage of funds.

2.) Requires internet service providers whose networks are built with the new financial support appropriated in the bill to offer an affordable (to be defined by algorithms) service plan to every consumer.

3.) Guarantees the right of local governments, public-private partnerships, and cooperatives to deliver broadband service, which has lowered prices in many communities by providing competition to traditional broadband providers.

4.) Directs the Federal Communications Commission to collect data on prices charged for broadband service throughout the country and make that data widely available to other Federal agencies, researchers, and public interest groups, with appropriate privacy protections.

5.) Gives preference in the funds provided under the bill to certain broadband projects that will provide open access for additional providers to use taxpayer-funded infrastructure on fair terms to provide more options to consumers.

6.) Creates a new “dig once” provision to ensure better coordination of transportation and broadband infrastructure projects, while ensuring State flexibility and preventing unfunded mandates.

7.) Authorizes $500 Million to be spent in FY 2022 establish two new grant programs: the State Digital Equity Capacity Program, an annual grant program for states to create and implement comprehensive digital equity plans to help close gaps in broadband adoption and digital skills, and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, which will further support these efforts through digital inclusion projects undertaken by individual organizations and local communities.

8.) Authorizes an additional $1 Billion to be spent over five years for the recently enacted Emergency Connectivity Fund through E-Rate to promote student connectivity, including funding for Wi-Fi on school buses so that students can be connected, which emphasis on rural areas.

9.) This bill is effective June 01, 2021

It has strong basis in HR 1783 (in fact some parts are directly taken from the bill), currently being pushed by James Clyburn (not exactly a far-left guy).

What do you all think?

[Biden his time]

Idea's a little radical IG but if you don't like it you can vote against it.

Southern Referendum Act

1. In the case of any bill there is taken a vote on in the Southern Chamber of Delegates in which no majority is reached (either "Yes" votes or "No" votes do not reach a majority due to abstentions or non-votes), the bill is passed or denied instead as a part of a referendum. If an absolute majority of participating voters in that referendum votes either in favor or against that bill, then it gets sent directly to the governor's office.
2. The referendum would take place at the same time as the regional elections directly following the original vote inside the chamber, and sponsors and supporters, or opponents of the bill are encouraged to share their arguments as to why they think the bill is a good or bad idea.
3. This bill is effective August 01, 2021.

I think it'd increase voter involvement in the Southern region greatly by allowing voters to directly weigh in on the status of each individual bill where the Chamber can't reach a majority itself and maybe it'll reinvigorate the game a little bit. Also, for people worried about incessant region switching in order to gain an electoral advantage, maybe we could add a clause in there somewhere to set that back a bit so that voters have to be registered for at least a month before being able to participate in these referendums (I think though that the new constitution federally has enough provisions against that).

[Biden his time]

DamN it! Act

1. Planning for construction then construction are to begin immediately on the following three projects listed:
  1A. Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 3 - Somervell County, TX - 1700 MW - Price estimate $7.5 Billion
  1B. Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 4 - Somervell County, TX - 1700 MW - Price estimate $7.5 Billion
  1C. Clinch River Four Units of SMR - Oak Ridge, TN - Price estimate $900 Million each ($3.6 Billion total) - 180 MW each (720 total)
  1D. LouisvilleThunder Gravity Dam and Reservoir - Jefferson County, KY - Ohio River - Price estimate $24 Billion - 4800 MW
  1E. TimTurner Gravity Dam and Reservoir - Wichita County, TX - Red River - Price estimate $24 Billion - 4800 MW
2. Funds Allocated will be $1 Billion in FY 2020. After FY 2020, 20% of the remaining budget surplus (if there is a budget surplus, if there is no budget surplus nothing goes) will be allocated for these projects above every year indefinitely.
3. A commission will be made by the governor to ensure efficient usage of funds. [This clause needs a lot more work]

Dam + Nuclear      

Maybe a little ambitious but even if we overproduce that'd mean that the South could be a net energy exporter, also it'd drive prices down. Just look at the comparison between Germany (where they're phasing out nuclear power plants)'s energy prices and France (where ~70% of electricity is derived from nuclear)'s. Also hydel's another consistent strong source of energy. This bill also could create at least a few hundred jobs of different types (possibly thousands or tens of thousands, I'll have to do some more research).

The three nuclear power plants are already planned and can be found on the NRC.GOV website and the dams are just made up but our experts will figure that out.

Also you might be thinking gravity dams can't exist on flat areas but that's not necessarily true first of all and secondly I allocated $10 Billion to each dam more than necessary to ensure smooth production (and perhaps this is too much, maybe we end up with some back). The original price and energy estimates are derived from the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and Reservoir in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Important to remember this money won't be used all in one year, but likely over a decade or two decades, which is about how long these megaprojects take to build. Literally $4 Billion a year for 17 years and we have them all done. With our massive surplus, it won't be a problem. To top it off if we don't have a surplus no money goes to these projects so that's taken care of.

[Biden his time]

CalamityBlue's Anti-Gambling Act

1. All card games making use of the number "twenty-one"(21) shall be deemed illegal and each instance of the playing, provision, and/or quartering of such games with any of the following: (i) a house edge of greater than one and one-half (1.5) percentage points as established through rigorous statisical analysis; (ii) play resulting in outcomes less optimal than basic strategy; or (iii) payouts of less than 3:2 for blackjacks, shall be punishable by a fine of no less than $5000, as well as a federal supermax prison sentence of no less than seventeen(17) minutes, but no more than thirty-one(31) minutes.

2. Two (2) weeks in 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Math shall be dedicated to teaching children the probabilities of winning in different card games, and demonstrate how the house has a greater chance of winning in most of the card games. This teaching shall cover basic blackjack strategy, the effect of various rulesets on the house edge, and is not required to, but is encouraged to provide a basic understanding of advantage play and card counting.

3. The song "Hoedown Throwdown" by Hannah Montana shall be designated as an officially proscribed musical performance within the Southern region, and any instance of its playing or listening shall be punishable by a fine of eight and one-half (8.5) cents and one (1) slap on the wrist.

[Biden his time]

Hope y'all don't mind if this Western imperialist submits a bill for someone to sponsor on my behalf, since Fremont and Lincoln are acting on this...

A RESOLUTION
To push Turn 6 of the NPC campaigns to August 2021

Be it resolved by the Chamber of Delegates assembled

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the July 2021 Southern NPC Delay Act.

Section 2. Delaying Turn 6 NPC Contests for One Month

Upon passage of this act, the Chamber of Delegates officially submits to the Game Moderator a formal request to reschedule elections in Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, and the City of Houston to August 2021.

Please take this to the floor ASAP.

I sponsor