SB 117-41: Constructing a new Capitol District - Passed

[Jay 🏳️‍⚧️]

Nay

[Joseph Cao]

All I can say, as the one person who cares about the budget, is:

Not bailing out whichever administration inevitably causes our surplus to vanish because "it's not like we can't afford" any of the 120 other things we'll be allocating boatloads of cash to in the meantime!

Well, the reasons why we have to move the capital have been stated before. Will this require a cost, yes. Obviously. And sure, we do have to be careful with budget

But the goal of a government should be to invest so that people / the government can even get wealthier and have bigger returns. No investment and no spending is stagnation.

We are running a surplus of $1044.28 Billion. What happens with that money? It should be spent. It's not healthy for an economy to have that much reserve. No government globally does that.

Yes, that is because no government globally (IRL, and almost the case in-game) could manage its fiscal affairs to save its life.

Personally I am amenable to this bill's concept, and it will certainly pass with or without my vote. The arguments Peace has made in favor of it, aside from Wulfric's, are uniformly pretty bad and I thought I'd point that out.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

All I can say, as the one person who cares about the budget, is:

Not bailing out whichever administration inevitably causes our surplus to vanish because "it's not like we can't afford" any of the 120 other things we'll be allocating boatloads of cash to in the meantime!

Well, the reasons why we have to move the capital have been stated before. Will this require a cost, yes. Obviously. And sure, we do have to be careful with budget

But the goal of a government should be to invest so that people / the government can even get wealthier and have bigger returns. No investment and no spending is stagnation.

We are running a surplus of $1044.28 Billion. What happens with that money? It should be spent. It's not healthy for an economy to have that much reserve. No government globally does that.

Yes, that is because no government globally (IRL, and almost the case in-game) could manage its fiscal affairs to save its life.

Personally I am amenable to this bill's concept, and it will certainly pass with or without my vote. The arguments Peace has made in favor of it, aside from Wulfric's, are uniformly pretty bad and I thought I'd point that out.

There is a follow-up bill: Build Big, Build Better that clarifies a few things and works out the concept or aspects of the concept in detail, though there will be potentially be more follow-up bills. It's a ton of work and it's hard to comprehensively put it in one bill. The Build Big, Build Better plan works out transport in more detail, a rough idea of city planning and the move of government buildings to the new capital.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Aye

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Passes 10-3-1-4

Constructing a new Capitol District

Section 1: Establishment

1.1 Location and Naming:
a) The towns of Keokuk, Alexandria, Warsaw, and Hamilton with surrounding areas as indicated in the Addendum shall be acquired from their respective states and regions to form the new capital district. The capital district shall be no larger than one hundred square miles and shall be centered on the tri-point of Lincoln, Fremont, and the South.

1.2 Suburbs and Neighborhoods:
a) The suburbs surrounding the district shall be named after legendary presidents of the country, chosen through public debate and consensus.
b) The specific names for each suburb shall be determined by relevant authorities in consultation with the public.

Section 2: Administrative Changes

2.1 Census and Registration:
a) The designation of Nyman, D.C. in the census shall be changed to reflect the new capital's name.
b) Individuals registering in the district shall indicate if they want to have voting rights in Lincoln (treated as a citizen of Illinois), Fremont (treated as a citizen of Iowa), or the South (treated as a citizen of Missouri).
c) Individuals currently registered in Nyman, D.C., shall retain their current registration (in the Southern region and Upper South subregion).

2.2 Status of Nyman (current D.C.)
 a) The federal buildings in Nyman shall be converted into museums, preserving their historical significance and ensuring public access and appreciation.

Section 3: Functionality and Districts

3.1 Military District:
a) A dedicated military complex shall be established adjacent to the Capitol, to facilitate military operations, exercises, and coordination.

3.2 Housing District:
a) A designated residential area shall be created exclusively for government personnel, providing suitable housing options for officials and employees.

3.3 Intelligence District:
a) An area shall be designated for intelligence agencies and related institutions to promote collaboration, effective information sharing, and strategic intelligence operations.

3.4 Trading/Commerce District:
a) A central district shall be developed to accommodate commercial and trading activities, attracting businesses and fostering economic growth.

3.5 Transport District:
a) A comprehensive transport hub shall be established, featuring modern infrastructure for aviation, railway, and Mississippi River shipping facilities.
b) An airport shall be constructed on suitable land within the capital district, taking into account other transport links and proximity to residential areas.
c) Upgrades to roads and state and interstate highways proceeding from the capital district shall be considered during initial development in order to facilitate accessible travel.
d) The Keokuk-Hamilton Bridge shall be upgraded and construction of other cross-Mississippi bridges shall be considered in order to better integrate both halves of the capital district.

Section 4: Implementation and Funding

4.1 Naming of Districts:
a) The specific names for each district within the capital district shall be determined through public participation and consultation.
b) Relevant authorities shall facilitate the naming process, ensuring transparency and inclusivity.

4.2 Commencement of Activities:
a) The relevant authorities shall initiate the necessary actions to implement the provisions outlined in this Act, including the establishment of administrative bodies, infrastructure development, and public engagement.

4.3 Allocation of Funds:
a) An initial budget of $10 billion shall be made available for construction and development. This funding shall be allocated within two years from the enactment of this act.
b) The President, in collaboration with relevant government agencies, shall oversee the allocation and disbursement of these funds, ensuring transparency and accountability.
c) The President shall present a bill to the Senate authorizing such allocations within six months from the effective date of this legislation.

4.4 Prioritization of Construction:
a) Construction shall be carried out in a phased approach, with certain parts of the city prioritized to ensure efficient and timely development.
b) The following areas shall be designated as priority areas for construction:
i) The new White House: Construction of a new presidential building to serve as the official residence and workplace of the President of the Republic of Atlasia.
ii) Military District: Expedited development of the military complex adjacent to the Capitol to facilitate military operations, exercises, and coordination.

4.5 Implementation Schedule:
a) The President, in consultation with relevant authorities, shall establish an implementation schedule that outlines the timeline and milestones for construction.
b) The schedule shall include specific deadlines and benchmarks for the completion of priority areas, ensuring progress and accountability throughout the construction process.

4.6 Reporting and Oversight:
a) The President shall provide regular progress reports to the Senate and the public, detailing the utilization of funds, milestones achieved, and any challenges encountered during construction.
b) The Senate shall exercise oversight to ensure that the allocated funds are utilized efficiently and in accordance with the objectives of the act.

Section 5: Selection of a Name

a) Upon passage of this legislation, there will be a public thread to suggest names for the new Capital. Submissions will be open for a period of 14 calendar days. Following this, the Senate shall vote for a new name by STV among all submissions received, and the top five names will be forwarded to referendum.

b) A federally-administrated referendum will be held the weekend beginning November 17, 2023. Voters will vote among the five finalists by STV, and the winner shall be declared the name of the new Capital.

c) Where not otherwise stated, this legislation shall take effect upon the certification of this referendum.

Addendum:



Map

Wall of Shame Vote 50:

AFE up to 2
Cao, Razze, Jimmy up to 1
Muaddib, Lord Richard, Nerd, RFayette reset to 0