Mideast Assembly Thread

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Seems good. I'm assuming all of the numbers are cut by 1/4?

[California8429]

yup

[tmthforu94]

Assemblymembers, how are you coming along with your chosen section of the budget? Can any rough drafts be introduced today?

[Barnes]

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy¹
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure²
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy
 
¹This is where all projects like my "Affordable Energy and Environmental Protection Act" must draw their government funds from.

²This means making power stations that run off fossil fuels more efficient and more environmentally friendly. It also updates our electrical energy grid by making the system more efficient and less cumbersome.

[Barnes]

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy¹
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure²
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy
 
¹This is where all projects like my "Affordable Energy and Environmental Protection Act" must draw their government funds from.

²This means making power stations that run off fossil fuels more efficient and more environmentally friendly. It also updates our electrical energy grid by making the system more efficient and less cumbersome.

[California8429]

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy¹
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure²
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy
 
¹This is where all projects like my "Affordable Energy and Environmental Protection Act" must draw their government funds from.

²This means making power stations that run off fossil fuels more efficient and more environmentally friendly. It also updates our electrical energy grid by making the system more efficient and less cumbersome.

What about a section for energy development loans? Besides alternative energy?

Can we set aside $5-10 billion for that? Mainly my concern is a nuclear power plant costs so much and we aren't going to get to an alernative energy society in one year or even one decade.

[Barnes]

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy¹
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure²
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy
 
¹This is where all projects like my "Affordable Energy and Environmental Protection Act" must draw their government funds from.

²This means making power stations that run off fossil fuels more efficient and more environmentally friendly. It also updates our electrical energy grid by making the system more efficient and less cumbersome.

What about a section for energy development loans? Besides alternative energy?

Can we set aside $5-10 billion for that? Mainly my concern is a nuclear power plant costs so much and we aren't going to get to an alernative energy society in one year or even one decade.

I'm in favor of loans, however, I believe we can still make them work for alternative energy. For example, wing turbines on the Great Lakes, or solar panels in our prairies. These types of energy are already developed and are proven to work. Also, they have the positive effect of creating new, green jobs.

[California8429]

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy¹
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure²
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy
 
¹This is where all projects like my "Affordable Energy and Environmental Protection Act" must draw their government funds from.

²This means making power stations that run off fossil fuels more efficient and more environmentally friendly. It also updates our electrical energy grid by making the system more efficient and less cumbersome.

What about a section for energy development loans? Besides alternative energy?

Can we set aside $5-10 billion for that? Mainly my concern is a nuclear power plant costs so much and we aren't going to get to an alernative energy society in one year or even one decade.

I'm in favor of loans, however, I believe we can still make them work for alternative energy. For example, wing turbines on the Great Lakes, or solar panels in our prairies. These types of energy are already developed and are proven to work. Also, they have the positive effect of creating new, green jobs.

I'm with you, I'm just saying can you add a  section for other loans as well?

[Barnes]

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy¹
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure²
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy
 
¹This is where all projects like my "Affordable Energy and Environmental Protection Act" must draw their government funds from.

²This means making power stations that run off fossil fuels more efficient and more environmentally friendly. It also updates our electrical energy grid by making the system more efficient and less cumbersome.

What about a section for energy development loans? Besides alternative energy?

Can we set aside $5-10 billion for that? Mainly my concern is a nuclear power plant costs so much and we aren't going to get to an alernative energy society in one year or even one decade.

I'm in favor of loans, however, I believe we can still make them work for alternative energy. For example, wing turbines on the Great Lakes, or solar panels in our prairies. These types of energy are already developed and are proven to work. Also, they have the positive effect of creating new, green jobs.

I'm with you, I'm just saying can you add a  section for other loans as well?

I know. I'll reduce the amount, however, to something like $2 Billion.

[Barnes]

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$2 Billion: Loans to be granted to energy companies that have a responsible environmental track record and are seriously attempting to develop clean energy alternatives.
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy

So, basically, the new section gives loans to fossil fuel emitters who have a good environmental record and are in the process of developing clean energy fuels. Thankfully, this would be many businesses in the ME.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$2 Billion: Loans to be granted to energy companies that have a responsible environmental track record and are seriously attempting to develop clean energy alternatives.
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy

So, basically, the new section gives loans to fossil fuel emitters who have a good environmental record and are in the process of developing clean energy fuels. Thankfully, this would be many businesses in the ME.

Don't you mean 4.75 billion?

[California8429]

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$2 Billion: Loans to be granted to energy companies that have a responsible environmental track record and are seriously attempting to develop clean energy alternatives.
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy

So, basically, the new section gives loans to fossil fuel emitters who have a good environmental record and are in the process of developing clean energy fuels. Thankfully, this would be many businesses in the ME.

Can we change the language to - Loans to be granted to energy companies that have a responsible environmental track record, are seriously attempting to develop clean energy alternatives, push for energy efficiency and/or have an approved plan to do so. And can we move it to 3 billion?

[Barnes]

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$2 Billion: Loans to be granted to energy companies that have a responsible environmental track record and are seriously attempting to develop clean energy alternatives.
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy

So, basically, the new section gives loans to fossil fuel emitters who have a good environmental record and are in the process of developing clean energy fuels. Thankfully, this would be many businesses in the ME.

Don't you mean 4.75 billion?

I do. I just forgot to change the "total" amount.

Energy
Total: $2.85 Billion
$2 Billion: Loans to be granted to energy companies that have a responsible environmental track record and are seriously attempting to develop clean energy alternatives.
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy

So, basically, the new section gives loans to fossil fuel emitters who have a good environmental record and are in the process of developing clean energy fuels. Thankfully, this would be many businesses in the ME.

Can we change the language to - Loans to be granted to energy companies that have a responsible environmental track record, are seriously attempting to develop clean energy alternatives, push for energy efficiency and/or have an approved plan to do so. And can we move it to 3 billion?

That's great!

[Barnes]

Updated language (again):

Energy
Total: $5.85 Billion
$3 Billion: Loans to be granted to energy companies that have a responsible environmental track record, are seriously attempting to develop clean energy alternatives, push for energy efficiency and/or have an approved plan to do so.
$1 Billion: Fund for alternative energy
$1 Billion: Updating the Mideast's current energy infrastructure
$500 Million: Refitting all government buildings to run on clean energy
$250 Million: Refitting all government vehicles (cars, planes, etc.) to run on clean energy

[Badger]

Commendable work on the budget, guys!

I'm just curious, though. Has there been any discussion or (more importantly) communication with the GM to determine what the Region's actual revenue is? Planning on spending structure is all fine and good, but the hard decisions come from when---inevitably---there is more spending sought than revenue allows.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Commendable work on the budget, guys!

I'm just curious, though. Has there been any discussion or (more importantly) communication with the GM to determine what the Region's actual revenue is? Planning on spending structure is all fine and good, but the hard decisions come from when---inevitably---there is more spending sought than revenue allows.

Good thought. That means I was right not to post my part of the budget yet--I think we do need to determine our revenue first.

[Badger]

Commendable work on the budget, guys!

I'm just curious, though. Has there been any discussion or (more importantly) communication with the GM to determine what the Region's actual revenue is? Planning on spending structure is all fine and good, but the hard decisions come from when---inevitably---there is more spending sought than revenue allows.

Good thought. That means I was right not to post my part of the budget yet--I think we do need to determine our revenue first.

Happy to butt in 'help'.

[California8429]

We figured if we decided our spending levels, then we could go onto setting taxes to have enough revenue.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

We figured if we decided our spending levels, then we could go onto setting taxes to have enough revenue.

I'm skeptical of that idea. If possible, we should know our revenue as it stands now, and base our budget on that.

It certainly wouldn't hurt if we did figure out our current revenue, anyway.

[big bad fab]

We figured if we decided our spending levels, then we could go onto setting taxes to have enough revenue.

You too are a socialist, A-Bob ?!?

BTW, congratulations to our Assemblymen for this big job.

[tmthforu94]

This is something for the Assembyl to consider looking at when writing up our own budget. Granted, we won't be doing a lot of this, like military spending, but it gives us ideas for what we need to do.

Spending ($2673.05 billion)

International affairs ($31.59 billion)
$13 billion ........ International development and humanitarian assistance (No Change)
$9.47 billion ...... International military aid (No Change)
$7.97 billion ...... Conduct of foreign affairs (No Change)
$1.15 billion ...... Foreign information and exchange activities (No Change)

General science, space, and technology ($23.97 billion)
$5.62 billion ...... National Science Foundation programs (No Change)
$3.44 billion ...... Department of Energy general science programs (No Change)
$14.91 billion ..... Space flight, research, and supporting activities (No Change)

Non-Defense Energy Spending ($2.12 billion)
$0.73 billion ...... Energy supply (No Change)
$1.03 billion ...... Energy conservation and preparedness (No Change)
$0.36 billion ...... Energy information, preparedness, & regulation (No Change)

Natural resources and environment ($31.16 billion)
$5.45 billion ...... Water resources (No Change)
$9.07 billion ...... Conservation and land management (No Change)
$3.12 billion ...... Recreational & Park resources (No Change)
$8.42 billion ...... Pollution control and abatement (No Change)
$5.1 billion ....... Other natural resources (No Change)

Agriculture ($26.02 billion)
$21.73 billion ..... Farm income stabilization & crop insurance (No Change)
$4.29 billion ...... Agricultural research and services (No Change)

Commerce and Housing Loan Programs ($6.82 billion)
$-4.28 billion ..... Federal Housing Loan Programs (No Change)
$2.17 billion ...... Postal service (No Change)
$-0.96 billion ..... Deposit insurance (No Change)
$7.96 billion ...... Universal service fund (No Change)
$1.93 billion ...... Other advancement of commerce (No Change)

Transportation ($70.68 billion)
$36.51 billion ..... Highways and highway safety (No Change)
$8.51 billion ...... Mass transit (No Change)
$0.61 billion ...... Railroads (No Change)
$17.26 billion ..... Air Transportion (No Change)
$7.37 billion ...... Water transportation (No Change)
$0.42 billion ...... Other transportation (No Change)

Community and regional development ($19.1 billion)
$6.25 billion ...... Community development (No Change)
$2.86 billion ...... Area and regional development (No Change)
$9.99 billion ...... Disaster relief and insurance (No Change)

Education ($64.07 billion)
$38.57 billion ..... Elementary, Secondary & Vocational education (No Change)
$22.27 billion ..... Higher education (No Change)
$3.23 billion ...... Research and general education (No Change)

Training, labor and unemployment ($47.81 billion)
$6.88 billion ...... Training and employment (No Change)
$1.6 billion ....... Labor law, statistics, and other administration (No Change)
$39.33 billion ..... Unemployment compensation (No Change)

Non-Medicare Health Spending ($253.32 billion)
$192.72 billion .... Medicaid grants (No Change)
$6.23 billion ...... State Children's Health Insurance (No Change)
$3.17 billion ...... Indian health (No Change)
$3.24 billion ...... Substance abuse and mental health services (No Change)
$4.7 billion ....... Disease control, public health and bioterrorism (No Change)
$29.36 billion ..... Health research and training (No Change)
$3.01 billion ...... Food safety and occupational health and safety (No Change)
$10.89 billion ..... Other health care services (No Change)

Medicare ($345.76 billion)
$182.76 billion .... Hospital insurance (HI) (No Change)
$115.14 billion .... Supplementary medical insurance (SMI) (No Change)
$46.7 billion ...... Prescription drug benefit (No Change)
$1.16 billion ...... Health care fraud (No Change)

Civilian Retirement (Social Security excluded) ($72.02 billion)
$4.89 billion ...... Civilian retirement and disability insurance (No Change)
$58.22 billion ..... Federal employee retirement and disability (No Change)
$8.91 billion ...... Federal employees' and retired employees' health benefits (No Change)

Aid to Low-Income Families ($206.78 billion)
$38.45 billion ..... Housing assistance (No Change)
$37.58 billion ..... Food stamps (No Change)
$19.3 billion ...... Other nutrition programs (WIC, school lunches) (No Change)
$38.66 billion ..... Supplemental security income (SSI) (No Change)
$18.21 billion ..... Family support payments (TANF) (No Change)
$34.05 billion ..... Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) (No Change)
$13.15 billion ..... Child tax credit (No Change)
$4.8 billion ....... Child care funds (No Change)
$2.58 billion ...... Other aid to low-income families (No Change)

General Family Support ($25.62 billion)
$6.56 billion ...... Foster care and adoption assistance (No Change)
$2.92 billion ...... Child support and family support programs (No Change)
$16.14 billion ..... Social and family services (No Change)

Social security ($544.82 billion)
$454.4 billion ..... Old-age and survivors insurance(OASI) (No Change)
$90.42 billion ..... Disability insurance (DI) (No Change)

Administration of justice ($43.1 billion)
$11.35 billion ..... Federal law enforcement (No Change)
$10.46 billion ..... Border security and immigration (No Change)
$10.91 billion ..... Federal litigation and judicial activities (No Change)
$6.16 billion ...... Federal prison system (No Change)
$4.22 billion ...... Criminal justice assistance (No Change)

General government administration ($17.76 billion)
$3.67 billion ...... Legislative functions (No Change)
$1.14 billion ...... Executive office programs (No Change)
$9.8 billion ....... IRS & other fiscal operations (No Change)
$3.15 billion ...... Other general government (No Change)

Net_interest_long ($211.08 billion)
$211.08 billion .... Net Interest (No Change)

Undistributed offsetting receipts and allowance ($-43.99 billion)
$-43.99 billion .... Undistributed offsetting receipts and allowance (No Change)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tax Expenditures and Tax Cuts ($1075.13 billion)


2001 and 2003 Tax Cuts ($294.9 billion)
$116.96 billion .... Benefits for Richest 1% of Taxpayers (No Change)
$28.87 billion ..... Benefits for Next Richest 4% (No Change)
$58.92 billion ..... Benefits for Next Richest 15% (No Change)
$43.6 billion ...... Benefits for Next 20% of Taxpayers (No Change)
$46.55 billion ..... Benefits for Bottom 60% of Taxpayers (No Change)

Corporate Tax Breaks ($60.36 billion)
$15.74 billion ..... Untaxed Foreign Profits (No Change)
$9.87 billion ...... R&D Tax Breaks (No Change)
$4.05 billion ...... Energy, Mining and Timber Tax Breaks (No Change)
$9.93 billion ...... Tax Free Bonds (No Change)
$20.77 billion ..... Other Corporate Tax Breaks (No Change)
Personal Business & Investment Benefits ($86.71 billion)
$30.38 billion ..... Lower tax rates on capital gains (excluding housing) (No Change)
$28.76 billion ..... Step-up basis of capital gains at death (No Change)
$23.01 billion ..... Tax-Free Bonds (No Change)
$1.36 billion ...... Enterprise & Empowerment Zones and New Markets credit (No Change)
$3.2 billion ....... Other personal investment tax breaks (No Change)

Pension & Retirement Deductions ($168.47 billion)
$51.05 billion ..... Employer-paid Pensions (No Change)
$58.12 billion ..... 401Ks & Keogh plans (No Change)
$7.31 billion ...... IRAs (No Change)
$29.48 billion ..... Group and personal life insurance benefits (No Change)
$19.77 billion ..... Untaxed Social Security benefits (No Change)
$2.74 billion ...... Other retirement benefits (No Change)

Health Insurance Tax Benefits ($140.99 billion)
$125.69 billion .... Employer-paid Health Insurance (No Change)
$4.33 billion ...... Self-employed medical insurance premiums (No Change)
$1.83 billion ...... Medical Savings/Health Savings Accounts (No Change)
$9.14 billion ...... Deductibility of medical expenses (No Change)

Housing tax benefits ($163.71 billion)
$76.03 billion ..... Mortgage Interest (No Change)
$14.83 billion ..... Deductibility of property taxes on homes (No Change)
$36.27 billion ..... Capital gains exclusion on home sales (No Change)
$29.72 billion ..... Exclusion of net imputed rental income on owner-occupied homes (No Change)
$2.11 billion ...... Housing bonds & low-income housing investments (No Change)
$4.75 billion ...... Exception from passive loss rules for $25,000 of rental loss (No Change)

Other individual deductions and exemptions ($159.99 billion)
$37.89 billion ..... Charitable contributions (No Change)
$34.62 billion ..... State and local taxes (w/o home property) (No Change)
$6.55 billion ...... Soldiers and veterans tax benefits (No Change)
$5.94 billion ...... Workmen's compensation (No Change)
$14.01 billion ..... Education deductions and credits (No Change)
$32.81 billion ..... Child credit (No Change)
$2.81 billion ...... Child care credits and deductions (No Change)
$2 billion ......... Deduction for the blind and elderly (No Change)
$7.86 billion ...... Social Security benefits for disabled and survivors (No Change)
$3.76 billion ...... Untaxed foreign personal income (No Change)
$3.28 billion ...... Employee parking and transit expenses (No Change)
$1.25 billion ...... Adoption and foster care tax credits (No Change)
$5.42 billion ...... Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)- revenue loss component (No Change)
$1.79 billion ...... Other fringe benefits (No Change)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

New budget is $3748.18 billion
($2673.05 billion in spending, $1075.13 billion in tax expenditures and cuts).

Deficit is $401.04 billion.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Thank you, Governor. Unfortunately, it doesn't have anything about Mideastern revenue, only federal.

[California8429]

Thank you, now we have a sorta set-up of how we should divide our funds. Over the weekend I'll be able to work on an overall picture

[California8429]

We figured if we decided our spending levels, then we could go onto setting taxes to have enough revenue.

You too are a socialist, A-Bob ?!?

BTW, congratulations to our Assemblymen for this big job.

I was under the thinking that we'd be spending less than 500-600 billion a year as was our last report I believe

[California8429]

I'm halfway there, basing off of the federal budget. Is the federal budget set up for 1 year? As in 4 months in Atlasia=1 year, 4 years?