A New Nation (Character/Political Party RP) - Senate

[Terrelis]

"Senator Church the wealthy should no get government assistance. Providing free healthcare for the wealthy will do nothing but limit what we can do for those who actually need assistance. We wouldn't be denying anyone medical treatment we'd simply be making them pay for their own treatments."

[Republic of the Cristo]

"If I may?" Senator Dezmond said. " But I do believe that such a service should be voluntary. And any funding towards it should come via its customers. It is not explicitly mentioned in the proposal, so I brought it up. I would like to see that added."

[Claven]

"Senator Dezmond, I do not fully understand what you are trying to say. This healthcare service is to provide healthcare for all residents of our Commonwealth. It is explicitly stated that this service is to be free of charge on demand for all that require it. Private health institutions will still be allowed to continue their operations as usual.

Mr Speaker, the costs of healthcare is relatively fluid, in a sense. Costs vary between different treatments, and in the case of mental healthcare, can be very dearly indeed. Especially since it requires specialized treatment by a doctor. Furthermore, how do we truly distinguish who can afford treatment and who cannot? It cannot surely be based solely on income. And what would they be required to show to prove ability or inability to pay? And if that, would it not be a burden to hospitals and clinics to verify and document it? Not to mention the social effects of such measures. By denying one segment of our populace the right to healthcare, but another not, are we not then creating class and social distinctions?

Fellow senators, is the right to health, as defined by the World Health Organization as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, not a fundamental human right? We do not make our citizens pay to vote or be free. It should be the duty of the government to provide a comprehensive health service to all residents of our commonwealth."

[Terrelis]

"Senator Church, classes and social distinctions wee created the day that all of us original settlers stepped foot here. I believe that anyone who makes say over $1.5 million should not receive free healthcare, we could possibly pay for half of this care but they should pay something. We could easily distinguish the two groups by making citizens register for these services and issuing insurance cards. I'm sorry but I can not support this bill if some form of change isn't made."

[Claven]

"Very well Mr Speaker, you're proposed changes are very reasonable. Please allow me some time to make the correct amendments."

[Terrelis]

"Thank you Senator Church but after re reading the bill I also have a problem with Section I-E. I feel that we should pay for all healthcare whether it be at a public or private institution. Only covering public health saw institutions will drive people away from private institutions and be bad for businesses. This could end in the closure of some of these business and higher unemployment rates. Either we need to nationalize the healthcare system completely or cover all healthcare expenses no matter what type of institution."

[Claven]

"Very well, Mr Speaker. After taking into account your suggestions, here is the amended legislation"

National Healthcare Act
Author: Senator Church - PP | Sponsors: Senator Darkmoon

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Section I

A. It shall be the duty of the government to promote and maintain the good health, as defined by the World Health Organisation, of the citizens of the Commonwealth
B. The Office of Health and Welfare shall be designated to promote a comprehensive health service designed to secure improvement —
(i)in the physical and mental health of the people of Columbia, and
(ii)in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness.
C. The Secretary of Finance must for that purpose provide or secure the provision of services in accordance with this Act.
D. The services so provided shall be subsidised by the state depending on income, current loans, and other financial burdens and responsibilities.
E. Private Health Establishments shall have the right to continue providing services at cost, for profit. All Commonwealth citizens shall have the right to seek subsidisation, though not in full, of medical costs attained at said establishments.

[Terrelis]

" Debate for the national healthcare act is now over, and senators may begin voting. I vote for."

[World Anarchic Union]

"I vote for "

[Red Party]

I vote for

[Republic of the Cristo]

Dezmond was on the ropes " I vote aye, but I would like for a later amendment to clearly define whom pays for this service."

[Terrelis]

"With 80 votes for, 0 against, and 70 abstentions the National Healthcare Act has passed. Now on the floor is the National Revenue Act. Also I'll be appointing Senator Solomon Daniels as my Deputy Speaker."

[Claven]

"Mr Speaker, may I have the floor?"

[Kazarogkai]

I stood up and took a slight bow

"Thank you for the honor Senator King, I hope I won't disappoint you or anyone else in this distinguished body. Now onto the current matters."

I pulled up my papers and cleared my throat. I looked upon the Senator and addressed them as a whole:

"The National Revenue Act is something that has long been needed and thankfully we have finally gotten to it. I personally am supportive of the bill for the most part but I also believe that it can be improved so that we can get it right the first time and not have to waste time on later amendments and the like. As such I have a total of Four proposals that I would like for you, Senator King, to consider.

First proposal has to deal with income brackets. As of now you make it so that persons who make below what one would consider the poverty line pay taxes on what little income they make which In my opinion needs to be addressed. I would suggest remaking the tax brackets so that persons making say $11-$12,000(US poverty limit) would be in an income bracket of 0%. This is meant as a way to help are brothers and sisters who as of now suffer with the affliction of poverty. But it is also for practical reasons. What is the point of taxing them when we are just going to give them their money back in the form of social welfare spending like food stamps and the like? I would suggest tax brackets more along these lines:

00% $0-12,000
10% $12,001-35,000
15% $35,000-55,000
20% $55,001-100,000
25% $100,001-350,000
35% $350,001-500,000
40% $500,001-

Second proposal would be an expansion of taxes in general. I wish to ask that you add Property taxes to the taxes levied upon personal property and real estate. This is a tax used most often in nations by municipal authorities and other more local governments but considering the virtual lack of said things I say that it would be justifiable for the national government itself to levy such a tax upon the population. Personally I would suggest a rate no higher than 2% on assessed value, which in itself will be based off market values.

Third proposal involves adding an exemption in the Purchase tax for essential goods specifically foodstuff, medicine, and child care products. This is meant to help prevent a rise in prices for these essential goods thereby making it so that those less fortunate than others will have their quality of life drastically reduced. In the USA a similar provision is used for their sales tax and I would suggest it be implemented here especially considering the fact that one could credit this in part for why the United States has such low food prices in comparison to the rest of the world, which is a very admirable thing. There can be exceptions to this rule mind you, things like fast food and sodas and snacks and other things with little to no nutritive value at all. Foodstuff like unprocessed Fruits, vegetables,, etc should be ones covered under this exemption. The essential good stock of life that contributes goodness for the body and soul. Part of the reason why the lower class on average suffers far more from issues related to being overweight and the like is because the bad stuff is so cheap and the good stuff is so expensive, if the roles were reversed it would contribute immensely to the health of the nation.

Fourth Proposal would be to make it so that income be filled for the population as a whole on a household by household rather than on an individual by individual basis. A similar institution is already offered to marinade couples on a voluntary basis, I simply wish that it be expanded and be instead based on households for all persons within said household.

That is all that I ask and hope you take my words into consideration."

[Terrelis]

"Senator Daniles you raise some valid point. As for your first proposal you must remember we are not in America, and our cost of living is much lower than there's which in turn would make our poverty line lower. In Columbia one would not be considered in poverty if they make $11,000, at least. Your second proposal while also valid is something I am personally against, and it isn't something negotiable for me. I don't support property taxes at all, never have and never will. Your third proposal I can agree to and I will add a clause to lower the purchases tax on certain items but only for consumers. As for your last proposal, what exactly would be the benefit of this?"

[Terrelis]

National Revenue Act
Author: Senator Elizabeth Monroe (PP) | Sponsors: Senator King (PP)

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Section I

A. The Senate shall have the sole right to impose and levy taxes;
B. There shall be three taxes collected by the government; Personal Income, Corporate Income, and Purchase;
C. Additional taxes may be levied with a amendment to this bill passed by at least a 2/3 majority;

Section II

A. Personal Income Tax shall be imposed upon all persons who make at least $1,000;
B. Persons with an income of $1,000 to $10,000 shall pay 10% of that income; persons who with an income of $10,001 to $35,000 shall pay 15% of that income; persons with an income of $35,001 to $50,000 shall pay 20% of that income; persons with an income of $50,001 to $100,000 shall pay 25% of that income; persons with an income of $100,001 to $350,000 shall pay 30% of that income; persons with an income of $350,001 to $500,000 shall pay 35% of that income; persons with an income of $500,001 or greater shall pay 40% of that income;
C. Personal Income shall be the total of all money received above the amount of $100;

Section III

A. Corporate Income Tax shall be imposed on all corporations who's income is at least $500,000;
B. Corporations who's income is $500,000 to $1,000,000 shall pay 10% of that income; corporations who's income is $1,000,001 to $50,000,000 shall pay 15% of that income; corporations who's income is $50,000,001 to $1,000,000,000 shall pay 20% of that income; corporations who's income is $1,000,000,001 or higher shall pay 30% of that income;
C. Corporate income shall be total revenue minus total expenses;

Section IV

A. 10% of the sales price shall be added to all purchases, from the manufacturer to the consumer, this 10% shall be known as the Purchase Tax;
B. This shall be reduced to 5% for unprocessed healthy food, as defined so by the Office of Health and Welfare; utilities, as defined so by the Office of Energy; childcare products and medicine, and so by the Office of Health and Welfare;

Section V

A. The senate may at any time make exemptions and reductions to the personal income and corporate income tax;
B. The senate may at any time adjust the tax rate for all taxes;
C. All taxes not imposed, or approved, by the senate shall be declared void and shall be refunded to the payers; if the money has been spent the authorizer of the tax shall personally refund the money in total;

"The National Revenue Act is now at vote, I vote for. As do we said Senator Daniels, speaking for the entire National Civic Faction."

[Neo-Chicago]

"Just saying, Senator... Monroe? If you had everyone pay 10% of their income, they would still pay more as they earned more. 10% of 100 is 10, but 10% of 1000 is 100. In its present form, I would have to vote against this act." Senator Louis told the Senator.

[Terrelis]

Executive Powers Act
Author: President Xavier King (PP) | Sponsors: Senator Elizabeth Monroe (PP)

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Section I

A. The President shall have the power to author and impose Executive Orders;
B. Executive Orders shall not be considered laws, but instead mandates from the President;
C. Executive Orders shall not contradict, or amend, the constitution or any previously established laws;
D. The Senate shall be able to repeal Executive Orders with a 2/3 majority vote;

[Neo-Chicago]

Senator Louis stepped into the chamber that housed the Senate of the Commonwealth of Columbia. Now he was the majority leader, as they had wrested control of the Senate from the Progressives for once, and he wasn't going to let the opportunity pass him by. He drank a cup of coffee, smoked a cigarette, and when the rest of the Senate arrived, he began. "Alright, I'm the majority leader, so I'll administer the speaker election. Let's see here... alright, any senators interested in running, please announce so. Announcements will end in 12 hours, after which we will vote on speakers. I'd like to announce that I, Craig Miller Louis, will be running for Speaker."

[Terrelis]

Elizabeth Monroe the new Progresosve Sebate Leader walked in the chamber her party members following behind her. This was the first time in the history of the nation that there wasn't a Progressive at the podium starting things off. In her first year as the party's senate leader she was the Minority Leader, but she had faith she could win the speakership. "I, Senator Elizabeth Montoe, will run for speaker," she said after Louis made his announcement.

[Camelone]

Andrew Shafik walked into the chamber wearing formal clothing for once along with the other senators from the Coptic Futurist Party following him in a military like march into the chamber and took there seats. Andrew knew he stood no chance at winning speakership but he could at least announce his presence, thinking things over he decided to wait it out and see what happens.

[Kazarogkai]

I walked into the senate with strength in my step and surveyed the room. A few less familiar faces from my my own but still despite are losses we were still strong and were able to walk in with a measure of pride. I took my seat and listened to the talk that engulfed the room, when the senate speaker elections were bought up I choose to keep my silence for now and bide my time and see the actions of others before I committed to some of my own.

[Neo-Chicago]

Public Privacy Bill
Author: Senator Craig Louis (P) | Sponsors: Senator Solomon Daniels (N) and Senator Andrew Shafik (C)

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Section I

A. No citizen of the Commonwealth shall be the subject of recording, video or audio, without their consent while in the privacy of their own home, personal vehicle, or place of work; exterior cameras may record the vehicles of citizens, but shall not focus on one specific vehicle and must be stationary; violation of this shall be classified as a Class C Felony, and shall be punishable as such;
B. The government (or former or current members of the government) shall not surveil the home of a citizen or a citizen themselves without specific authorization by a court of law (if denied, authorization may not be requested from another court); members of the government shall not attempt to circumvent this by requesting someone who is not a member of the government to surveil the home of a citizen; violation of this shall be classified as a capital offense, and shall be punishable as such; All government members involved in the perpetration of this act shall be stricken from their posts;
C. All citizens of the Commonwealth who have been the subject of recording, video or audio, without their consent prior to the passing of this bill shall be granted the right to request that their recordings be destroyed; if this request is not heeded, it shall be classified as a Class C Felony, and shall be punishable as such;
D. No citizens of the Commonwealth shall impersonate another citizen of the Commonwealth for any reason; violation of this shall be classified as a Class C Felony, and shall be punishable as such;

Section II

A. No form of communication (mail, email, instant messages, phone calls, etc) sent or received by citizens of the Commonwealth shall be monitored without specific authorization by a court of law (if denied, authorization may not be requested from another court); government-run prisons are exempt from this, provided that the communications involve an inmate; violation of this shall be classified as a Class C Felony, and shall be punishable as such;
B. All programs involving the monitoring of citizens or their communications, through recording or otherwise, within government agencies or involving former or current members of the government, shall cease until proper authorization is granted;
C. Citizens confirmed to have participated in capital offenses or Class A Felonies are exempt from the protections of this bill;

[Neo-Chicago]

"My apologies for the wait, my alarm clock went off really late yesterday, and... well, it was a mess. Anyway, seeing as there's no other candidates besides Senator Monroe and I, I would say voting is in order. Use the following format, I, Senator (Name), vote for Senator (Name). I, Senator Louis, vote for Senator Louis."

[World Anarchic Union]

Nicholas Darkmoon walked in the Senate. He was mixed about the election results as, while the party had received a substantial amount of votes, they were less than bpthe previous elections.
Darkmoon sat on his designated seat and as it was time for voting, voted:
"I, Senator Darkmoon vote for Senator Monroe."