NS Parliament 2 Chamber [IC]

[Van Hool Islands]

Aye.

[Agarntrop]

Aye

[Merni]

Aye

[Crylante]

Aye.

[Vedastia]

AYE

[Democratic Republic of Eiria]

"Order. With Six Ayes and Zero Nays, the bill is passed. I now open the floor to a joint vote on the Bandurian Small Buisness Act, Penghuni Culture Preservation Act, and Humane Security Act".

[Merni]

Bandurian Small Business Act: Aye
Penghuni Culture Preservation Act: Aye
Humane Security Act: Aye

[Van Hool Islands]

Bandurian Small Business Act: Aye
Penghuni Culture Preservation Act: Aye
Humane Security Act: Aye

[Vedastia]

Bandurian Small Business Act: AYE
Penghuni Culture Preservation Act: AYE
Humane Security Act: ABSTAIN

[Yaruqo]

Bandurian Small Business Act: Aye
Penghuni Culture Preservation Act: Aye
Humane Security Act: Aye

[Agarntrop]

Bandurian Small Business Act: Aye
Penghuni Culture Preservation Act: Aye
Humane Security Act: Aye

[American Pere Housh]

Bandurian Small Business Act: Aye
Penghuni Culture Preservation Act: Nay
Humane Security Act: Abstain

[Democratic Republic of Eiria]

"Order. Voting is now closed. The Bandurian Small Buisness Act passed with Six Ayes and Zero Nays, the Penghuni Culture Preservation Act is passed with Five Ayes and One Nay, and the Humane Security Act is passed with Four Ayes, Zero Nays, and two Abstaining. I now open the floor to question time".

[Skeckoa]

Mr. Speaker, my question for the government is what is their long-term and short-term plans to alleviate the increasing gap in wealth between urbanites and rural folk?

[Merni]

"Mr Speaker, can the government give us a concrete and detailed plan to improve and modernise Banduria's infrastructure, something that is vital for the development of the economy?"

[Van Hool Islands]

Mister Speaker, what is the government doing to stop the rapidly rising income inequality in this nation. Why do the upper classes spend millions on lavish homes and cars while our poorest go hungry? Will the government accept the failure that is neoliberal economic policy and embrace a more progressive model?

[Inhorto]

Mr. Speaker, my question for the government is what is their long-term and short-term plans to alleviate the increasing gap in wealth between urbanites and rural folk?

"Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honourable Member for his question. There is undoubtedly a marked wealth gap between the richest few and the poorest many. Many members opposite would like to see this wage gap decreased by swindling the rich of their money. This government disagrees. We believe that it is imperative for the government to help lift our citizens out of poverty and to give each citizen the means to gin up wealth for himself. This government has passed the Bandurian Small Business Act with this goal in mind. We believe that the key to closing the gap lies in encouraging poor folk to become entrepreneurs and open businesses, to have easy access to the means of production, and so forth."

Mister Speaker, what is the government doing to stop the rapidly rising income inequality in this nation. Why do the upper classes spend millions on lavish homes and cars while our poorest go hungry? Will the government accept the failure that is neoliberal economic policy and embrace a more progressive model?

"Mr. Speaker, I do not see this as the failure of the neoliberal model. All levels of income in this nation have gone up. GDP, gross and per capita, has increased. All Bandurians are on average better off than they were when this government inherited power. That is something to be proud of."

"Mr Speaker, can the government give us a concrete and detailed plan to improve and modernise Banduria's infrastructure, something that is vital for the development of the economy?"

"This Government will be shortly presenting legislation to privatize government-owned and -operated infrastructure, such as Banduria Rail, so as to allow private investment and development in this key field."

[Democratic Republic of Eiria]

"Order. Since all questions asked have been answered by the Prime Minister, I would like to close question time there. Therefore, I open debate on the First Amendment to the Government Establishment Act, and I shall draw up an agenda while debate commences".

[Merni]

"Mr Speaker, I condemn this attempt by the Prime Minister to force this chamber to debate government bills that are devoid of merit, and establish a different standard for itself and for other members. If the Government, having majority support in this chamber and eight cabinet members, cannot get five members to sponsor a bill it writes, then surely it ought to reconsider whether that bill is worthy of being considered. If this government cannot get the sponsorship even of three-quarters of its cabinet on a bill, why should it have a shortcut to get it debated in this chamber? If this measure were meant to prevent delay for bills which really need to be passed urgently, then I would have no objection to it, but as currently written that does not appear to be the case.

"I would support a measure to make the requirement for sponsorship for any bill a percentage of the current strength of the chamber (OOC: the number of members who voted in the last two votes, say), rather than a fixed number."

[Van Hool Islands]

"Mr Speaker, I condemn this attempt by the Prime Minister to force this chamber to debate government bills that are devoid of merit, and establish a different standard for itself and for other members. If the Government, having majority support in this chamber and eight cabinet members, cannot get five members to sponsor a bill it writes, then surely it ought to reconsider whether that bill is worthy of being considered. If this government cannot get the sponsorship even of three-quarters of its cabinet on a bill, why should it have a shortcut to get it debated in this chamber? If this measure were meant to prevent delay for bills which really need to be passed urgently, then I would have no objection to it, but as currently written that does not appear to be the case.

"I would support a measure to make the requirement for sponsorship for any bill a percentage of the current strength of the chamber (OOC: the number of members who voted in the last two votes, say), rather than a fixed number."

Hear, hear.

[Inhorto]

The prime minister rose, "Mr. Speaker, when we were elected to this House, this government was endowed with a mandate to get things done. This government must have the tools at its disposal to write, circulate, and present legislation to this House in a speedy manner. If the Right Honourable Member sitting opposite is opposed to the government being held at a different standard, well then I would advise her to win elections. This legislation exists not to just help this government, but all governments henceforth effect change in our people's lives. This current system does not afford us that privilege."

[Merni]

"Mr Speaker, I would remind the Prime Minister that I did win an election, indeed I have won successive elections in my constituency for twenty years, which is the reason for my presence here. The people do not elect the government, but the MPs. I would also remind him that I have sponsored a number of bills by government members, and vice versa.

"All this is however immaterial. The point remains that a little careful consideration would serve this government, and any future governments, far better than rushing a bill into the chamber. As I have said, I do not object to the government being given the power to introduce an emergency bill that needs to be urgently debated even if it has less sponsors. What I do object to is the government having the right to recklessly introduce legislation that has not the support of even five members in this chamber. Is the government unable to get the sponsorship of five of its own members on a bill, when it has eight cabinet ministers? That seems quite unlikely, and if it is the case, maybe the government ought to examine what it is proposing and take some time to think it through, before attempting to rush it to the chamber. Legislation is a marathon, not a sprint."

[Democratic Republic of Eiria]

"Order. Debate is now Closed, and I open the floor to voting on the First Amendment to the Government Establishment Act, Furthermore, the Agenda will be as follows for the next week:

June 17th: Voting on the First Amendment to the Government Establishment Act
June 18th: Debate on the Fiscal Responsibility Act
June 19th: Debate on the Narcotic Control Act
June 20th: Debate on the Building Block Savings Account Act
June 21st: Debate on the Public Service Evaluation Act
June 22nd: Voting on the Public Service Evaluation Act, Building Block Savings Account Act, Narcotic Control Act, and Fiscal Responsibility Act.

Let the voting commence".

[Martune]

Nay

[Sao Nova Europa]

Aye