Fwurg

[Nehket Aeka]

"Fellow senators,

In the previous electoral period, then minister Kachiso Doshima brought forward an irregularity in the Turn 17 Subsidies Law. In the following discussion several ways to resolve this matter were proposed, but a vote was never opened.

In specific, the issue raised was Article 2(III) of the Turn 17 Subsidies Law: no price for can be determined for on the Open Market. As already observed by the Ministry of Justice, this effectively means that condition III of the Turn 17 subsidies law is null and void while the Special Goods Regulation Act is in effect.

Three proposal were discussed. Of these proposal I have left out the third, the partial lifting of trade regulation on regulated goods, since it does not in any way correct the Turn 17 Subsidies irregularity.

The first proposal makes the ruling by the Ministry of Justice into law, building on a solid legal foundation. The second proposal seeks to open up the Open Market for special goods while enforcing minimum quality standards, prohibiting the trade in and raising taxes.

In this vote, the following options are available:"

Option A: Amend the Turn 17 Subsidies Law

Remove clause 2(III) from the Turn 17 Subsidies Law, following the ruling of the Ministry of Justice.

Option B: Amend the Special Goods Regulation Act and Raise Taxes

Remove , , , , and from the list of regulated goods in article 1 of the Special Goods Regulation Act, opening up their trade on the Open market.

Add to the list of regulated goods in article 1 of the Special Goods Regulation Act, prohibiting the buying and selling of weapons from or to any and all Union citizens, and parties from outside the Union.

Amend the Special Goods Regulation Act with articles 5 & 6:

• The following goods are defined as watched goods: , , , , and
  
  1. Watched goods may be bought or sold on the Open Market, given that they meet the minimum quality requirements
  2. Minimum qualities requirements for these goods will be determined by the Committee on Special Good Quality
  3. Unchecked goods and goods that do not meet the minimum quality requirements fall under the Regulated Goods as per article 1
• The Committee on Special Good Quality, under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce, will determine the minimum quality standards that apply
  • The committee shall consist of five members, every Union member is entitled to nominate members by sending in an application to the Chancellery.
  • The Chancellery and the Ministry of Commerce shall respectively select three and two members of the committee from the pool of applicants. Selection will be based on expertise with the relevant special goods and pertinent secondary qualifications.
  • The budget for the Committee on Special Good Quality will be 20 per from the budget of the Ministry of Commerce, to be used to check and enforce the minimum quality requirements

Raise taxes to cover the 20 per cost of maintaining the minimum quality of goods on the watch list from the budget of the ministry of Commerce.

"The following member worlds may vote:

• Unified Empire of Azaryan Colonies
  
• Astai Republic
  
• Astrian Colonial Authority
  
• Federal Republic of Bisidn
  
• High Chiefdom of Skuldda
  
• Hiocan Society
  
• Holy Heimgolian Theocracy
  
• IO Protocol
  
• Kingdom of Komès
  
• Kingdom of Meritonia
  
• Miomanian Colonists
  
• New Communist Imperium of the Rising Suns of Deominius
  
• Principality of Suma
  
• Silver Forests of Remunzia
  
• Socialist Republic of Niom
  
• Sundarian Federation
  
• Unified Republic of Darya

Voting closes on 2015-05-03."

[Senator Harek]

"The Hiocan Society votes for option A. We think it is better to regulated the special goods."

[Senator Arzag of Suma]

"Principality of Suma abstains."

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

"The Sundarian federation votes option A."

[Senator Enrorgh of Meritonia]

"The Kingdom of Meritonia votes option A."

[Senator Afra Mesti Vanlind of Komès]

"The Kingdom of Komès believes that option A is the best choice here."

[Atheos]

"The Astai Republic votes option A, it solves the problems without raising taxes even further."

[Senator Ght'Twwf of the Socialist Republic of Niom]

"After careful consideration of all impacted parties the Socialist Republic of Niom votes in favour of Option B: Amend the Special Goods Regulation Act and Raise Taxes.

According to the Socialist Republic of Niom's own Sub-Committee on Consideration of Alternative Structures of Union-Wide Laws Option B to Amend the Special Goods Regulation Act and Raise Taxes implements the necessary bureaucracy and provides for the neccesary bureaucratic channels to allow timely and fitting reactions to the challenges posed by the incorrectness of the Turn 17 Subsidies."

[Lord-Senator Kachiso Doshima]

"The Astrian Colonial Authority abstains."

[0x71A7E17A (mask of 0x71A7E17A)]

0x71A7E17AABSTAIN

[Senator Odakim V of the Rising Suns of Deominius]

The Imperial prince let it be known by holomessage that the Rising Suns of Deomonius voted for option A.

[Senator Acehtoo of the Miomanian Colonists]

"Mioman votes for option B."

[Senator Salixa of the Silver Forests of Remunzia]

"The Silver Forests of Remunzia abstains on this issue."

[Nehket Aeka]

"The Holy Heimgolian Theocracy informed me that they abstain."

[Nehket Aeka]

"Fellow senators,

The results of the poll are:

• Option A: 6
• Option B: 2
• Abstentions and missing: 9

With a total of 8 votes cast, option A has been chosen with 6 votes in favour. The correction on the Turn 17 Subsidies law will be implemented forthwith."

"There is one thing that peaked my curiosity. Senator Doshima, you are the principal reasons that this vote took place, and your personally pushed for solution presented in option B. Would you, just to satisfy the curiosity of the senate, explain why the Astrian Colonial Authority abstained from voting?

If you disagree with the way I have implemented your ideas, I would very much like to have such frustrations in the open. I tried to propose a minimal solution that satisfied all strictures that have been discussed, but seeing how the ACA now abstains from voting, I would like to hear why."

[Lord-Senator Kachiso Doshima]

"I would be delighted to tell you, Chancellor. If I actually knew the answer to your question. However the ACAs leadership has no obligation to inform me of the reason behind their decision.

That being said, Chancellor, isn't it a little presumptuous to ask a Union member why they vote a certain way, in the Senate?"

The sugary innocent tone the Astrian male used almost hid the silent reprimand he made.

[Nehket Aeka]

Aeka ignored the Astrian senator's false innocence, and simply stated her point of view in a neutral tone:

"No, I do not think it is presumptuous to ask a member of the senate why they are suddenly against their own proposal. I think it is merely good communication.

Since there is so little of that -- communication I mean -- I thought simply asking might work better. It seems I was mistaken."

She adds the last part with a hint of a smile.