1581-1582 Nyland Federal Assembly

[Blacaria]

The current President is: Anders Kohout (Seperallis)
The current Speaker of the Assembly is: Nichlas Hougaard (Blacaria)


1581-1582 Nyland Federal Assembly Sessions



UP 104 | NCL 96 | NL 96 | NPA 84 | Green 65 | PCP 51 | NMP 30 | LCN 9

Bill Posting Period is CLOSED

Emergency Sessions: None


HEAR ye, hear ye, the 1580-1581 session of the Nyland Federal Assembly is now in session. All Honourable Assemblypersons, do please take your seats for role-call.

Within these halls, all legislative decisions for Nyland shall take place. Anyone from any party shall be allowed to present legislation for consideration, but only one bill may be active upon the floor for debate and vote at any one time. Furthermore, during debate, one must clearly state who is being recognized to speak on the floor, their party (if applicable), and then put forth their statement or argument for or against the bill and other points of discussion; one may refer to others arguments if they so desire, but they shall refrain from direct outbursts on the floor without having been called to the floor to speak.


The Rules
This is meant to be a fun thing where anyone can pop in as an assemblyperson of Nyland's legislature, and legislation by no means has to remain serious or solemn. There are a few basic rules to consider, however:

1) Legislation for the period can only be presented during an open period for submittal. The status of the Bill Submittal period is located above. If you miss the posting period, tough shit; hold onto it for later.
2) Submitted Bills are first-come, first-served. If emergency stuff happens, such as natural disaster or a state of war, a separate thread will be created. (No more Tambossa-style "vote only" unless time is really, really of the essence)
3) There are no time limits on debate. If the session ends before debate finishes, or we don't get through the queue of bills, then tough shit, it's gone; remake it in the next session.
4) To move for a vote, two people must motion for a vote. Voting will then begin in this thread, with people posting whether they vote for or against, and which party they represent.
5) After a bill moves to a vote, there is no revote; will not be re-submitted until the next session.
6) Votes will be weighted by party, and the party's votes split based upon those who recognize themselves as from such party. Individual people may of course split their alloted votes amongst (yes), (no) and (abstain) if they so wish.
7) Any Bill that passes a vote, regardless of how trivial or silly, will move to the President's Desk for consideration; the President must post his approval/denial in this thread.
8) Any bill denied by the President may still become law with a 2/3 majority in favor in the legislature; any bill approved by the President is in immediate effect and becomes law throughout Nyland.

God help us all.

Submissions
If one so wishes to put forth legislation, please proceed through the following steps:

1) Complete the following form:

Show ContentYou Complete Me:

Code:

[table][tr][td][align=center][font=Perpetua][size=xx-large]Name of Bill or Act[/size][/font][/align][/td][/tr][tr][td][align=center][font=Perpetua][size=large]Assembly Bill ----.---[/size][/font][/align][/td][/tr][tr][td][font=Perpetua][size=medium][b]Drafted by:[/b] (The person, party, or organization that drafted the legislation.)
[b]Submitted by:[/b] (Name and party (if applicable) of the person or persons submitting the legislation to the floor.)
[b]Submit Date:[/b] (Date submitted to be heard on the floor. (answer this))
[b]Hearing Date:[/b] (Date the bill was heard on the floor. (leave blank))
[b]Revision Date:[/b] (Latest revision date of the bill. (leave blank))

[b][u]Summary[/u]:[/b]
This is a quick summary of what is included in the legislation. This should be no more than a single paragraph. Pretend you're writing an abstract or somesuch.

[u][b]Section #:[/b] Section Title[/u]
This is where the parts of the bill are explained. each section must pertain to one specific thing; if the bill addresses something else, add another section (you can use as many as you want/need). Please use plain, yet clear, English; there's no need to go into fancy legalese, and there's no requirement for length and such, as long as you've written all you feel needs said on the subject.[/size][/font][/td][/tr][/table]

2) Post form in a reply to this thread, during an open submission period; legislation is first-come, first-served.

Show ContentLegislation Being Heard (on the floor):

None

Show ContentSubmitted Legislation (to be heard):

None

Show ContentLegislation Passed or Failed:

FAILED - Tax Reform Act of 1581 [TRA81]
PASSED - Amended Federal Minimum Wage Act of 1581 [AFMWA81]
PASSED - Infrastructure Modernization Act of 1582 [IFA82]

Previous Sessions

1579-1580 Nyland Federal Assembly Sessions
1577-1578 Nyland Federal Assembly Sessions
1575-1576 Nyland Federal Assembly Sessions
1573-1574 Nyland Federal Assembly Sessions
1571-1572 Nyland Federal Assembly Sessions
1569-1570 Nyland Federal Assembly Sessions

[Seperallis]

Tax Reform Act of 1581
Assembly Bill 1581.101
Drafted by: Broderick Baird (NL) Submitted by: Broderick Baird (NL) Submit Date: 28 Ochtyr, 1581 Hearing Date: Revision Date: Summary: This bill amends the Tax Reform Act of 1580 (TRA80) and reforms the VAT tax structure of Nyland. The goal is to reduce the tax burden on poor Nylanders by eliminating certain VAT categories, which have a demonstrable effect on the budgets of lower income households. Section 1: Individual Income Tax Rates Reform I. All individual income falling between the range $0 - $50,000 will have an income tax of 0%. II. All individual income falling between the range $50,001 - $125,000 will have an income tax of 5%. III. All individual income falling between the range $125,001 - $200,000 will have an income tax of 12%. IV. All individual income falling between the range $200,001 - $398,000 will have an income tax of 18%. V. All individual income falling between the range $398,001 - $425,000 will have an income tax of 25%. VI. All individual income of $425,001 or more will have an income tax of 30%. Section 2: Value Added Tax Reform The following tax rates will be applied: I. Standard Rate: 22% II. Reduced Rate: 8% III. Zero Rate: 0% The Standard VAT rate of 22% is applied to all supplies of good or services, unless a specific measures provides for the reduced, zero rate, or simple exemption. Examples of good and services taxable at the reduced rate (8%) I. Food Preparation II. Textbooks for primary and secondary school. III. Cultural goods declared of general interest by the Department of Commerce IV Passenger transport V. Hotel accommodation VI. Health & Hygiene Examples of good  and services taxable at the Zero Rate (0%) I. Exports of Goods II. Intra-Community supplies of goods III. Supplies to ships and aircraft used for international transportation Examples of exempt supplies of goods and services The term “exempt supplies” refers to supplies of goods and services that are not liable to tax and that do not give rise to a right of input tax deduction I. Supply of immovable property II. Medical services III. Finance IV. Insurance V. Betting and gaming VI. Education VII. Foodstuffs VIII. Feminine Hygiene The change will be effective immediately (next fiscal year) Section 3: New VAT Definitions I. "Food Preparation" shall encompass all goods and services where food and drink is prepared for consumption by an company/individual/agency and then presented to a customer as either "ready to cook" or "ready to eat" II. "Foodstuffs" shall encompass any and all consumable items not included in the "Food Preparation" category. III. "Feminine Hygiene" shall encompass all Hygiene products or services whose necessary purpose is extricably linked to the unique biology of women. IV. "Health and Hygiene" shall encompass all goods and services whose primary purpose serves to improve human health and Hygiene that are neither medical in nature, nor included as "Feminine Hygiene." Amendment - Broderick Baird - NL

[Seperallis]

Federal Minimum Wage Act of 1581
Assembly Bill 1581.102
Drafted by: Harry Skoglund (NL) & Peter Blomqvist (NL) Submitted by: Broderick Baird (NL) Submit Date: 1 Nueva, 1581 Hearing Date: Revision Date: Summary: The Federal Minimum Wage Act of 1581 seeks to increase the Federally-enforced minimum wage to $10.50 an hour, automatically adjusted yearly and indexed to inflation. Section 1: Federal Minimum Wage 1. The federal minimum wage shall be increased to $10.50 per hour, replacing the previous federal minimum wage. 2. The federal minimum wage shall apply to all working persons with a legal right to work in Nyland, or persons receiving legal compensation for work within Nyland, its states and territories, and its other sovereign soils. 3. The federal minimum wage shall be annually adjusted by the Department of Labor per Section 2 of this act. 4. The federal minimum wage shall take precedence and be enforceable over any state minimum wages lower than the established federal minimum wage. 5. There shall be no exception to the federal minimum wage anywhere except where outlined in Section 3 of this act. Section 2: Annual Wage Adjustment & Index 1. The Department of Labor shall be charged with administering, enforcing and adjusting the federal minimum wage by and for the provisions of this act. 2. The Department of Labor shall adjust the minimum wage annually, automatically, specifically and proportionally indexed to match inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). 3. CPI inflation calculations shall not include entertainment, medical insurance and healthcare costs. Section 3: Exceptions 1. Where a state's minimum wage is in excess of the federal minimum wage as outlined in this act, the state's minimum wage shall be enforced over the federal minimum wage. 2. For jobs and industries where the practice of "tipping" is common, the federal minimum wage shall be $3.60 an hour for only those jobs and positions that both receive and keep all tipping proceeds given to them; all other provisions of this act shall apply. 3. For jobs and industries where the practice of "tipping" is common, the federal minimum wage shall be $8.00 an hour; all other provisions of this act shall apply. 4. The employment by any person, company or other agency of a person with no legal right to work in Nyland et al shall not give that person/company/agency etc legal exception to act under the provisions of this law. 5. For work and industries where the practice of "tipping" is common, where accumulated wages and tips for any employees do not meet or exceed the federal minimum wage (or state minimum wage, whichever is higher) for any pay period, then the employer shall increase wages for that pay period to compensate, in an amount where the employee's new accumulated wages and tips meet or exceed the minimum wage. Amendment - Harry Skoglund - NL Amendment - Malin Ehrenstrahl - NCL Amendment - Milan Vuletaski - NL *Federal Minimum Wage Act of 1581 is signed* ~ Anders Kohout

[Blacaria]

Nichlas Hougaard
Speaker of the Assembly

Tax Reform Act of 1581 and the Federal Minimum Wage Act of 1581 have both been placed forward for debate. Deliberation will first begin on the Tax Reform Act 1581. All honorable assembly persons are hereby invited for comment.

[Seperallis]

Broderick Baird - NL

Thank you Mr. Speaker. As I'm sure most of you are well aware of the tax act that passed last year, I will keep my statement brief.

As most of you know, our President made it a priority of his to reduce the tax burden on lower income earners and roll back a terrible oversight in the original Harrow tax plan that this chamber failed to question, and that subsequent Assemblies have failed to resolve even after having addressed it: the tax on food, and the taxing of health products as a "luxury." These tax regulations put an undue burden on poorer families, who spend a greater proportion of their budgets on food and personal health.

Since income tax is all but eliminated on the lowest end, the most logical and equitable way of reducing this burden is to remove or reduce VAT on those items that make up the largest share of lower income budgets: food, and personal health. Yes, these lower rates apply to all, and everyone who buys in Nyland will receive the benefit of reduced taxes on these goods, but this is a simple, easy, and effective way of putting literally hundreds if not thousands of daler a year back into the pocketbooks of the families who are not only stretching their wallets thin, but who oftentimes have to make hard choices between eating eating more than two or even one meal a day and putting a roof over their heads; with reduced taxes on foods, these people can afford more for their families.

Furthermore, the changes in tax policy on foodstuffs only apply to those foods that are not "prepared;" that is, fresh, whole produce, meat, dairy and the like, all sources of wholesome nutrition instead of nutritionless fizzy beverages and snacks, which remain at the previous levels passed under President Morgen. Some might decry such a distinction, but the reasoning is rather simple, in that overconsumption of such highly processed, highly packaged goods tends to both be the undeniable source of obesity and diabetes in Nyland, while also generating hundreds of pounds of non-biodegradable garbage per year [i]per person[i] that sit in landfills for generations...with such a burden to both our beltlines and our pocketbooks, charging a nominal tax on top of such products for the future burden their consumption places on our budgets only makes sense.

That is all for now. I look forward to the inevitable arguments against this reasonable and responsible legislation.

[Seperallis]

Astrad Johannesson - NL

I am glad to see this plan on the floor of the Assembly; it is a long overdue correction to an oversight that should have been corrected years ago.

My only concern is, why is this act so limited? While we are talking about "helping poor and working families," why have we not rolled back the strangling tax "reforms" instituted under President Morgen? Tax rates across all aspects of society have effectively doubled over those last seen before even the Harrow plan was implemented., and the strain has caused massive cuts in private spending as people and companies not only take home less to spend, but also save more of what little they do have out of fear and hedging against future uncertainties.

I understand that additional revenues are needed to keep Nyland from acquiring debt while tackling the administration's planned programs and reforms, but the Morgen tax plan was a grave overstep that's shocked the nation onto the precipice of a recession. If we're really intent on being advocates for the "good of the common man," then we need to roll back the income tax burden that is crippling family finances and consider modest, reasonable increases from there to meet actual needs as they arise.

As a matter of fact, for your consideration, I would like to propose the following amendment:

Section 1: Individual Income Tax Rates Reform

I. All individual income falling between the range $0 - $50,000 will have an income tax of 0%.
II. All individual income falling between the range $50,001 - $125,000 will have an income tax of 5%.
III. All individual income falling between the range $125,001 - $200,000 will have an income tax of 12%.
IV. All individual income falling between the range $200,001 - $398,000 will have an income tax of 18%.
V. All individual income falling between the range $398,001 - $425,000 will have an income tax of 25%.
VI. All individual income of $425,001 or more will have an income tax of 30%.

[Blacaria]

Nichlas Hougaard
Speaker of the Assembly

Seeing as we're in apparent agreement for the proposed amendments, this debate phase has now come to a close.

Josef Carling - UP

I put forth a calll to vote

[Seperallis]

Astrad Johannesson - NL

I second the motion.

[Blacaria]

Nichlas Hougaard
Speaker of the Assembly

The motion for a vote is recognized, in the absence of further discussion. All honourable Assembly members are hereby invited to vote on the passage of the Tax Reform Act of 1581.

Ultranationalist Party
FR - 20
AG - 80
AB - 4

[Seperallis]

Nyland Liberalists
FR - 96
AG - 0