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[OOC: Bah. Why does everyone think I'm not here just because I've got nothing to say?]
EDIT
My dear colleagues, President Glasser has been granted permission to present and debate the new budget before the Assembly. The budget is nearing completion and I expect that the president will be here soon.
Bram Borgman
Speaker
EDIT
My dear colleagues, President Glasser has been granted permission to present and debate the new budget before the Assembly. The budget is nearing completion and I expect that the president will be here soon.
Bram Borgman
Speaker
Last edited:
(cuz the speaker needs to make sure to comment on everything 
)
going to have to buy an alarm clock to keep the speaker awake.
)going to have to buy an alarm clock to keep the speaker awake.
Mr. Speaker,
Thank you for the invitation to speak here. I hope to be back soon to present to you the budget. However, I speak here for a moment to formally ask this Assembly's consent to the nomination of Hawkton Tilly as Vice President of Eutopia.
Thank you for your time.
-Dr. Jonathan Glasser
President of Eutopia
Thank you for the invitation to speak here. I hope to be back soon to present to you the budget. However, I speak here for a moment to formally ask this Assembly's consent to the nomination of Hawkton Tilly as Vice President of Eutopia.
Thank you for your time.
-Dr. Jonathan Glasser
President of Eutopia
I am not sure if MILE should accumulate any more power, I think this could be dangerous, of course he is honest man, but this is simply dangerous, my vote is nay on this issue of Hawkton Tilly as Vice-president
Green_alien said:
I don't really see why this should be dangerous. I think mr Tilly is an honest and qualified man. Anyway, I don't suppose there will be much debating on this, so we can get voting right now.
we can adjust bills, we dont need to approve them up or down the way they came in. altering the bill and lowering the powers of the mile and concentrating more in the na is fine.
if not the mile who would you propose for vp? we do need a vp now and are rather short on candidates.
if not the mile who would you propose for vp? we do need a vp now and are rather short on candidates.
Well true there aren't much choices, I think I will vote for him, because my party wants so, also I like your proposal to concentrate power in NA
well what i ment by my statement is there isnt enough adjustment and debate on changes of bills, just whether a bill overall is good or bad.
The Official Term Seven Budget Proposal
Preface
I am proud to make history with the presentation of this budget to the National Assembly. It has been the product of the hard work of several of my predecessors, including Presidents Talbott and Langley, and Minister Michael Von Streusser. This budget does what I think is an excellent job of balancing today's priorities with tomorrow's needs and it is my hope that it will be enacted into law as soon as possible.
The Budget
End Notes
*This is a reduction of 2.5 Billion Ducats which had been allocated for weapon procurement. This has become difficult because of the US Weapon embargo as well as the lack of a Military Reform Bill. It is esential that this funding would be at least restored, if not increased, in future budgets.
**This decrease in funds reflects the elimination of Marticon subsides
***We attend to our needs now. The repetitive failure to produce a budget has had a lasting impact on Eutopia and so we must spend our tax dollars here at the moment. It would be my hope that this could be restored as early as the next budget.
****This is a budget increase for these hard hit industries. This is especially needed as a result of the Marticon privatization. This subsidy should be eliminated upon the signing of a new NAFA and as the overall economy improves.
*****This reduction reflects the decreased costs the government now incurs thanks to closed campuses and the lack of continued support for private universities. The amount spent on Higher Education will remain greater than it was before the Higher Education Reform Bill was passed.
^This might decrease slightly because of the Marticon privatization despite the fact that the bill as written would indicate that there would be no decrease
^^This would be a tax, applied at the median income tax level, on the wealthiest .1% of estates when someone dies. This tax, affecting a very small percentage of the population, would hopefully allow the government more leeway in future budgets for places where there might need to be increases, such as military spending.
^^^All revenues from this would be required to go to Debt Reduction. The advantages of long term debt deduction are clear as it would allow for a reduction in debt service and a corresponding ability to either lower taxes or increase program funding.
Preface
I am proud to make history with the presentation of this budget to the National Assembly. It has been the product of the hard work of several of my predecessors, including Presidents Talbott and Langley, and Minister Michael Von Streusser. This budget does what I think is an excellent job of balancing today's priorities with tomorrow's needs and it is my hope that it will be enacted into law as soon as possible.
The Budget
Code:
Defense 11.5*
– incl. subsidies for ENDTech 2
International Affairs 1
Industry, Trade, Commerce 2.5**
Regional Development 2
International Aid 0***
Transport (domestic and international) 2
Public works and utilities (water, sewers, dams etc.) 2.5
Postal service 0.5
Navigation and shipping 0.5
Energy 2
Natural resources and mining 3.0
– subsidies for Recom 2.5
Forestry and fisheries 1****
-subsidies for impacted industries .5
Agriculture 5
– farm subsidies 4
Law enforcement and administration of justice 7.5
Coast Guard and customs 1.5
Immigration and citizenship 0.5
Environment 1.5
Health 29
- subsidies for Medicure 26
Social insurance 13
- subsidies for Omnicare 12
Labour and welfare 31
- unemployment benefits 20
- social aid 3
– pension fund contributions 7
Family and youth 6
– child benefits 4
Education 32.5
- schools and kindergartens 22
- universities and colleges 9.5*****
Language, culture and communities 1.5
Communication and media 1
Sports 1.5
Science and technology 1.5
National parks 0.5
General administration 1
Debt service 14
Total expenditure 177
Code:
Revenue
Income tax 76
Corporate profit tax 15^
Indirect business tax and non-tax accruals 46
Health care premiums 13
Interest 7
Natural resources and mining 21
Estate Tax ??^^
Profits from Marticon sale ??^^^
Total revenue at least 178End Notes
*This is a reduction of 2.5 Billion Ducats which had been allocated for weapon procurement. This has become difficult because of the US Weapon embargo as well as the lack of a Military Reform Bill. It is esential that this funding would be at least restored, if not increased, in future budgets.
**This decrease in funds reflects the elimination of Marticon subsides
***We attend to our needs now. The repetitive failure to produce a budget has had a lasting impact on Eutopia and so we must spend our tax dollars here at the moment. It would be my hope that this could be restored as early as the next budget.
****This is a budget increase for these hard hit industries. This is especially needed as a result of the Marticon privatization. This subsidy should be eliminated upon the signing of a new NAFA and as the overall economy improves.
*****This reduction reflects the decreased costs the government now incurs thanks to closed campuses and the lack of continued support for private universities. The amount spent on Higher Education will remain greater than it was before the Higher Education Reform Bill was passed.
^This might decrease slightly because of the Marticon privatization despite the fact that the bill as written would indicate that there would be no decrease
^^This would be a tax, applied at the median income tax level, on the wealthiest .1% of estates when someone dies. This tax, affecting a very small percentage of the population, would hopefully allow the government more leeway in future budgets for places where there might need to be increases, such as military spending.
^^^All revenues from this would be required to go to Debt Reduction. The advantages of long term debt deduction are clear as it would allow for a reduction in debt service and a corresponding ability to either lower taxes or increase program funding.
*The President walks slowly into his old stomping ground after having been recognized by the Speaker to address that National Assembly. He gives perhaps the most important speech of his political career in with a quieter less emotional delivery than is typical for his speeches.*
Thank you Mr. Speaker for allowing me the privilege of talking before this august body today.
It has been the standard refrain and pledge since Term 4 for Presidents to promise the presentation of a budget. And yet before today no budget has been presented. The reasons behind this are many and have been offered at length. I must, however, note a major impediment to compilation of this budget. The Eutopian Central Bank seems to have neither the inclination nor that manpower to give administrations accurate accountings of tax revenue. While it is possible for the MTEF to compile accurate spending numbers, something that I hope will indeed be accomplished this term, without accurate knowledge of current revenue, not to mention projections of revenues from any change in taxes and fees, budgeting becomes most difficult. For sanity’s sake I will be assuming that figures are accurate for the rest of this speech and urge you to make the same assumption during your debate.
Having said that I am confident that this budget addresses today’s priorities while protecting Eutopia’s future. It does this in several ways. First and foremost I am proud to present a budget that offers a guaranteed surplus, without cutting such essentials as our health care system, unemployment payments, or education. Our national debt, and the accompanying interest payments, risked becoming crippling. Each term since the end of the Regency Eutopia has engaged in deficit spending. The resulting increase in interest payments has meant less money for schools, health care, and the military. This budget pledges deficit reduction in several ways. First it offers a new source of revenue, something I will address in more detail in a moment. Second all monies from the Marticon privatization will be going towards deficit reduction. In this way we may work to start to reduce interest payments before they crippled our nation. We will be able to show through our repayment of the debt that we are a responsible nation. A nation that the international community can trust.
This budget does indeed ask for the adoption of a new tax. This estate tax, a common feature of many western governments, will be applied to the wealthiest tenth of a percent upon their death. The tax, to be at the median income tax level, is done in recognition that the wealthiest in society benefit the most from the conditions a good government creates. From the assurance that that their property will not be given away to squatters. That there will be a business environment that allows them to make investment, and profits, to the best of their ability. The revenue from this source will be applied to deficit reduction this term, but in future terms it is understood that this will simply not be possible. For instance our military will in the near future need a large amount of funding. It is my expectation that the revenues gained from this tax, and quite possibly more, will have to be applied to transforming our nation’s military.
Indeed let me stress that this budget is a budget which addresses today’s needs and conditions. The most notable way it does this is through a temporary cut in military spending. The Military Reform Commission continues to work hard and will present before the end of this term a new plan for Military Reform. This cut in spending on the armed forces cannot become a permanent feature of Budgets if we are to have a safe and secure country, free from the risk of foreign bullying. Another temporary aspect of this proposal is the fund allocated to helping the beleaguered fishing and lumber industries. This subsidy should be unnecessary next term when we have a new NAFA and have addressed the illegal dumping practices of some countries. It must not become the long term policy of this country to subsidize yet more private enterprise. Finally, despite cutting it to zero, International Aid continues to be a line item. I hope that we will be able to resume supporting countries even less fortunate than us as early as next term. We have the obligation of being a productive member of the international community and International Aid is one way we can do this.
In other ways this budget remains unchanged. This was not done through laziness or ineptitude. Instead it was a conscious choice of this government to say two things. First it reminds us that there are many good things going on in Eutopia today. For instance, while many countries contemplate a health care crisis, our public/private partnership in this industry have given us merely problems, and not the crisis of other nations. And second it is a recognition that we quite simply do not have enough money for many priorities.
I look forward to listening to your debate. I am confident that this is a the right budget for Eutopia today and it is my sincere hope that you will adopt it as soon as possible. I thank you again for your time and will stay to answer any questions which you might have right now, before I leave to resume my other work and to let you debate this budget.
*Dr. Glasser takes a long drink of water as he waits for any questions which MNAs might have*
Thank you Mr. Speaker for allowing me the privilege of talking before this august body today.
It has been the standard refrain and pledge since Term 4 for Presidents to promise the presentation of a budget. And yet before today no budget has been presented. The reasons behind this are many and have been offered at length. I must, however, note a major impediment to compilation of this budget. The Eutopian Central Bank seems to have neither the inclination nor that manpower to give administrations accurate accountings of tax revenue. While it is possible for the MTEF to compile accurate spending numbers, something that I hope will indeed be accomplished this term, without accurate knowledge of current revenue, not to mention projections of revenues from any change in taxes and fees, budgeting becomes most difficult. For sanity’s sake I will be assuming that figures are accurate for the rest of this speech and urge you to make the same assumption during your debate.
Having said that I am confident that this budget addresses today’s priorities while protecting Eutopia’s future. It does this in several ways. First and foremost I am proud to present a budget that offers a guaranteed surplus, without cutting such essentials as our health care system, unemployment payments, or education. Our national debt, and the accompanying interest payments, risked becoming crippling. Each term since the end of the Regency Eutopia has engaged in deficit spending. The resulting increase in interest payments has meant less money for schools, health care, and the military. This budget pledges deficit reduction in several ways. First it offers a new source of revenue, something I will address in more detail in a moment. Second all monies from the Marticon privatization will be going towards deficit reduction. In this way we may work to start to reduce interest payments before they crippled our nation. We will be able to show through our repayment of the debt that we are a responsible nation. A nation that the international community can trust.
This budget does indeed ask for the adoption of a new tax. This estate tax, a common feature of many western governments, will be applied to the wealthiest tenth of a percent upon their death. The tax, to be at the median income tax level, is done in recognition that the wealthiest in society benefit the most from the conditions a good government creates. From the assurance that that their property will not be given away to squatters. That there will be a business environment that allows them to make investment, and profits, to the best of their ability. The revenue from this source will be applied to deficit reduction this term, but in future terms it is understood that this will simply not be possible. For instance our military will in the near future need a large amount of funding. It is my expectation that the revenues gained from this tax, and quite possibly more, will have to be applied to transforming our nation’s military.
Indeed let me stress that this budget is a budget which addresses today’s needs and conditions. The most notable way it does this is through a temporary cut in military spending. The Military Reform Commission continues to work hard and will present before the end of this term a new plan for Military Reform. This cut in spending on the armed forces cannot become a permanent feature of Budgets if we are to have a safe and secure country, free from the risk of foreign bullying. Another temporary aspect of this proposal is the fund allocated to helping the beleaguered fishing and lumber industries. This subsidy should be unnecessary next term when we have a new NAFA and have addressed the illegal dumping practices of some countries. It must not become the long term policy of this country to subsidize yet more private enterprise. Finally, despite cutting it to zero, International Aid continues to be a line item. I hope that we will be able to resume supporting countries even less fortunate than us as early as next term. We have the obligation of being a productive member of the international community and International Aid is one way we can do this.
In other ways this budget remains unchanged. This was not done through laziness or ineptitude. Instead it was a conscious choice of this government to say two things. First it reminds us that there are many good things going on in Eutopia today. For instance, while many countries contemplate a health care crisis, our public/private partnership in this industry have given us merely problems, and not the crisis of other nations. And second it is a recognition that we quite simply do not have enough money for many priorities.
I look forward to listening to your debate. I am confident that this is a the right budget for Eutopia today and it is my sincere hope that you will adopt it as soon as possible. I thank you again for your time and will stay to answer any questions which you might have right now, before I leave to resume my other work and to let you debate this budget.
*Dr. Glasser takes a long drink of water as he waits for any questions which MNAs might have*
Mr. President, first of all, where do you intend to spend 1 milion of ducats in international affairs, second of all, why are we spending 20 milion of ducats on unemployment help, second of all I would also prefer if we could form from the one milion remaining some sort of emergency fund, that could be used in a case of some unexpected unfortunate event. Also you said the budget remains unchanged, I have warned that unemployment benefits remorm will lead to nowhere, may I ask you then why on earth are we still spending 20 milions on that one?
I would like to state my opposition to the estate tax. Taking money from the dead is wrong, and it can not be justified in any way.
Estonianzulu said:
Why is taking from the dead more wrong than taking from the living? It's not like dead people still need all their money. And if the government doesn't take it, someone else will, making it effectively money owned by living people, and taking from them is, according to what you are saying, ok.
Bram Borgman
ESRP
Bramarius said:
Personally I feel that taking money from the living is wrong as well. But, Mr. Borgman, that defense is weak.
If I take your logic to an extreme... We should kill some people, because everyone dies in the end. Its wrong. Not only do we tax them when they are alive, and we tax what they earn, sell or buy, but now we are taxing them for dieing? How is this fair in anyway?
Given that estate/ inheritance taxes are fairly common worldwide, are you suggesting then that, Eutopia is the only fair nation in the world?
Given that of all the revenue increasing options the President was faced with, this is the least likely to cause consternation as opposed to say, a value added tax;
and given that this tax is only likely to effect a small proportion of our population, I say this tax is , in fact, a fair one.
If we have to tax rich, dead people in order to maintain our current level of social services, I say let's go for it.
Josephus
Given that of all the revenue increasing options the President was faced with, this is the least likely to cause consternation as opposed to say, a value added tax;
and given that this tax is only likely to effect a small proportion of our population, I say this tax is , in fact, a fair one.
If we have to tax rich, dead people in order to maintain our current level of social services, I say let's go for it.
Josephus
"This estate tax, a common feature of many western governments, will be applied to the wealthiest tenth of a percent upon their death. The tax, to be at the median income tax level"
so what kind of rate exactly are you taking out?
dont really have figures for the "median" income tax level in front of me.
(personaly i am not totaly sure what you meen by that. so i am not sure how to counter/discuss it )
so what kind of rate exactly are you taking out?
dont really have figures for the "median" income tax level in front of me.
(personaly i am not totaly sure what you meen by that. so i am not sure how to counter/discuss it
)
Josephus I said:
Or perhaps I am saying that all the world's countries are doing something unfair. Yes, that sounds about right.
What happens to the money not going to Marticon? Why cant this be spent? Or why not cut other programs? If the government needs money it can't simply Rob Peter's grave to pay Paul. Isn't that just graverobbing on an official scale?
Because, as we all know, if you violate the rights of a few people for the benefit of a larger number its ok. I mean, thats what democracy is all about is it not?
We didn't tax the people who don't have a voice last term, but we didn't end every social program and fall into anarchy either. Let me give you an example.
A man saves a great deal of money for retirement. Just enough to be put in this bracket. But he dies. Now, the money goes to his widow. However, the government takes 10% off the top. Then, the bank takes some, the lawyers who work on the will, etc. Then the money is taxed as it is spent. So, by the time this poor widow gets the money, it is not where near the amout saved. Fair? I think not.
Josephus[/QUOTE]