Furthermore, I find it disconcerting that the Extragalactic Society is taking another budget cut; considering that the department recently suffered a budget loss to allow for the tax cut that the esteemed Chief of State offered (of which I assure you we are most appreciative of). Therefore, if the budget could be amended to a more workable degree, then the InterGalactic Mining Core would be interested in the development of this bill.

I also am particularly perturbed by the budget loss to the Department of Research & Development. As you will all recall, this department during the Rebellion allowed us to stay one step ahead of the Empire. With the ever present threat of the Imperial Remnant, I'm not entirely sure that this advantage should be something we are looking to scuttle.

Effectively, my ire with this bill consists of the specific departments which Senator Fowlkes wishes to cut. Departments which I would insist are still priorities within the Republic, and should be considered carefully. However, as stated before, I am still very much interested in this proposal. I have one question, however: Where will the New Republic focus it's training on primarily? I would deduce that those planets closest to Imperial space should be the focus of the training program; effective buffers for any impending Imperial conquest. Thank you esteemed Senators and Representatives for allowing me to speak today."

Allowing private, New Republic banks to facilitate these funds would be beneficial not simply for the "obvious reasons" (that it's good for our economy and our businesses), but that private banks will better assess the risk of these loans before making them, rather than simply throwing money at the poorest worlds in the galaxy, most of whom being unlikely to repay the debt. And what of those worlds who cannot afford their own defense, you might ask? Those are servile planets indeed, with whom the Republic should not be concerned or affiliated. That said, I oppose this measure.

Senator Cambrist, Brentaal
Chairman of the Commerce Council

However, with regard to this bill, I do have to agree that private banks would be a more favorable alternative to such a massive government spending program, which in its current form would no doubt require new bureaucracy to oversee the funds and the hundreds of worlds concerned (the cost of which I do not believe Senator Fowlkes has included in his estimates, not to mention the cost of training and equipping these new forces). I do admire Senator Fowlkes for opposing tax increases to fund this measure―because ultimately it is through cutting taxes that planets can keep and spend their own money on defenses―but I do not believe that cutting so many programs is necessary when, as aforementioned, the funding you've proposed can be provided by private banks instead.

For example, I know for a fact that the Ralltiir Central Bank would be quite willing to work with Outer Rim worlds interested in loans for defenses and development, and I'm sure that it is not alone in that respect. But even if there are planets who, as Senator Cambrist mentioned, "cannot afford their own defense," I would be willing to use the New Republic Bank as a lender-of-last-resort, but I would prefer (and I think Outer Rim planets would also prefer) such instances be considered on a case-by-case basis, rather than through an omnibus bill. Therefore, I vote against the bill, though I support its intent.

Eli Fitzgerald
Chief of State

Eli Fitzgerald
Chief of State