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The Tax Rebate, Reallocation and Reform Act of 20 ABY
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| Ponc_Gavrisom | Date: Monday, 23 Nov 2009, 7:30 AM | Message # 1 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 271
Status: Offline
| The Government is broadly in favour of the principle of tax cuts. However we are loathed to simply input a general across the board tax cut, and are much more in favour of stimulating areas of the economy effected by the fleet cuts (specifically the reduction in shipping profits), and also to decentralise the cuts to benefit the individuals, rather than big government in the form of planetary government. So, rather than supporting across the board cuts, I propose the abolition of the charges levied federally for using spacelanes, inter-planetary trade and all other trade tariffs imposed both by the New Republic and member worlds. This will free our shipping companies from the often prohibitive taxes on the mid and outer rim spacelanes and encourage trade, especially with the smaller planetary economies such as Naboo, Dantooine, Ryloth and many others. Now, this will only account for around 50% of the money saved in the recent cuts. The rest will, this year be given directly back to individual citizens this year, this will be known as “The Peace Rebate” and will consist of the rebate of 500 New Republic Credits to each citizen earning over 10,000 credits in the past year.
In future years this percentage of saved money will be split 50% in between paying the New Republic debt (a not inconsiderable sum after the defecits of the governments of the last 9 years). The “Economic Council Discretionary Fund” which will be used at the Economic Councils discretion for either the finance of critical projects, expeditions or funds (the Ruling Council will act as a supervisory body to this) or further tax rebates to individual citizens if or when the money is not required elsewhere by the Economic Council. Once the New Republic Debt has been fully paid off (in our estimate around 10 years if we pay the debts at the proposed rate), then the 25% of savings then remaining will be channelled into a simple tax reduction across the board of 0.75%. These proposals carry the approval of the Economics Council, and will result in a tax cut that is responsible and at the same time radical, that benefits the Galactic Economy (and will boost it hugely as a result) as a whole and also rewards each and every individual for their hard work, and this liquidity with the populace will also result in a futher boost to the economy, as well as a considerable show of trust and faith in the individual, who I believe is better equipped to spend this money than government is.
Ponc Gavrisom
Chief of State
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| Simon_Levi | Date: Monday, 23 Nov 2009, 8:10 AM | Message # 2 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 395
Status: Offline
| The Economics Council gives its full endorsement to this measure. There are clear benefits to the whole of the economy, and we can see in the following chart the effect of these cuts on the wider economy as well as the shipping industry.   With these facts born in mind I vote In favour of this legislation.
Moff of the Tammuz Sector
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| Eli_Fitzgerald | Date: Monday, 23 Nov 2009, 12:50 PM | Message # 3 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 355
Status: Offline
| My remarks on this measure can be seen here. However, in summary, this measure is a farce and I vote against it.
Eli Fitzgerald
Senator of Ralltiir (10 BBY—Present)
"I was elected to do some flamethrowing in the Senate. To a light a fire under those Senators and make it hot for them."
Message edited by Airstrike_Fitzgerald - Monday, 23 Nov 2009, 1:17 PM |
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| Ponc_Gavrisom | Date: Tuesday, 24 Nov 2009, 3:53 AM | Message # 4 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 271
Status: Offline
| This motion is far from being a farce, it is backed up by fact and popular will. It will put money in the pocket of every tax payer, it will give them a little more liquidity, and a little more money to enjoy the peace they are now living in. They worked hard, and now the benefits can be reaped in this rebate. Justice Gentlemen, Justice is our goal here. The people deserve their money. I would also note how you have not even addressed the most significant part of this legislation (the reform of shipping tax) and have instead espoused your own Big-Government Conservative stand that "Planetary Government can spend money better than the Individual", something I profoundly disagree with.
Ponc Gavrisom
Chief of State
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| Jory_Carson | Date: Tuesday, 24 Nov 2009, 7:02 PM | Message # 5 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 317
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| “I cannot fathom the amount of money we will spend paying thousands of bureaucrats to oversee the distribution of these ‘rebates’, but I can foresee the difficulty in having them cashed. If this passes not only will we need an entirely new council to oversee this process, we will need hundreds of thousands of hands ranging from Security Guards to bank tellers in order to accommodate the rebates’ use. Better if we just keep the surplus than spend it all and more to give people rebates that most will never even receive. “Further, I cannot and will not (ever) endorse the hording of money for the use either the Economics or Ruling council. If you want to relief the people, cut their taxes. It has worked, it will work. “You are right about one thing Mr. President, this bill is radical. I vote AGAINST this legislation.”
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| Ponc_Gavrisom | Date: Tuesday, 24 Nov 2009, 7:16 PM | Message # 6 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 271
Status: Offline
| Senator Carson, You are reminded of the fact that the organisation for the distribution of this rebate already exists in the form of the current tax system. This will simply involve returning your income tax reciept to the local tax office, and being handed your rebate in a chip form. This is not a complicated motion to execute. This money would not be hoarded by the Economics Council, it would be distributed by the Economics Council, the council that is currently responsible for deciding the distribution in the rest of the budget, you are attacking something which does not exist, a straw man erected by Eli Fitzgerald. I would support an amendment that includes the senate having a veto upon the spending of the Discretionary Fund on an annual basis, thus alaying both Senator Fitzgerald and Senator Carsons concerns. I will put this in while it does not need to be there. Ultimately the Senate can veto any decision, it is the Sovereign, and you seem to be losing track of this..
Ponc Gavrisom
Chief of State
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| Simon_Levi | Date: Tuesday, 24 Nov 2009, 7:36 PM | Message # 7 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 395
Status: Offline
| The Economics Council would gladly defer to the Senate for approval of its spending pertaining to this, or any of the other funds availible to it. In fact we would prefer to have Senatorial Oversight in order to avoid the accusations the former Chief of State is raising. We are a body who wishes to be accountable on every Level, and the Senate, as the peoples Representatives, have the right to that oversight. We also concur with President Gavrisom that even if it is not inserted into this act, the Senate would ultimately have a veto anyway, as the spending of all funds is published to them, and as such they would have the right to veto any part of said spending plan. Added (24 Nov 2009, 8:36 Pm)
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I also note, with some disdain, that Senator Carson has ignored the fact this IS a substantive tax cut for every citizen, while Individual Worlds are in no way guaranteed to pass tax cuts onto their citizens. I have no doubt that most planetary leaders would deal with this money justly, but some would simply keep it for the Governments own uses, and I will not support this happening over giving money straight to the people. What this motion does: We are abolishing inter-planetary federal tariffs (cutting tax). We are returning tax money to the people directly. Give a Discretionary Fund for the funding of important projects or further tax rebates (With the approval of the Senate and Ruling Council). What this motion does not: Give me a big pile of gold I can sit on and or fritter away. Take money from, or give money to government. Propose the extension of Government or the creation of a fiscal distribution engine.
Moff of the Tammuz Sector
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| Tremaine_Fowlkes | Date: Wednesday, 25 Nov 2009, 7:07 AM | Message # 8 |
 Colonel general
Group: Users
Messages: 881
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| I will simply say this: I vote against the proposal. Tremaine Fowlkes,
Senator of Mowgle
Tremaine Fowlkes
Senator of Telos IV
Message edited by Tremaine_Fowlkes - Wednesday, 25 Nov 2009, 12:17 PM |
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| Ilanah_Thanatos | Date: Thursday, 26 Nov 2009, 5:06 PM | Message # 9 |
 Colonel general
Group: Users
Messages: 891
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| President Gavrisom, as much as it pains me to admit, I agree with most of your proposal. I know, it is not often that I agree with you, but I am as always a humble servant of the people and only want what is best for them. The only item that bothers me, President Gavrisom, is the money distributed to the Economic Council Discretionary Fund. Would those funds not be better distributed to those in need? Such as those who make less than the minimum required 10,00 credits outlined in your proposal? I wonder why, as Chief of State, you would ignore those in desperation. Not everyone makes thousands upon thousands of credits a year in which to support their families. Please consider this before you decide that such a council needs money that will only support their own vices, and not the best interests of the people.
Ilanah R. Thanatos
Senator of Chandrila
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| Ponc_Gavrisom | Date: Thursday, 26 Nov 2009, 5:12 PM | Message # 10 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 271
Status: Offline
| Senator Thanatos, The discretionary fund will be directed towards projects such as, like you say poverty relief, critical research, medical emergencies, exploration, etc. This spending would have to be approved by both the Senate and the Ruling Council, meaning that the money could not be spent on "vices" etc and any Senator would be free to propose a use for this money. Essentially the fund will be just a sum of money set aside from the budget for emergencies or other eventualities and its use will be properly regulated. As for the 10,000 figure set aside, this is less than a being working full time on the minimum wage should make in a year (on average) by a long stretch, as such it is a very low bar to set as a requirement for a rebate.
Ponc Gavrisom
Chief of State
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| Ilanah_Thanatos | Date: Thursday, 26 Nov 2009, 5:17 PM | Message # 11 |
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Colonel general
Group: Users
Messages: 891
Status: Offline
| And yet, not every citizen has the ability or is given the opportunity to work full time. You should know this based on the latest censure taken. Also, traders and individuals who do shipping do not always meet the minimum wage requirements based on currency exchange rates. You have my vote, but please just consider the aforementioned concerns.
Ilanah R. Thanatos
Senator of Chandrila
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| Ponc_Gavrisom | Date: Thursday, 26 Nov 2009, 5:20 PM | Message # 12 |
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Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 271
Status: Offline
| Senator Thanatos, I will consider such, and I would suggest if you feel it significant you propose a Discretionary Fund project to help the poor and needy throughout the galaxy, if this bill passes.
Ponc Gavrisom
Chief of State
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| Senator_Cambrist | Date: Monday, 30 Nov 2009, 0:59 AM | Message # 13 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 761
Status: Offline
| I vote in favor of this measure, and what's more I do not believe the scare tactics that Senator Fitzgerald has espoused about it. These are clearly the ravings of a man who feels threatened that the current Chief of State has thought of a bill that is better than the former Chief of State's. I would also like to add that the Commerce Council wholly endorses this measure, particularly the abolition of federal trade tariffs. We feel that this will be extremely beneficial and conducive to truly free and fair trade.
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| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Monday, 30 Nov 2009, 1:10 AM | Message # 14 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 302
Status: Offline
| I likewise vote in favor of this measure, as I have also voted in favor of Senator Fitzgerald's competing measure, because, as I remarked on the other bill, I would like to see the positive attributes of both bills reconciled and incorporated into one. There is enough division in the Senate already that we don't need to become further divided over an issue that can be so easily remedied through a calm, good faith discussion between both parties. It is my hope, thus, that both measures will pass, and also that the rhetoric on each side of this debate be toned down, and that each side refrain from impugning the other's character or motives.
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
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| LomenRyuun | Date: Monday, 30 Nov 2009, 9:55 AM | Message # 15 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 696
Status: Offline
| Though it is odd to find myself in agreement with Senator Fitzgerald, I fear I must agree with this line of thought and vote against this measure.
Lomen Ryuun
Senator, Doldur Sector
Senator, Druckenwell
Representative, Monor II (10 BBY - 9 BBY)
Representative, Geridard
Representative, Boranall
Representative, Therenor Prime
Vice-chairman, Defense Committee (Temporarily suspended)
Controlling Shareholder - Druckenwell Arms Corporation
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