54th Cosâ, Clark #3 - March 2020 - Senäts debate & voting

[luc]

Fellow Senators, it is my pleasure to open debate on the Third Clark for the 54th Cosa.

On the Clark:

• RZ14 - The This Ain't it, Chief Act
• RZ15 - The Seneschál Election Amendment
• RZ16 - RZ16 - The There's No Such Thing As A Free Senäts Seat Amendment
• RZ17 - Abolition of Compulsory Voting and Determination of Legal or Actual Decease Bill

We are also voting on the following Resolutions of the Senate, all sponsored by Senator da Schir and concurred by Senator del Val:

• RS01 - The 2020 Senatorial Medals of Honour (Da Dhi)
• RS02 - The 2020 Senatorial Medals of Honour (Grischun)
• RS03 - The 2020 Senatorial Medals of Honour (Valcadac'h)

The full text follows.

54RS01: The 2020 Senatorial Medals of Honour (Da Dhi)

WHEREAS El Lexhatx H.40.1.2.3 empowers the Senate the ability to award a Medal of Honour to citizens for meritorious or honourable service to the nation or state; and

WHEREAS we feel there are a few individuals who are more than worthy of receiving such an award; and specifically

WHEREAS Glüc da Dhi has achieved high accomplishments in more than ten straight years of Talossanity; has served with distinction in both Houses of the Ziu, as Seneschal and Cabinet Minister, in provincial politics, as party leader, and as our current Secretary of State; has been instrumental in certain cultural endeavours such as the Talossan Music Top 20, and has long been a distinguished journalist and pundit; and has been an active member of our community since he was awarded citizenship, without a break; so

THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Senate of the Kingdom of Talossa that Glüc da Dhi is hereby awarded the Senatorial Medal of Honour for his past and ongoing meritorious and honourable services to the nation.

FURTHERMORE, in accordance with El Lexhatx H.40.1.2.3, the recipient may, in official RT affairs, affix the initials "S.H." after his name.




54RS02: The 2020 Senatorial Medals of Honour (Grischun)

WHEREAS El Lexhatx H.40.1.2.3 empowers the Senate the ability to award a Medal of Honour to citizens for meritorious or honourable service to the nation or state; and

WHEREAS we feel there are a few individuals who are more than worthy of receiving such an award; and specifically

WHEREAS Éovart Davìu Grischun has achieved high accomplishments in more than ten straight years of Talossanity; has served with distinction in both Houses of the Ziu, as Cabinet Minister, in provincial politics, in the Chancery, and as party leader of multiple parties; for his efforts in Immigration reform; and has been instrumental in cultural endeavours such as the magazine "Stil da Vida" and numerous projects in Vuode, such as the Parish and Township naming project and its current constitution; so

THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Senate of the Kingdom of Talossa that Éovart Davìu Grischun is hereby awarded the Senatorial Medal of Honour for his past and ongoing meritorious and honourable services to the nation.

FURTHERMORE, in accordance with El Lexhatx H.40.1.2.3, the recipient may, in official RT affairs, affix the initials "S.H." after his name.




54RS03: The 2020 Senatorial Medals of Honour (Valcadac'h)

WHEREAS El Lexhatx H.40.1.2.3 empowers the Senate the ability to award a Medal of Honour to citizens for meritorious or honourable service to the nation or state; and

WHEREAS we feel there are a few individuals who are more than worthy of receiving such an award; and specifically

WHEREAS Gödafrïeu Válcadác'h has achieved high accomplishments in almost twenty straight years of Talossanity; has served with distinction in both Houses of the Ziu, as Seneschal and Cabinet Minister, and in provincial politics; has been notable in his steadfast stewardship of national heritage as Royal Archivist, and has been involved in important cultural endeavours in the Kingdom and the Republic, such as the magazine "Oraclâ" and the book "A Nation Sundered"; so

THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Senate of the Kingdom of Talossa that Gödafrïeu Válcadác'h is hereby awarded the Senatorial Medal of Honour for his past and ongoing meritorious and honourable services to the nation.

FURTHERMORE, in accordance with El Lexhatx H.40.1.2.3, the recipient may, in official RT affairs, affix the initials "S.H." after his name.

[luc]

I am obliged to inform the Senate that the Senator for Cézembre has vacated her seat due to the provisions of Article V, Section 5 of the Organic Law. On behalf of the Senate, I would like to thank S:da Merþedes for her service.

Additionally, the Senator for Vuode has given to me and other people private notice of his resignation yesterday, as a result of his elevation to the Uppermost Court. On behalf of the Senate, I would like to thank S:r Marcianüs for his service and wish him all the best for his tenure on the bench.

As a result of these two vacancies, the total number of Senators is 6 and the quorum for the three Senate Resolutions is 4.

[Açafat del Val]

On RS01, I vote per.
On RS02, I vote per.
On RS03, I vote per.

The rest of my votes for RZ14 through RZ17 have been made already to the database. However, I do wish to make a small speech to explain my votes as well as perhaps convince my esteemed colleagues to vote in the same manner.

For RZ14, "The This Ain't it, Chief Act": I abstained.

For RZ15, "The Seneschál Election Amendment": I voted contra. This bill means incredibly well but, in its currently clarked version, will be disastrous for the Organic Law and our constitutional processes after each election. I strongly and desperately urge that it be voted down, not on the merits, but on its form. Once a better-written version is clarked, then we all should vote for it at that time.

For RZ16, "The There's No Such Thing As A Free Senäts Seat Amendment": I voted per. Though this does not set the actual amount to be paid, I hope that all of us agree that a token fee is good for the whole of Talossa. $5, $10, or something similar: in either case, it is paid only by those who have won an election, and surely those who wish to serve in this esteemed body should desire to support Talossa's treasury.

For RZ17, "Abolition of Compulsory Voting and Determination of Legal or Actual Decease Bill": I voted contra. This bill has come a long way and improved greatly from its introduction. However, the core intent and policy of it - to remove compulsory voting - is misguided. I ask, what is wrong with compulsory voting? What about voting in Talossa is so strenuous, so burdensome, and so offensive that a person cannot bother to cast his ballot once every six months, absent any other civic activity? If a person cannot vote on three consecutive Clarks - once every eighteen months, no less - then does he really mean to be a citizen of Talossa in the first place? Surely a person who fails to vote once every eighteen months has effectively renounced his citizenship anyways. Talossa should be governed and influenced by the active, not the inactive.

[luc]

Esteemed colleagues, I would like to welcome @Eðo Grischun, who has been appointed as Senator for Vuode for a term beginning on 3 March 2020/XLI and ending on about September 15th 2020/XLI, assuming recess and a full term of six Clarks.

Having been estabilished that Senator Grischun will not be able to vote on the Clark this month, it is still the Chair's ruling that he can vote on any and all Senate Resolutions and motions, and his attendance will be counted for the purpose of a quorum.

Pursuant to Rule 4, the updated list of Senators by seniority is as follows: da Schir; Pinátsch; Valcadac’h; Plätschisch; Ardpresteir; del Val; Grischun. The whole number of Senators is now 7.

[Eðo Grischun]

Many thanks to the Speaker for the warm welcome and, as ever, for the excellent manner in which he conducts the business of this House.

It is my pleasure and honour to sit in this place once again and I look forward to working alongside my new Senate colleagues. 

On the matters being decided by this House, I vote in favour (PER) on RS01 and RS03, and abstain (AUS) from voting on RS02.

[GV]

Për RZ14 - The This Ain't it, Chief Act
Për RZ15 - The Seneschál Election Amendment
Për RZ16 - RZ16 - The There's No Such Thing As A Free Senäts Seat Amendment
Për RZ17 - Abolition of Compulsory Voting and Determination of Legal or Actual Decease Bill

Për RS01 - The 2020 Senatorial Medals of Honour (Da Dhi)
Për RS02 - The 2020 Senatorial Medals of Honour (Grischun)
Aus RS03 - The 2020 Senatorial Medals of Honour (Valcadac'h)

[luc]

I vote Për on all three resolutions, and on the Clark I have voted on the database as follows:

RZ14: Për
RZ15: Contrâ
RZ16: Për
RZ17: Contrâ, and I strongly echo the remarks of my colleague from Florencia.

[Béneditsch Ardpresteir]

On RS01, I vote per.
On RS02, I vote per.
On RS03, I vote per.

Have already voted on the database as follows:
RZ14: Për
RZ15: Contrâ
RZ16: Contrâ
RZ17: Contrâ

[Sevastáin Pinátsch]

54RS01: Për
54RS02: Aus
54RS03: Për

[Ian Plätschisch]

Për on all bills and motions.