Faction Difficult and Dangerous Times | THR Senate

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique regarded Verity Stuyveris as the Senator spoke. When she finished, the Chancellor paused and leaned over slightly as an aide stepped forward. They exchange a few words while other attendants busily reviewed documentation. It was a legislative lull as the minutia was reviewed. While Dominique couldn't say anyone had come out in strong support of Verity's assertions, with the vote ahead of them it was only prudent to seriously weigh the point of order.

After a little over a minute, the Chancellor recentered herself on at the podium. "After reviewing the proposed Bill and Amendments brought to this body's attention, the amendment proposed for Article Five, Section Three, Paragraph a is ruled to be non-germane to the original intent of the Section to which it is submitted. As such, it shall be removed."

"In regards to the motion to vote on each amendments individually, ordinarily this body often enjoins that amendments be voted upon altogether by their author. As it is the Bill's original author requesting the separation, and in the interests that all safeguards are applied with no objection registered, I am inclined to permit individual voting on the proposed amendments at this time." Even if there weren't enough corporate votes present to get all three amendments passed there should be enough to at least get one or two. Each one would be of benefit in some form or fashion. Was Verity, on the other hand, uncertain she could avoid all three being passed if they were held as a block? Personally, Dominique was inclined to hear the appeals of people like Verity, but she had not forgotten the need of industry not being bogged down in too much bureaucracy and public relations tedium.

"With that, we will now proceed to the vote on Senate Bill 5227..."

Verity Stuyveris | Monaray Dod | Ayumi Pallopides | Eharl Sarn | Talokra Vosk
Feridade Parthi | Sycorax Laveaux​

 

[Monaray Dod]

Verity Stuyveris Dominique Vexx Ayumi Pallopides Sycorax Laveaux Feridade Parthi Eharl Sarn

Dod should have been content with his successful gamble to shift the conversation away from the Tapani Sector, yet his mood soured immediately as Senator Verity Stuyveris was determined in her desire to see her bill approved without the extra baggage suggested by the Delegation from Toshara. She was simply grasping at straws at this point, by claiming that the Second Amendment fundamentally altered the purpose of the legislation by instructing the designated Committee to act in direct contradiction to the powers given to them in the original bill.

Had the Senator taken the time to review her own bill prior to its presentation to the senate, this matter regarding designated authority would not have taken place. Just as he was preparing to address her assertions, Chancellor Dominique Vexx 's voice resonated from the main podium, endorsing such a preposterous perspective and proceeding to eliminate the amendment on the grounds of it being non-germane.

"Outrageous!" Dod said with a firm tone of voice, reactivating the microphone to ensure his voice resonated clearly throughout the senate chamber. The complete approval of the amendment package was crucial to the Trade Federation of Planets' preferred strategy to entangle the bureaucracy in unnecessary political language, thereby allowing them to effectively function without oversight.

"I must issue a formal rebuke of the Chancellor Dominique Vexx for violating the Republic's Charter of Unity by overstepping her designated powers in regards to the Senate legislative procedures. The Chancellor has the power to implement and enforce policies as voted on by this esteemed body. They do not have the power to strike amendments proposed by members of the Senate." The Neimoidian said, gesturing to the Charter of Unity on the terminal where the law was clearly defined. Normally he would not bother standing his ground on this issue but they did not want another power-hungry Magistrate to emerge, one that violated the sovereignty of the senate.

With that out of the way, his fingers touched the console once more to ensure that his vote and that of the Moon of Toshara was counted.

Spoiler: Amendment from Dod

AMENDMENT TO SB.5227 (INVESTMENT IN RECOVERING SYSTEMS ACT)
Proposed by Senator Monaray Dod, Toshara Delegation

ARTICLE IV, SECTION 3: FUNDING AUTHORITY (REVISION)

• Subsection (a) shall be amended to read: "The Committee may, through mediation and arbitration prior to the commencement of formal litigation, accept voluntary Restoration Credits or infrastructure grants from corporate entities. Such agreements shall preclude the Committee from further legal action regarding the specific environmental event in question, providing finality and stability for Republic trade partners."

ARTICLE V, SECTION 3: ANTI-EXPLOITATION PROVISIONS (REVISION)

• Subsection (a) shall be amended to include the following provison: "Not withstanding the prohibition on debt-for-resource swaps, the Committee shall authorize 'Developmental Leasing Agreements' (DLAs). These DLAs allow an Eligible World to grant temporary, time-bound management rights of non-critical resources to a donor or contractor as a mechanism for cost-recovery of aid. This ensures that the Republic's taxpayers are not burdened with the total cost of reconstruction when local assets can be leveraged for mutual benefit."

ARTICLE VI, SECTION 1: COMPOSITION (ADDITION)

• Subsection (d) shall be added: "The Committee shall include a non-voting Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB), comprised of three representatives from the Republic's recognized Trade Guilds and Industrial Unions. The SAB shall provide mandatory consultation on the 'economic viability' of any Assistance Compact and shall have the authority to trigger a Feasibility Review which may pause the designation of an Eligible World for no more than thirty (30) Naboo Standard Days to ensure market stability is maintained."

ARTICLE VI, SECTION 4: AUDITS AND ETHICS REVIEW (ADDITION)

• Subsection (d) shall be added (The Right of Appeal): "Any entity, corporate or otherwise, whose reputation or operations are materially impacted by the 'shining of a light' or 'Sensitive-Location Protections' shall have the right to a closed-door appeal before the Committee. No public findings may be released until such an appeal has reached a final resolution, protecting the presumption of innocence in the eyes of the galactic market."

 

[Dominique Vexx]

Dominique slowly turned to regard the Nemoidian as his voice rung out in the proceedings. Her expression remain neutral despite the interruption. He'd not be recognized to speak after the proceedings to vote had been in motion, but she suspected she knew the matter he would bring up. Rather than them squabble over whether matters had moved 'too fast' -- which was in her purview to do -- she awaited the man's response.

Once he'd finished, the Chancellor began to speak with a calm, measured voice, "Your passion is welcome, Senator Dod, but as the Chancellor of the Republic presiding over this session, as constitutionally enshrined, it falls to me to ensure that points of order brought to the floor are reviewed and acted upon when substantiated. In the case of Senator Stuyveris' claim that your amendment to Article Five was non-germane, her claim was deemed to be so. The amendment introduces matters of empowering the Committee to enact Developmental Leasing Agreements to offset expenses. Would you care to elaborate on how the bolsters or enshrines the Limitations on the Committee's Authority or engages in means to prevent Exploitation or abuse, Senator?"

"If you would like to request that this Bill was returned to committee to recommit a modified version of this amendment, we can take that vote now instead should more time for debate be necessary. Otherwise, Senator, with all due respect, an Amendment should be submitted in its final draft when argued on the floor; not modified ad hoc to suit every point of order brought by any Senator here."

It wasn't that Dominique disliked Dod's vested interested in corporate affairs, but now he was attacking her position. It demanded a response of her own to reaffirm whom was presiding over whom. The Chancellor could be held to account by the Chamber, of course, but a rebuke over performing her duty was unlikely to garner much support so early in her tenure. She had yet to truly upset anyone just yet.

Monaray Dod | Verity Stuyveris | Ayumi Pallopides | Sycorax Laveaux | Feridade Parthi | Eharl Sarn​