Fwurg

[Nehket Aeka]

"Fellow senators,

This period has seen an increase in costs the Union makes to improve our security. To offset these increases in the first tax bracket, the Ministry of Commerce has initiated a large-scale optimization and recalibration of the Bozzy Spine. This will improve maintenance efficiency, resulting in lower upkeep costs for the Bozzy Spine.

This impressively expensive project was made possible due to a cooperation between multiple ministries, and the generous donations of multiple member worlds. I would like to thank the Miomanian Colonists for their most generous donation of 2000 , the Praetorian Empire for a donation of 1000 , the Teprogrenaian Consensus and the Astai Republic each of whom donated 500 . With a final donation 1000 from the Veolian Commonwealth, these worlds financed a significant share of the project. Without their donations, the project would not have been possible.

Once the project is completed, the upkeep of the Bozzy Spine will be reduced greatly. To allow all Union members, both large and small, to benefit from this project I propose to lower the first tax bracket with 2.5% to 12.5% effective immediately after the completion of the project, which will be in 106."

"The options for this vote are: Yes, if you are in favour of tax reduction, or No if you do not want to have reduced taxes."

“The following member worlds may vote:

• Astai Republic
  
• Confederacy of Excaria
  
• Federal Republic of Bisidn
  
• Free Peoples of Wrarrbo
  
• High Chiefdom of Skuldda
  
• Hiocan Society
  
• Inter-System Charter Company
  
• Interregnum Democracy of Scir
  
• IO Protocol
  
• Kingdom of Komès
  
• Kingdom of Meritonia
  
• Liberal Assencia
  
• Miomanian Colonists
  
• New Communist Imperium of the Rising Suns of Deominius
  
• Principality of Suma
  
• Silver Forests of Remunzia
  
• Socialist Republic of Niom
  
• Sundarian Federation
  
• Teprogrenaian Consensus
  
• Unified Republic of Darya

Voting closes on 2013-04-19.”

[Atheos]

"Given that we help make this possible, it would be very weird if we voted against this. I think everyone's in favour of reducing taxes. yes"

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"The Teprogrenaian Consensus donated the taxes for the greater good of the Union, so we vote 'YES'"

[Senator Lonco Morubixaba of Skuldda]

"Less taxes? I like less taxes, I vote 'YES'."

[Senator Shahkra of the Federal Republic of Bisidn]

"I believe the cabinet did a great job with the project, so the Federal Republic of Bisidn votes 'YES' to put the decommitted money into good use."

[0x71A7E17A]

Abstain

[Senator Yotoya Ascended]

"Yes! To lower..." the Senator paused, struggling with her distaste at having to pronounce a word that was very much inappropriate in her culture. "T's."

[Senator Harek]

“The infrastructure of the Union is of great importance as it binds us together. I however disagree with the fact that we have not been contacted to make a donation for this project. We are not against the project, but we do not approve with the state of affairs. Furthermore, we would like to see that the saved tax is not used to lower the tax bracket but used to invest in more research to further improve the infrastructure. We therefore vote NO.”

[Senator Gregory Konev]

"The Unified Republic of Darya votes YES."

[Senator Arzag of Suma]

“The principality of Suma thinks this bozzy spine improvement project is of great importance for the collaboration within the Union. This project however seems to us like a way for the cabinet to quickly spend their last tax and pushing the matter. To be able to do this they made it appealing by lowering the taxes. We pay a lot of tax and we would like to see that all tax is spend wisely. The saved money could be used to extent the bozzy spine for example. Therefor we vote No to this proposal.”

[Nehket Aeka]

The veolian chancellor looked rather surprised as the Sumans vote 'no'. She took measure of the senate, and stood to speak.

"With all due respect, Senator Arzag, this is not a way for the cabinet to quickly spend our last tax, or to push the matter.

It seems you are under the mistaken impression that we need this law passed to spend the contingency budget on this project. Furthermore, you suggest that we try to trick the senate into accepting this by proposing that taxes be lowered.

As you are well aware, the contingency budget is free to be spent at the discretion of the ministries and the chancellery. This project is funded purely from the contingency budget, and aided by several sizeable donations out of the coffers of some member factions dedicated to an improved Union.

The fact that your world pays more taxes than required by Law is commendable, and I am grateful for the generosity your world has shown in this. However, I do not think that such generosity grants you the right to decree that this project is unwise, or to insult the cabinet by implying that we are trying to trick the senate.

In fact, I would have thought that you would strongly advocate such projects, as they incorporate the donations of others that are also willing to financially support the Union above and beyond the Law. Maybe my faith in you was misplaced."

After this, she calmly sat down again, allowing others to reply if they wished to do so.

[Lady Peinaili de Montrève]

Peinaili sat awaiting as the Chancellor explained her view on the matter before casting her vote.

" The Sundarian Federation supports this initiative by the Ministry of Commerce and the cabinet. We therefore vote 'yes' on the issue and we shall look into ways to support similar initiatives in the future."

[Senator Enrorgh of Meritonia]

"The kingdom of Meritonia votes in favour of this initiative, so 'yes' "

[Senator Afra Mesti Vanlind of Komès]

"The kingdom of Komès votes 'yes' on this matter. "

Senator Vanlind said, while casting an eye on the senator of Suma not fully understanding his reasoning.

[Former Senator Aunzora of the Confederacy of Excaria]

"The Confederacy of Excaria supports this proposal and votes 'yes'."

[Representative Lophos of the Interregnum Democracy of Scir]

"The Interregnum Democracy of Scir believes that paying less money is better than paying more money for the same thing. We therefore vote 'yes' on this proposal.

[Representative Uriel of Liberal Assencia]

"We are very much in favour of reducing taxes, but this 'reduction' is a ploy to deceive us into believing the Chancellor lowered taxes, when in fact under her rule taxes were raised, even if this 'reduction' passes. We therefore vote 'no' to boycott this deception."

[Representative Anselim of the Free Peoples of Wrarrbo]

"We stand with Liberal Assencia in this matter and vote 'no'."

[Senator Acehtoo of the Miomanian Colonists]

"Mioman votes 'yes' on this. We don't understand why anyone could possibly vote against this."

[Senator Salixa of the Silver Forests of Remunzia]

"The Silver Forests of Remunzia abstain."

[Senator Ght'Twwf of the Socialist Republic of Niom]

"The Socialist Republic of Niom agrees with the Principality of Suma. This money could have been better spent on expanding government influence and creating important bureaucratic institutions necessary for the management of the Bozzy Spine. It is inconceivable to us that the current Bozzy Spine committee has not yet asked for additional funding, and we believe they should get this as soon as possible. For this reason, Niom also votes 'No'."

[Senator Arzag of Suma]

Senator Arzag has taken some time to think about what to say. Sumans usually talk for hours to explain something. But he had been chosen as senator as he is able to keep it short. Not all species did have their patience and endurance.

“We pay taxes to the Union, so the Union and its members as a whole become stronger. The Union is more than the sum of its pieces. We appreciate it very much that other members also pay more to improve the Union. You are doing a good thing; you only do not seem to have a long term plan.

The stability of the Union is of utmost important. Politics should not be ruled on the whims of today, but there should be continuity in the policy. We do not want a sudden increase in taxes and a few turns later a decrease. The decisions have been made too hasty without looking to the future; otherwise the tax would only have been changed ones. We are against lowering the taxes and suggest planning ahead and invest in long term projects with the saved money.”

[Senator Odakim V of the Rising Suns of Deominius]

An underling of Prince Odakim V was present in the senate.

When most votes were cast, he held out his hand. In his hand was the most opulent handheld holoprojector. The projector itself was plated in gold, and inlaid with rubies that were lit from the inside. Decorative ridges made of platinum were lined with saphires, and the projection piece was inlaid with what seemed to be a single diamond.

The underling remained silent. A shimmering image of Prince Odakim V's head appeared in the air. Allthrough traditionally, holoprojections were tinted blue, this projector had a distinct golden or yellow tint.

The hovering head spoke, in a clearly prerecorded message: "We, imperial prince Odakim V of the Rising Suns of Deominius are in favour of this proposal. We vote yes."

[Nehket Aeka]

"The results are in:

• Yes - 13 votes
• No - 5 votes
• Abstain - 2 votes

As all 20 votes have been cast with 2 abstention, the absolute majority is 10 votes. The motion carries."