B-010: Free Education for Our Heroes (Title Amendment) Bill, 1674

[Speaker Rejo]

The Free Education for Our Heroes (Title Amendment) Act, 1674

An Act to amend the title of the Free Education for Our Heroes Act

BE IT ENACTED by the duly elected Parliament of the Republic of Alduria assembled, -

Section I. Citation.

1. This Act shall be officially cited as the The Free Education for Our Heroes (Title Amendment) Act, 1674.
   
2. This Act shall apply to all of the Republic of Alduria.
   

Section II. Title Amendment

1. The title and citation of the Free Education for Our Heroes Act shall be amended to the Free Education for Servicemen Act.
   
   

Section III. Commencement, Severability.

1. This act shall not become law until it has received proper constitutional approval.
   
2. The provisions of this act are severable. If any part of this act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, that declaration shall not affect the part which remains.
   

 

Parliament will now come to order to consider this bill offered by the Leader of the Opposition for Opposition Week.

The Chair recognizes the Leader of the Opposition to speak on the bill.

(OOC Note: As a reminder, the proposers of bills get 24 hours to speak on their bill. If they don't speak on the bill within that 24 hour period, the bill automatically moves to general debate.)

[Speaker Rejo]

As the Leader of the Opposition has not given an introductory statement within the 24 hour period outlined by the Standing Orders, the Chair now opens the floor for general debate. All members may offer debate or amendments at this time. Debate shall last for no less than 48 hours.

[Seydlitz]

Mr Speaker,

I beg leave to move to adopt this measure by unanimous consent, and yield.

[Alfonso Velez]

Madam Speaker,

I object to the request for adoption of this bill by Unanimous Consent.

I am extremely disappointed in the Leader of the Opposition for tabling this bill. After hearing nothing from the Leader of the Opposition's party after the initial confidence vote in Parliament, after failing to participate in any debates, after failing to even show up to even vote on almost all of the measures we've had this session so far, the Leader of the Opposition breaks his silence to table this bill. Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition should be ashamed. 

Given that the Leader of the Opposition couldn't be bothered to give the customary opening statement within the 24 hour period, I can only speculate about why he tabled this bill--but I admit, Madam Speaker, I am baffled. This is one of two opportunities for the Opposition to table legislation to help strengthen our Republic--and it wastes its docket pick on this bill--and doesn't even bother to utilize its second docket pick. I suppose we shouldn't be surprised given how absent the Opposition has been so far.

Madam Speaker, it seems to me that the Leader of the Opposition believes that our men and women in the armed forces aren't heroes. Absent an opening statement from him, it is a logical inference as the only thing this bill does is change a title of a previously passed bill from "Free Education for our Heroes Act" to "Free Education for our Servicemen Act." The Leader of the Opposition and his party might not think that our brave men and women in the armed forces are heroes--but this Government does. Therefore, we will be voting against this bill and strongly encourage every member of Parliament to do the same. Frankly, Madam Speaker, this bill is an insult to our Armed Forces and to our Republic--and we will not let it stand.

Finally Madam Speaker, permit me if I might to encourage the Leader of the Opposition to do what the voters elected him and his party to do--to represent their interests in Parliament. Had he been present during the debate on this bill, he could have offered whatever amendments he would have liked to offer and we could have debated them then. Had he done his job and offered two substantive bills in opposition week--he would have had an opportunity to serve the people who voted for him and his party.

Madam Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has been derelict in his duties and it is a great shame that he finally breaks his silence to introduce this bill. The citizens of Alduria should well note his actions and inaction.

[Speaker Rejo]

The Motion to pass the bill by Unanimous Consent is recognized, as is the objection voiced by the Prime Minister. Therefore, the Motion for Unanimous Consent is not agreed to. Debate continues.

[Speaker Rejo]

All time for debate has now expired. The question is: Shall Parliament pass the pending bill? Voting shall last for no less than 48 hours

DIVISION: CLEAR THE LOBBIES!

[Alfonso Velez]

NAY

Level 3 Whip for L&D - NAY

[Seydlitz]

Seydlitz votes Nay

[Yakim Beg]

Yakim Beg - Aye;
Fully Whipped EDP - Aye.

The accursed infidel who prattles thus against this modest proposal is nought but the spawn of shaitan. The mere act of putting on a uniform does not make a man a hero. Heroism, acts of conspicuous bravery performed in the face of overwhelming odds, makes a man a hero. However this wretched Velez creature seeks to pander and posture, as all politicians are want to do, and insists that all servicemen are heroes merely for getting out of bed in sufficient time to attend pay parade.  Politicians are worthless verminous creatures, they conflate, inflate and exaggerate. They play upon the sentimentality of the people. Now, no doubt, some of our servicemen perform heroic feats, this is true and their rewards are many and plentiful where such heroism is recognised. But this act, all encompassing in its nature, is not a reward for heroism, it is a reward for service, for duty, and for being useful to the state. It is misleading therefore for this act to pose as a reward for the brave when it is merely a benefit for the dutiful.

Let us be clear on one further thing - we Eurans care nothing for the ludicrously rushed procedures you have imported from your dead homelands; these strict twenty-four hour apportionments of debating time, the frantic scrabble to make every measure pass by unanimous consent in an effort to cover up for the fact that everyone has gone to sleep. You are fooling nobody but yourselves with these practices. We are Eurans, we will arrive when we are ready and we shall speak when we will. None but the Highest Divinity shall constrain us, and if you foreigners wish to try then you shall certainly rue the day. 

Adapt to Euran realities or perish. That is my only message for you.

[Alduria]

Nat-Lib: Aye

Communists: Aye

Social Democrats: Aye