2007-11-03 - Senate Business (III)

Continued from Senate Business (II)
This building is a wide, low circle of silver durasteel, overlooking itself with four floors of balconies. On every balcony flags of the Republic hang red and sharp next to flags from all over the galaxy and soft subtle light from hidden alcoves gives the place a feeling of quiet that it rarely sees.
Further back the balconies are supported by great heavy columns, obscuring the towering walls in shadow. The space is enormous: capable, at a glance, of holding more than a hundred thousand sentients comfortably. The balconies themselves are unfurnished.
Down the middle of the bottom floor a dark red carpet runs from the main entrance of the building, across the long floor to the foot of a well-lit white dias. Upon the dias is a light silver chair, and on its high back is the sigil of the Republic. Behind it a vertical slash of glass rises up like a wild brush-stroke to break the continuity of all four floors of the balcony: the building's only window.
The bottom floor descends in four circular steps, making a sort of stage of the lowest platform. This cylindrical recession is well lit with white lamps set in the step above it, and the red carpet spreads here to fill the circle in the center of the room.
Despite the building's size, it is always crowded. Senators and bureaucrats come and go from here at all hours of the day and night. Informal debate and political scheming fill the hall when legitimate government does not.
The computer chimes. "The Floor is now open to debate on Motion 19.2. Senators may stand and be recognized."
Meena Tills rises
"The Senate recognizes the Honorable Senator from Mon Calamari."
Meena Tills inclines his head. "Given the debate I have heard," he says quietly, "I think that everyone has heard what they need to know."
Meena Tills says, "As things stand now, there are not enough votes to close this amendment. Is there anyone who wishes to vote in favor of closing, now?" He sits down."
Antilles looks around from his box.
Antilles rises.
"The Senate recognizes the Honorable Senator from Corellia."
Antilles looks around the Senate imperiously before clearing his throat and sucking in a breath. Then he begins singing in a throaty roar.
"Alderaani girls will do for it pearls, and on Tatoonine for water! But if you desire dames, like consuming flames, try a Corellian daughter!"
Meena Tills raises an eyebrow ans he listens to the unusual ... debate.
The Corellian box erupts in cheers and laughter as Antilles sits down. It's obvious bets had been made ahead of time as credit chips are exchanged.
If it had a head and the finger to scratch it with, the computer would do so. After a milisecond's hesitation: "Senators will please take their private conversations out of the Chamber."
Meena Tills chuckles softly. Across the chamber, hundreds of SEnators do the same.
Senator Ohl continues to sit with her retinue while browsing a handheld, with much the same expression she's had since arriving and returning: none.
"The floor is now open to debate on Motion 20.5. Senators may not stand and be recognized."
Meena Tills rises
"The Senate recognizes the Honorable Senator from Mon Calamari."
Meena Tills says, "This is a simple provision," the senator from Mon Calamari says, "<Merely ensuring that this bill will in no way change or cause conflict within our member worldds' internal polities.""
Meena Tills sits down
Antilles rises. "Move for previous question. Let's have a vote on point five and then close it."
"The motion to close Motion 20.5 has failed to gain enough votes."
Antilles signals. "Move to table debate on 20.5 and move on to 20.4. Can I have a second?"
Meena Tills says, "second"
"All in favor: aye. All opposed: nay."
Meena Tills says, "aye"
Vulhel Ohl says, "Aye."
Tarkin says, "Aye"
"The ayes have it. Debate on Motion 20.5 is tabled. The floor is now open for debate on Motion 20.4. Senators may stand and be recognized."
Meena Tills rises
"The Senate recognizes the Honorable Senator from Mon Calamari."
Meena Tills says, "Again, this is a simple common sense move, designed to guarantee that only those who would be citizens if a colony world were independent, may vote in an election on it."
Meena Tills sits down
SENATE: With all due pomp and circumstance, Amendment 20.4 is accepted as an integral part of its parent bill.
Meena Tills says, "move previous question"
"Debate on 20.3 may now commence."
Meena Tills raises hand again
"The Honorable Senator from Mon Calamari."
Meena Tills says, "Again," Meena Tills says, "I view this as a simple common sense measure, guarding against abuses that though unlikely, should be prevented. I have more to say in support of this, but only if there is a n eed for debate.""
Meena Tills seats himself
"Debate on amendment 20.2 is now open.... says the ocmputer
Meena Tills raises his hand
"The Honorable Senator from Mon Calamari is recognized."
"Senators," Meena Tills exclaims, "We have just voted down resolution 19, because it would have abrogated the ancient right of the senate to vote on seating of its own members. And yet here, I see many votes against this amendment, which merely establishes that smae rule for colony world delegates -- who will, I note, have one of the rights of members, namely the right to propose legislation.
He pauses and looks around. "I beg those who have not yet supported this amendment to do so! And if you have voted against it, please reconsider. Suppose, under this legislation, a score of colony worlds that are barely worlds at all -- merely small outposts with a few hundred people camped on a barren world -- were to send a delegate, and were seated by the commissions established under the law recently passed? Are we as Senators to have no say on whether such a world shall have the right to propose legislation and speak in this chamber?"
Meena Tills sits down
"The Honorable Senator from Corellia is recognized."
"Here I must disagree with my Honorable Friend. The previous motion would have had dire consequences if passed. Motion 20 is harmless. If the colonies want to elect some delegates to come and look good on Republic News Feed, it makes no difference." Antilles sits.
Meena Tills waits to see if anyone else will speak
Vulhel Ohl continues to sit back in her chair, leg crossed beneath her long robes. Her attention continues to intermittantly be absorbed by her handheld.
Meena Tills waits a while, and finally rises again
"The Honorable Senator from Mon Calamari is recognized."
"Here I fear that the honorable Senator from Corellia is incorrect. I recall a senator supporting this bill telling me, in no uncertain terms, that this provision for colony world delegates is merely the first step in a long term campaign toward granting all colony worlds voting rights on the body. It will not be long before a publicity machine is in operation, highlighting the failure of proposals from colony worlds to be taken seriously, and mounting a drumbeat to grant colony worlds full voting rights."
Meena Tills pauses.
"If we are to seat colony world delegates in this chamber, we should grant them the honor to take their proposals seriously, and also take their membership seriously enough to consider whether their elections were valid, as we would for any Senator. Otherwise, the complaint that we do not take colony world delegates seriously will have much force."
Antilles rises and starts speaking as the computer recognizes him. "This is important information. Why even vote on the amendments if the entire motion is a nefarious plot to add senators through a backdoor. I once supported this motion. But if my Honorable Friend is speaking truth, of which I have no doubt," Antilles nods towards the Mon Cal, "then this motion must be defeated."
Bail Organa raises his hand.
"The Honorable Senator from Alderaan is recognized."
Bail Organa clears his throat, "I move to end debate on all current motions. Anyone who wants to, cast your votes, and the order of the Senate be damned!"
That said, the King sits and begins punching numbers on his datapad. The Senators all around him follow suit.
SENATE: With all due pomp and circumstance, Amendment 20.3 is accepted as an integral part of its parent bill.SENATE: With all due pomp and circumstance, Amendment 20.5 is accepted as an integral part of its parent bill.
Bail Organa looks about the Senate Chamber with exasperation, nods to his guards, and files out.
At the terminal in his box, the Corellian begins taking care of his business. If the debate goes on, then it goes on.
SENATE: With all due pomp and circumstance, Amendment 20.1 is accepted as an integral part of its parent bill.SENATE: With all due pomp and circumstance, Amendment 20.2 is accepted as an integral part of its parent bill.
Meena Tills says, "Move that senate 20 be closed"
SENATE: Motion 22 DefeatedSENATE: Motion 20 Passed
Meena Tills Says in the hush as the bill makes it varied way through the senate, "I t may be that the whole colony world dleegate idea established in bill 4 should be repealed."
SENATE: With all due pomp and circumstance, Amendment 23.1 is accepted as an integral part of its parent bill.SENATE: With all due pomp and circumstance, Amendment 23.2 is accepted as an integral part of its parent bill.
Meena Tills rises. "Move close vote on seante 23
SENATE: Motion 23 Passed
With cheers rising from the Corellian box, Antilles rises and leaves the Chamber.
Category:November 2007 RP Logs