SENATE SIMULATION TOPICS 2016
Directions: Gather information for the bill topic you chose in class. Take notes on the title article (background), a pro article, and a con article by making a key point sheet for each on a separate piece of paper which you will later turn in. Later, you will take note on how the state that you represent stands on the issues.
1.) Repeal Obamacare: The Affordable Care Act, the sweeping legislation with the initial goal ofinsuringmillionswho can’t afford healthcare insurance has opening with a fizzle. The website rollout crucial in signing up enough people so that it essentially lower the costs of others has been costly ($600 million) and is still up to par. Also, the promise to allow individuals to keep their current health insurance plan is not holding up for many as health care insurers are dropping many people’s plans because the plan doesn’t meet up toObamacare’sstandards. Finally, the promise to reduce health care costs has not come to fruition as reported by 60 Minutes. With the majority of the public now againstObamacarewith all of the major problems, is it time to delay it or repeal it outright?ProProIIPro IIICon ICon IIConIII
Pro Pro and Cons Pros and Cons IIClearing Myths Con Site Showing How Each State Views ObamacareProProIIPro IIICon ICon IIConIII
2.) AbortionShould there be a federal mandate requiring women who want an abortion to have a 24-hour waiting period, doctor notification? Also to consider, should the federal government ban all abortions at 22-18 weeks of a pregnancy? How each state stands on abortion. Charts with restrictions by weeks and states. Pro/Con site Another Pro/Con site with commentary
3.) Gun Control : Should congress pass gun control and safety measures presented by President Obama? After the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, many Americans have focused on current gun laws and whether they provide adequate protection against gun violence. President Obama appointed a task force headed by Vice President Joe Biden to come up with recommendations. Considering the task force's recommendations, President Obama proposed new actions by Congress and through executive order. Other Americans, supported by the NRA, are opposed to new gun control/safety legislation, emphasizing mental health issues and violent entertainment as the key areas for focus to reduce gun violence. How each state stands on Gun Control.How each state stands on implementing stricter background checks, Background Stats.Facts Pro III Good PRO/CON PageCon III Pew Research on Gun Control
4.) Immigration Reform (General reform and Syrian Refugee issue): What should Congress do with Obama’s sweeping Immigration reform executive order now that it has been stayed by the federal courts. ? If they take on making new legislation, what would it look like? With over 11 million immigrants in the United States illegally, the issue of illegal immigration continues to divide Americans. Some people say that illegal immigration benefits the US economy through additional tax revenue, expansion of the low-cost labor pool, and increased money in circulation. Opponents of illegal immigration say that people who break the law by crossing the US border without proper documentation or by overstaying their visas should be deported and not rewarded with a path to citizenship and access to social services. Here are some notes on a 2013 bill passed by the senate and the president’s proclamation. How each state stands on immigration. Most recently, the fear of refugees coming from Syria with ties to Isis or other extremist groups have caused much concern especially in light of the Paris terrorist attack in which terrorists most likely from ISIS posed as refugees. Here is what the White House said after the attack regarding immigration. Some states are trying to ban Syrian refugees from entering their states. A current presideintial candidate proposed that non-American Muslims should be banned from the U.S. See how each state views this aspect. Regarding immigration and terrorism: Pro I Pro II Con I Con II
5.) Corporate Taxes ReductionThe United States has one of the highest corporate taxers in the world. Some experts believe this is why the U.S. corporations have a hard time competing against foreign companies. There has been a growing trend of companies moving their headquarters outside of the U.S. to avoid paying corporate taxes. Other experts have claimed that higher corporate taxes hurts jobs and employment in the U.S. Those who are opposed to lowering corporate taxes claim that many companies have so many loopholes that they don’t pay their fair share of taxes. Experts claim that there are some U.S. companies that have moved outside of the U.S. pay zero corporate taxes. What should be done about this? How each state view corporate taxes. Pro I Pro and ConsCon I How Each State Stands on Corporate Taxation
6.) Citizen’s United Constitutional Amendment (actually a pro but has decent background): Following the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case, the growth of Super PACS, and the influx of negative ads this campaign season, many Americans are concerned about the influence of money on our electoral system and our democracy itself. Others point out that wealthy individuals, corporations, and labor unions have always influenced politics and point to the loopholes of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act as the origin of unlimited contributions. Does money = speech, and do any restrictions on campaign contributions violate the First Amendment? Does money buy too much influence in our political system? For Amendment: Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4, and Article 5, and Article 5, and Against Amendment Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4 and Article 5. Use this site to find out which states are in favor/Oppose an Amendment
7.) Child Care/Family Leave : The United States and Papua New Guinea are the only countries in the world that do not provide any paid time off for new mothers. Only California, New Jersey and Rhode Island offer paid family and medical leave. Federal law allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off without losing their job to care for a new child, recover from illness or care for a sick family member, but the time off is unpaid. Should the US provide 6 weeks of paid leave to workers?
Yes 1: Yes 2: Yes 3: No 1: No 2