Parliament Rejects President MikeBodwin's Business Tax Proposal

The Parliament of Demarcia voted down President MikeBodwin's proposal for a business tax on Tuesday. The act failed to achieve the support of both Members of Parliament - MikeBodwin and Penstubal - with the latter having passionately argued against the proposal.

Introducing the act, MikeBodwin said that it would require the numerous Demarcian companies to directly contribute to the Demarcian economy through the treasury. He explained that the act's provisions would ensure that companies that do not contribute to the economy are made inactive, and predicted that it would bring in thousands a year to the Demarcian treasury, allowing "the Demarcian economy to begin a natural and constant stream of growth".

Penstubal denounced the act, saying it would "stifle business, innovation, destroy our economy and hurt our working class and small business owners". He called the tax an "undue financial burden" that "would rig the game in favor of big business, (...) those (...) who would have no problem paying this sum of money". He expressed skepticism that the money would be spent efficiently, saying the government would "waste it". Furthermore, he argued the country already has enough money in its treasury.

Chop, the leader of the ruling Civic Unity Party, argued that the proposed 1000 credits tax per quarter "is not some huge financial burden at all", saying that "desperate times call for desperate measures" and that the current positive financial outlook won't necessarily last. He bizarrely invoked the 7 October terror attacks in Israel to defend his stance on the business tax, without demonstrating how they are connected in any way.

The President, meanwhile, defended his proposal, saying that nearly all businesses would easily be able to pay the tax and that the proposal is more so about growing the economy than about growing the treasury, i.e. about contribution turning into a responsibility rather than a completely optional donation.

Penstubal, again, defended his opposition, saying that "it is a burden to those who are new to the country", repeated how the "government does not need that money", that "it is highly unlikely we will ever lose all of [our] money". Furthermore, responding to the President asking him to name some new small businesses in the country, he said "it is [your] responsibility, not mine; you are the one who is in charge at this moment". He stated that many businesses opened up during the last Social Democratic Party government under JeskiaWeathers, mostly by the now-banned Examed.

At one point during the debate, MikeBodwin was caught being fed a talking point by Deputy Speaker SuperMiron, who whispered "tell him [he's] unprepared for this debate then if he thinks [there] are better", in reference to Penstubal saying there are "other ways to measure a company's activity than through whether they're paying a fee". Penstubal later made a little fun of this, though he didn't hold it against SuperMiron in any way and only found it amusing.

After the act was voted on and rejected, Questions to the President took place. Penstubal used the opportunity to ask MikeBodwin to comment on Examed's ban from Habboon. MikeBodwin agreed with Penstubal's characterization of how his behavior as "criminal", though he said the punishment was too harsh and heaped praise on his time in Demarcia.

MikeBodwin also said that Chop "seems like a good fit" to lead the country and said that "he should not be judged on past inactivity" and that he "wants to help the country".

Laura Cooper,

Demarcian Inquirer.