SENATE
SIMULATION TOPICS 2017
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 of insuring millions who 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 to Obamacare’s standards. 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 against Obamacare with all of the major problems, is it time to delay it or repeal it outright? The current administration and the majority of members of Congress want to repeal Obamacare and replace it with the American Health Care Act (AHCA) Here is a link to its background. Pro ProII Pro III Con I Con II ConIII
Pro Pro and Cons Pros and Cons II Clearing Myths Con Site Showing How Each State Views Obamacare Pro Pro II Pro III Con I Con II ConIII
2.) Abortion
Should 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 II : 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. President Trump and 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. Background Stats.Facts Pro I II Good PRO/CON Page Con I II Pew Research on Gun Control
4.) Immigration Reform (Syrian Refugee): What should Congress do with Obama’s sweeping Immigration reform executive order now that it had been stayed by the federal courts? President Trump signed an Executive Order that banned refugees from Syria and several other countries that the administration considered threatened by terrorism. A law would codify and a new president (if elected in 2020) could not just change with a new executive order. 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 presidential 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
The
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.
6.) Electoral College Reform YES I II Kind of No Yet again there electoral college ran into a “snag” during the 2016 presidential elections. The popular vote winner (Clinton) won by over 2 million votes lost the electoral college vote. This past year there was strong talk regarding reforming the Electoral College so it represents the people’s voice. Many call for a direct popular vote election. However, the Founding Fathers put in a system for a reason that takes into account many factors such as states’ wants. Should the electoral College be reformed? If so Which plan would be best? (make sure you have access to the electoral college scaffle sheet we did in class- please bring it to class!)
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