Transcript Topic 6
Topic 6:
Environmental
Politics
Discussion: Mon 9/17 & Wed 9/19
Homework Due: Mon 9/21
Questions for homework
What are the benefits of our political
decision-making process?
Where does the process fail us?
EXPLAIN your answers.
Due Friday, September 21
Political Decision-Making
Who decides?
Competing interests (potentially)
science
ethics
economics
may point to conflicting conclusions
Problems
science
multiple
options with varying impacts
uncertainty
multiple routes to similar results
no moral values attached
no economic impact
Problems
economics
uncertainty
some
things are difficult to assign hard
numbers to
externalities
no moral values attached
Problems
ethics
competing
ethical systems & viewpoints
different value systems
economic
impact may not be not
considered
scientific validity may not be considered
Modes of governing
Single decision-maker
Group decision-making
one-person,
one-vote
representative democracy
winner take all
apportioned
consensus
Groups
What is the best approach to group
decision-making? Why?
Each group takes one mode:
Single
decision-maker
one-person, one-vote
winner take all representatives
apportioned representatives
consensus-building
The Illinois 2008 Budget - spring
Gov B
we
need health care coverage
pay for it with gross receipts tax
Legislature
we
need to pay for our current
commitments first
gross receipts tax is DOA
The Illinois 2008 Budget - summer
Gov B
no
health care coverage = no budget
Legislature
budget
with details (atypical)
no new revenue, no new health-care plan
Gov B
line-item
vetoes & reductions
I’ll use the excess $$ to start my health-care
program
The Illinois 2008 Budget - fall
Legislature
House:
we will override vetos
Senate Pres: I won’t call it for a vote
House: we’ll have hearings
Wed., Sept. 26, 2008, 6:00 pm
Appropriations
Committee hearing
budget comments
For Wednesday
Review the budget & cuts
Are the cuts good or bad?
Consider this
Does
a new health care plan to cover the
uninsured outweigh other items?
Does the state need to raise more money
or stay within current limits?
Questions for homework
What
are the benefits of our
political decision-making process?
Where does the process fail us?
EXPLAIN
your answers.
Due Friday, September 21
Comments
Are the cuts good or bad?
Consider this
Does
a new health care plan to cover the
uninsured outweigh other items?
Does the state need to raise more money
or stay within current limits?
Groups
Does a new health care plan to cover
the uninsured outweigh other items?
Does the state need to raise more
money or stay within current limits?
For the committee
Which cuts are we concerned with?
Why?
Which cuts are OK? Why?
What do we think about health care?
Does the state need more revenue?
Why? OR Why not?
Questions for homework
What are the benefits of our political
decision-making process?
Where does the process fail us?
OR: Written testimony for committee
EXPLAIN your answers.
Due Friday, September 21