Congressional Reform Act of 2010
Someone sent me this latest edition of an old standard – As you are looking for candidates to support in 2010, asking them their positions on any of these “points” will inform you on the quality of the candidate.
I would only add that I would be okay with 2 terms for Senate and House.
1. Term Limits: One Term Maximum.
One Six-year Senate term and One Four Year House term.
Congress should concentrate on acting for the good of the country, not upon getting re-elected. Worthwhile bills not acted upon during a current session will be carried forth and voted on by elected successors.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term, then go home and back to work.
2. No Tenure / No Pension:
A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term, then go home and back to work.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security: All money in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security System immediately. Congress participates with the American people and can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans..
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term, then go home and back to work.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term, then go home and back to work.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term, then go home and back to work.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term, then go home and back to work.
7. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void with the effective date of this reform act.
The American people did not make any contracts with congressmen; congressmen made all contracts with and for themselves.
Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term, then go home and back to work.
Facebook
Twitter
January 23rd, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Much of what you propose will require amending the U.S. Constitution.
Campaign Finance Reform is also needed:
First, I would like to see a law requiring any political donations from Corporations and Unions to match
their membership/stockholder’s positions. If they want to make donations, they would have to take polls and
give a percentage to each opposing cause. Government/Public entities would be flatly prohibited from stating
an opinion or donating.
Secondly, I would add a requirement for Congress persons to be kept ignorant of who their donors are. A third party office would collect all donations and credit accounts. (This office would be routinely and publicly audited to guarantee credibility.) Attempting to learn or reveal this information (Congress Person or Lobbyist) is a Felony and an Ethics Violation.
Thirdly, All donations go into a secure public database which is accessable and searchable by private citizens (after registration). Attempted use by Congressional Staff is a Felony as are discussions to try to learn or reveal such to a campaign. (A la S.E.C.’s rules on use of Insider Information for investing.)
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:16 pm
i think that that was actually interesting. Good post!¡