This is How You Fix Congress

[Netnorske]

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!

Even though we disagree on a number of issues, I count all of you as friends. The proposal is to promote a "Congressional Reform Act of 2009." It would contain eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (but not the incumbants).

I know many of you will say, "this is impossible." Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval of any entity in Government, now is the time when Americans will join together to reform Congress - the entity that represents us.
We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These people will become American heroes.. Please add any ideas on how to get this done.

Thanks,

A Fellow American

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Congressional Reform Act of 2009

1. Term Limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below.

A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension:
A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security:
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, Congress participates with the American people.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans..

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people..

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/10.

The American people did not make this contract with congressmen, congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

[ringadingh]

Who would want a job like that.if all those ideas were implemented ;) Something needs to be done though, thats a nice gig if you can get it.

[Netnorske]

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

Who would want a job like that.if all those ideas were implemented ;) Something needs to be done though, thats a nice gig if you can get it.

As hard as it seems to believe, there actually are people out there who want to do the right thing....it's just that none of them are currently in office.... :-/.

[phenrichs]

I seem to remember something along the lines of "congress shall make no law that pertains to congress that does not equally apply to the people" and vise versa.
Not sure about the 12 year thing though. Might be too long. The rest I am on board with. SIgn me up.

[sarge1057]

Well for what its worth I contacted my congressman and one of my Senators and asked them to sponsor this as a bill.

[nomad561]

Term limits are the only way to eliminate the "go along to get along" mentallity in Congress.
Right now,a Congressman's primary job is to get reelected so they will make deals and schemes to accomplish that goal.

[Yellow Jacket]

Even if a Senator and a Representative were to introduce legistation such as this, it would never get passed. They are not about to cut off their gravy train.

[cactusjack]

I agree wholeheartedly with the concept in the original post.

Remember boys and girls, we already have the ability to limit terms. Just stop voting these a-holes back into office. FWIW, I seldom vote for any incumbent (local/state/national). I've yet to see many politicians that deserve another try.

[Idaho]

Originally Posted by OP

I seem to remember something along the lines of "congress shall make no law that pertains to congress that does not equally apply to the people" and vise versa.
Not sure about the 12 year thing though. Might be too long. The rest I am on board with. SIgn me up.

OP, this is the wording in a proposed 28th ammendment:

Amendment 28

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United
States that does not apply equally to the Senators or Representatives,
and Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators or
Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the
United States."

This is one Amendment that I could enthusiastically support.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

All of you guys are right on. When elections come up this year do as CJ and vote the suckers out. Believe me, they are suckers as they are sucking all the money out of our pockets and bank accounts if we have one.

I just got my military retirement pay and my VA disability stayed the same but the remainder which is paid by the Army actually is $1.88 less than I received last year. I don't know if I will ever get rich that way.

[sarge1057]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I agree wholeheartedly with the concept in the original post.

Remember boys and girls, we already have the ability to limit terms. Just stop voting these a-holes back into office. FWIW, I seldom vote for any incumbent (local/state/national). I've yet to see many politicians that deserve another try.

++++++++1 Never vote for an In-scumbag again especially if they bring home the pork I,d rather spend my own money on pork.Than send it to D.C. and watch them wast it.

[Yellow Jacket]

The only problem with voting all the imcumbents out is the question of who do you vote in to replace them? If you just vote in more lifetime politicians they are no better. I don't think it makes much difference which party they belong to, Democrat or Republican.

Maybe if enough voters would vote for Libertarians or non-lifetime politicians, and make them the majority, we just might see some sensible "change" or reform.

I'm not holding my breath for that to happen though.

P.S. I don't belong to any political party and I have approved of this message. :)

[sarge1057]

Yellow Jacket I understand what you are saying but I think the point of voting them out is for the citizens to continually be involved in the process of our government, vote them out every election so they understand its us that run the country and not them. after all they the politicians and anyone who is paid with tax dollars works for the privet citizen.

[Yellow Jacket]

I agree Sarge. Maybe if we keep voting them out when they serve their own interests rather than ours they might finally get the message.

[doublel]

There is also a lot of talk about a third party. The " Tea party".