Congressional Reform?

March 28, 2011 · 5 comments

I don’t usually post about political stuff. I have friendships on both side of the aisle and everybody has their reasons for what they believe. But I got this by email on Saturday and it got me wondering – is this something that Americans would unite behind? Is it good for all of us? Does it make sense? Is it punitive.

I’d like to hear what you have to say about this, but be warned, any posts flaming either political party will be removed. Arguments will be removed. Name calling will be removed. So with that in mind read the following and tell me what you think. Good idea? Bad idea? And Why do you think that?

Congressional Reform Act of 2011
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 move to the Social Security system immediately.  All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.

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

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 by all laws they impose on the American people.

8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.

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, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the  U.S. ) to receive the message.  Maybe it is time.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on.   If not, just delete

You are one of my 20+.  Please keep it going.

 

 

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Edward March 28, 2011 at 7:26 pm

I agree with the general gist. Politicians get too much pay and too many perks. They should not be able to vote themselves a pay raise. That’s crazy. On the other hand, as a believer in socialised medicine, I think we should get theirs rather than forcing the lousy system we have on them. Term limits are probably a good idea, and 12 years sounds about right. That’s long enough for the good ones to do some good.

More important than all that, though is the problem with lobbyists. The government works for the people, not the megacorps. At least they’re suppose to. How long has it been since that has been true?

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Kate March 29, 2011 at 3:16 pm

I have to say that I live on the more liberal side of things myself. I’m all for socialized medicine. In fact I’m okay with all the perks congress people get. Just as long as I get them too.

Vote myself a raise? You bet!

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Bethany March 28, 2011 at 5:54 pm

I have mixed feelings on this. I think that it’s impossible for politics to not be a career. In order to move up, in order to learn, to make the connections necessary for fundraising, campaigning, and just passing legislation one needs a lot of time. Plus, when one comes out of politics, it’s difficult to ease back into other careers. I honestly think that making politics not a career would eliminate the few non-independently wealthy politicians we have. Only those who are independently wealthy would be able to afford to give up the possibility of a career.

As for healthcare, I’d rather open up congressional healthcare to everyone. Especially as most people in the US who have full-time jobs that require the education being in congress requires (and aren’t self-employed) have employer-provided insurance. I’d rather the congressional version just be opened up to everyone but I lean rather socialist.

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Anna/Irish Betty March 28, 2011 at 10:01 am

I’m all for it. And ditto what Clever Cherry said.

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Clever Cherry / Betty March 28, 2011 at 4:40 am

I got this, too and I am in complete agreement. It was never meant to be a career. And especially not a career for creating multi-millionaires. Unfortunately to be elected into office these days you already have to be rich. Why should you get richer off the backs of American taxpayers.
And if they were on the same social security retirement plan, health care plan, etc as the rest of us, they would be better motivated and equipped to establish and maintain those plans. Why exactly do they deserve so much better plans at taxpayers expenses? They are supposed to be public servants; not public drains.
I’m for it 100%.

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