Congressional Reform Act

[Moe Gibbs]

Fact checkers [like Snopes] say that no such proposal ever existed......they also claim that Trump has never made Congressional reform an issue.
Here are the key points. I'll let Snopes fret about who masterminded this proposal.

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office. And, no more perks go with them.

2. 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. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress must purchase their own retirement plan, just as ALL Americans do.

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

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

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people (i.e. NO MORE INSIDER TRADING!!!).

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women. Congress made all these contracts by and for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor and privilege NOT a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators should serve their term(s), then go home and go back to work … not get all kinds of freebies.

[gil]

I see other sites (e.g. USA Today) have stories that says there is no formal proposal, but rather that this list has been circulating on the web for years. but no matter: On first glance it looks pretty reasonable to me. Except for #5. I think we all should get THEIR health care coverage!

[ddraig]

I would also like to go back to Senators being elected by there respective State Legislatures. It would preclude individuals setting themselves up as one of 100 little presidents and cost the taxpayers far less money. As a part of that proposal, the State Legislatures would be in charge of setting individual salaries for their two senators. More home control.

I would also like to see laws stating that only constituents can invest in a specific campaign. Why should someone in Pennsylvania, Georgia, or Texas be interested in funding the campaign in Washington State? (The anti-George Soros Law).

Additionally, make it law that a former congress person or senator can't become a lobbyist for 10 years after they leave office. I'm tired of the gravy train.

[Moe Gibbs]

I would also like to go back to Senators being elected by there respective State Legislatures. It would preclude individuals setting themselves up as one of 100 little presidents and cost the taxpayers far less money. As a part of that proposal, the State Legislatures would be in charge of setting individual salaries for their two senators. More home control.

I would also like to see laws stating that only constituents can invest in a specific campaign. Why should someone in Pennsylvania, Georgia, or Texas be interested in funding the campaign in Washington State? (The anti-George Soros Law).

Additionally, make it law that a former congress person or senator can't become a lobbyist for 10 years after they leave office. I'm tired of the gravy train.

I like these ideas but this pessimist thinks that if Soros doesn't want his man to get caught breaking the rules, then his man wont get caught breaking the rules. We would need to endow [[[Big Brother]]] with more oversight than ever before to protect our democratic freedoms. See the conflict...?