One of my favorite Senators, Michael Bennet (Colorado), has an absolutely phenomenal proposal to reform Washington. I wholeheartedly endorse it. Here’s a link. We have so many challenges to face as a country. Yet, as an institution, the legislative branch has lost the faith of the American people. We need to take strong action to prove to the American people that it can function and serve us once again.
The highlights:
Salaries, Spending, and Perk
Freeze congressional member pay until there are 4 quarters of job growth
Freeze congressional office budgets until there are 4 quarters of job growth
End the health care subsidy for Members of Congress until health care reform passes and eliminates discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, doesn’t cut guaranteed Medicare benefits, increases coverage, and is fully paid for
Require full payment for the seat and disclose of those traveling with a Member of Congress on a charter jet
Lobbying Reform
Put a lifetime ban on Members of Congress becoming lobbyists
Ban congressional staff from lobbying their former boss for 6 years
Ban former committee staff from lobbying their former boss or any member of the committee who was active during their time on staff for 6 years
Ban lobbyists from joining congressional staff or committee staff for 6 years
Create stricter rules for lobbyist registration
Institute penalties for failing to register as a lobbyist
Earmark Reform
Ban earmarks to private, for-profit companies and institutions.
Make earmarks transparent
Members of Congress must report all earmark requests they receive and all earmarks requests made
Earmarks.gov should list all earmarks requests, sortable by member of Congress
Hold Members of Congress accountable on earmark requests
All earmark requests above $1 million should go before the Appropriations Committee
Hold earmarks recipients accountable
Each year, a certain percent of all earmarks will be audited to ensure that taxpayer money is being spent wisely. These reports should be made public on earmkarks.gov
Reform the Floor
Eliminate anonymous holds
Require holds to be bipartisan. If not, the hold expires in 2 days. Even bi-partisan holds expire in 30 days.
Reform the filibuster in the Senate
After 3rd failed cloture vote, the minority must find a member of the opposite party or the threshold raises to 45 votes.
After the 3rd cloture vote, if the majority finds support from three members of the minority, it raises to 45 votes.
End the filibuster for motion to proceed
Require 41 Senators to show up to vote in order to block cloture, or else it’s invoked
Campaign Finance Reform
Support the Schumer/Van Hollen campaign finance bill, which would require Chief Executive Officers to stand by their ads, quick disclosure and sunshine rules, restrictions on foreign corporations and TARP recipients, and codifying coordination rules.
Support a constitutional amendment allowing Congress to regulate contributions and expenditures.
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I have read your positions as stated on this web site. I am impressed with your grasp of what needs to get done in Washington for the people of OHIO. I LOVE the reforms you mention above (the Bennett plan). If you win, you two should hook up…this is an actual plan that would hold all elected officials feet to the fire and they would have to work together to make the job growth targets. In every other sector, pay is tied to job performance which is tied to the financial health of the company…why not congress too
Thanks! I am big fan of Bennett and would love to work with him! Thanks for
reading and writing in! -sy
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