I started with a top 10. It has grown to 12. Feel free to add your suggestions.
Here is my suggested reforms for Congress that I call the "Citizens' Code for Congress:"
1 - the Constitution must be obeyed - only the 17 enumerated powers are all that can be done
2 - only one issue per bill - no more unrelated issues tacked on because it's the only way to get them passed
3- only one page per bill - if you can't say it in 250-300 words, try again until you can
4- you must read each bill word-for-word and attest to the fact that you have before being allowed to debate it or vote on it
5- each bill must be read aloud on the floor in its entirety before any action such as going to committee, and only those members present will ever be allowed to discuss it or vote on it
6 -no more voice vote or consent agenda - too easy to hid stuff this way
7- no entitlement programs or earmarks - see number one
8- no more deals for votes
9- you must be available to speak on the phone and greet constituents personally when they visit your office - no more passing this off on staffers whom we didn't elect
10- no deeming or any other shenanigans
11 - current "ethics" rules will be discarded and re-written with the help of a citizens task force, and they will be published as well as permanently posted online - along with consequences
12- you are not allowed to publicly shout at, demean, or otherwise embarrass any members of the public
──
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Sounds like common sense to me which is not a language some of our leaders speak.
Evening Steve, I would extend your last item to elected officials and , of course, to the President.
O.K. this is all too foreign for this little Canuck. I'm off to find one of your photo posts lol.
#12 is cutting too close to restricting Freedom of Speech for me. It is disrespectful for a MoC to verbally abuse a member of the public, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to do it. I want to be able to shout and call those morons names... ;^ )
Randy,
That's why it has to be spelled out. :)
Steve
Bill,
OK, thanks. :)
Steve
Jenny,
Thanks. Appreciate the support of the photos. :)
Steve
Lane,
Point taken. Everyone should be respectful and cilvil in public speech, but if we lash out at them, they should be able to take it. :)
Steve
Congratulations this post is now featured in the Silent Majority Group of Active Rain.
Nicholas,
Thank you. I appreciate being selected. :)
Steve
Don't even get me started on the not reading the bill issue. We have one congressman here that admitted he doesn't read the bills before he votes on them. (That is your job people)
Todd,
Many of these people take it as a badge of honor that they haven't read the bills.That is cause for dismissal. Pink slips. :)
Steve
All this stuff is obvious for average citizens, but doesn't jive with how Washington has decided to operate. Unless the people stand up to these crooks in Washington, they will keep trampling over us.
Rob,
The standsing up time is now. Look for a very engaging campaign the rest of the year, and start now to replace Bill Nelson. :)
Steve
I can defend a Congressman not reading the bills before voting... It really takes a research team. Each bill references back to other law... modifying passages, etc. No person can grasp it. The part that is annoying is that the leadership (both parties) structure things in such a way as to make them non-searchable...
Lane,
While that may be true, this underscores the need for a single issue bill. Congress only has 2 major roles: come up with legislation and vote on it. Since reading the bill takes in both parts, I cannot excuse dereliction of duty. :)
Steve
Steve, these are all good ideas. I wish even half of them could be enforced. I would add that the full time nature of this position would be cut to about 6 or 7 months and then send them home to work real jobs. This might keep a few of them from looting the system in the way these criminals have become accustomed to.
Guy,
I totally agree. They only work a couple of days a week now, and if they only did what they are charged to do, one day a week would be plenty. :)
Steve