New Congressional Reform Act of 2011

[HeyJonesy]

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.

- Patrick Henry -

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure.

Here's an idea..

The Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office. It is only after tenured terms would they be eligible.

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 can 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.

7. 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 you'd like copy, paste this and email this to people you know. If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people, it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Maybe it is time that "we the people" remind our politicians that they work for us. Remember that every perk, bonus and luxury the congress votes for themselves are things WE have to pay for. We entrust good decisions by the people we vote into office. Yet, they're not different than you and I. They still eat, drink, sleep, crap and put their pants on every day just like you and I.

As it's been said, there is no "I" in "TEAM"... we get that. But remember, there is no USA without "US". (you and me)

So, just sayin' !! If you have creative additions to this congressional reform list, let's hear 'em. (haha.. I can only imagine)

[scottch]

8. term limits: each person elected to congress will serve no more that two terms.

9. get the lifetime congressmen and women out and elect new people with fresh ideas and who have not lost there common sense.

[GinaG]

The people need to stand up, and make a statement (before they bring you to jail) for a new order!

[2bugs4me]

I vote for you!!!!

AMEN AMEN and AMEN!!!!!

[debbieb40]

I agree! We need to stand up and make change

..Thank you

[HeyJonesy]

Additionally..

There needs to be a cap on how much a politician can receive from domestic and international corporations for campaigns.

Congress voted to allow UNLIMITED funds to be donated into a campaign. So, this opens the door from anyone or any company (even internationally... remember, this is a USA election) thus allowing for an absolute flood of money into a campaign to essentially buy an election.

[delta22]

Heres a adenum I would like to see. In this age of computers and secure conferance calls and all that new fangled technologie thats way over my head, NO MORE TRIPS OVERSEAS! We are broke and if you really have a meeting do it on your computer,it's a lot cheaper than flying and you actually might get more done without the distraction of the Redlite district in Amsterdam or any of the other cool places you guys go on our dime.