Congressional Reform Act of 2011

Here's my version of an email that's been making the rounds lately...

Now that we have a few real conservatives in office, I believe the first order of business should be for Congress to demonstrate to the American people they get the message that we want a Congress our Founders intended....not the professional-politician-pro-big-government-bowing-to-special-interest-juggernaut we have today. A good first step would be the introduction of what could be called the "Congressional Reform Act of 2011" that includes the following:

1. Term Limits for all members of Congress. 12 years maximum via one of these possible options:
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 Congressperson collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office. This goes for staffers, as well.

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 rest of the American people. This goes for staffers, as well.

4. Congress can purchase their own 401K plan. A 401k is offered at 4% matching for 6% personal contribution. This goes for staffers, as well.

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. Congress participates in the same health care system as the majority of the American people (whatever comes of Obamacare) unless they can be covered by a policy from previous employment (TRICARE, corporate retiree policy, etc).

7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. No exclusions will ever again be permitted.

8. All proposed bills/legislation will include a paragraph specifying the paragraph in the Constitution authorizing Congress the ability to propose the legislation. This paragraph must detail why and how the proposed legislation meets Constitutional restrictions placed on the Federal government.

9. Congress will budget money for each state by population counts of legal citizenry. This money will be distributed accordingly, and states will receive no money beyond their allotted portion (except in cases of natural disasters or war). This will ensure state legislatures cannot take advantage of national budgetary largesse to recoup unwise (generally progressive) spending.

In short, serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, honorably serving their term(s), then going home and back to work. Regardless of what Harry Reid believes the mid-term election results meant, its clear the American people are sick and tired of elitist Legislators and their staffs pushing Progressivism down our throats (from both sides of the aisle).

If the new Congress doesn't understand this message loud and clear, the American people will ensure they do in 2012 with the advent of a third party...the seeds of which are already firmly planted, as evidenced by the results of both the mid-term primaries and general election.