Posted on 11/20/2011 6:11:12 AM PST by Thad Lost
Mark Twain is credited with the witticism that says, “No man’s life, liberty or property is safe while Congress is in session.”
There is no telling what Mark Twain would say if he could see today’s Congress. Humor aside, the remark is right on target.
What can we do about it?
Rick Perry has a pretty good idea about what we can do about Congress. Make it part time.
Congress spends far too much time in Washington and there is little they do that we can really consider worthwhile. What does Congress do?
For starters, it spends money. It spends more money than we have. It also likes to have pointless hearings that either have all of the fairness of one of Stalin’s show trials or are the opportunity to have some ignorant celebrity to pontificate on something.
(Excerpt) Read more at teapartynation.com ...
Congress. Make it part time.
HELL yes. (and cut their undeserved pay accordingly.)
How?
Congress.Cut their pay AND time.
Let’s give Boehner something to REALLY cry about....
“Should we make Congress a Part time body?”
At the very least. Maybe term limits. However they would never vote on this. Imo.
Cut the pay and the retirement perks. That would turn congress into a true citizen legislature, or self term limited. Make it kind of like jury duty.
The previous PART TIME status of Congress allowed its members to pursue their trades, crafts and professions.
You get one or you get the other.
Insider Trading is one of those crimes we've allowed to be created by prohibiting the normal functioning of free markets.
It's a lot harder than you imagined to cut their pay.
“Congress already works a part time schedule”
There ya go. They need to come to DC about twice a year for 30 days. The rest of the time they can do business via go to meeting like everybody else. It will cut down access to them by lobbyists. It will also save money as they don’t need those big salaries.
I’m with Rush Limbaugh on this one. He says he likes a Congress that never meets. LOL!
Cut all compensation to the following:
1. Reimburse travel to and from DC from Home District.
2. House in Dormitories while in DC.
3. Feed them in a Cafeteria while in DC.
4. Provide a stipend equal to the Military Pay-Chart (O-grade), with Representatives starting at O-1 and Senators starting at 0-2, and ALL topping out at O-6. Grade indexed by years of service, NOT leadership position (in any).
5. Set term limits: Maximum of 8 years of House service (4 terms) and 12 years of Senate service (2 terms), for a theoretical combined total of 20 years absolute-maximum.
6. Retirement within Social Security System, with 401k-equivalent option for further retirement.
7. Healthcare: within Medicare system.
8. All laws apply to all members of House and Senate.
9. Reduce in-session terms to 3 months in the fall, 3 months in the spring. The rest of the time House and Senate members are to be in their Districts, meeting with constituents.
CORRECTION:
9. Reduce session to 3 months a year, split evenly between 1.5 months in the Spring and 1.5 months in the Fall. Emergency sessions to be called only in cases of national emergency (natural disaster or threat-of-war).
I agree.
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