The Do Nothing Congress
By Erick Posted in Congress — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Here's a little factoid for your Thursday afternoon.
The 110th Congress has passed 71 bills thus far. 31 of those bills have been signed into law. Of the 31, 17 were to rename federal properties.
(The 71 bills passed, have not all passed both houses, or have not all yet been signed by the President. He has not actually vetoed anything but stem cells)
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Founder and contributor to The Minority Report and Senior writer for The Hinzsight Report
I'd offer them bonuses if they submitted no new laws or any new funding. Maybe even double bonuses if they didn't meet during most of the year. Our laws might not get better, but at least they couldn't make them worse.
I'd offer them bonuses if they submitted no new laws or any new funding. Maybe even double bonuses if they didn't meet during most of the year. Our laws might not get better, but at least they couldn't make them worse.
make them teleconference from their states and efile...
heh
haystack's 12th:
Conservatives (and Presidential Candidates especially) shall offer no aid and comfort to the opposition in times of legislative conflict (and ensuing political campaigns).
That doesn't require an ammendment. Just a President who says "I won't sign any bill, no matter the subject, that is more than 100 pages long, double spaced, 12 point font, 1 inch margins."
Additionally, ONE issue per bill would be allowed. Bills include non-related crap that should be not allowed. One issue per bill. That way we can hold our elected elite accountable for how they vote. No more trying to weasel out by saying they were for or against one particular add-on.
Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you. Washington Elected Elite
limit Congress to meeting in DC for a total of 180 days per session. No elected representatives or staffs in the city beyond 180 days unless in a special session called by the President for a specific reason. I would even go so far as to ban contact on legislative issues among Members when not in formal session.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
I'll guarantee that will reduce their "in session" time.
And they have to physically drive a car back and forth to the Capitol that meets or exceed the current CAFE standards.
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent.
We need to return power back to state/local government. It is much closer to the people and can be restrained much easier.
Why does the Senate take votes by verbal roll call these days? It's slow. They should be sitting at their desks and voting electronically. The worlds greatest deliberative body could get more done. Well. umm maybe we should require each vote to be open for a week or two so they do less!
Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you. Washington Elected Elite
personally mail their vote in, postmarked from the post office nearest their legal residence.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
Require each member of congress to personally handwrite each bill before they can vote on it using a quill and ink. That way they will know the contents before voting.
Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you. Washington Elected Elite
According to Nancy, they have done OODLES with their first 100 days:
They passed the minimum wage! They passed the 9/11 Commission recommendations! They passed the Employee Free Choice act! They tripled funding or SCHIP! They passed legislation giving Vets the biggest increase in health benefits in the 77 year history of the VA! They passed a Hate Crimes bill! They plan to pass even MORE bills...saving the environment, the economy, and the children...c'mon...you're so unfair!
What say? None of them actually became law?
And...that matters to them how?
They ARE the new Direction in America...the Green direction. The Save the Children Direction.
phhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhttttttttttttt!
haystack's 12th:
Conservatives (and Presidential Candidates especially) shall offer no aid and comfort to the opposition in times of legislative conflict (and ensuing political campaigns).
that limits the number of bills that can be offered in a legislative session to, pick a number but 50 sounds about right to me. Note: not PASSED, just submitted. I would also limit the text to, say, 100 pages, letter size paper, 12 point double spaced type with one inch margins all around.
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CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.