A Housecleaning Checklist

Whenever I do a major housecleaning, I find it useful to use a checklist, so I don't forget anything.  Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their cleanup crews may have already begun this; I just wanted to throw my $.02 in just in case they might have left something off their lists.

Supplies Needed:  rubber gloves, all-purpose disinfectant, air freshener, buckets, sponges, broom, mop, garbage bags, coffee (extra strong), Excedrin, throat lozenges, eye drops, Kleenex (or crying towels for Republicans).

Most of the things at the beginning of this list were on Nancy Pelosi's "drain the swamp" list; It is always best to start with the easy things first, so let's begin...

1.    Raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.

2.    Repeal Bush tax cuts for people who make over $250,000.

3.    Broaden the types of stem cell research allowed with federal funds.

4.    Put new rules in place to "break the link between lobbyists and legislation."

5.    Enact all the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

6.    Cut the interest rate on student loans in half.

7.    Set new rules that allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients. (Consider repealing or rewriting the Bush drug company "benefit" plan).

8.    Raise fuel economy (CAFÉ) standards for all future automobiles and trucks.  Increase tax breaks on hybrids and alternate fuel vehicles.  

9.    Reform Social Security by eliminating the ceiling on payments so people earning over $100,000 a year pay the same percent of their income as everyone else.

10.     Set up committees and investigations to deal with the more messy issues, including Iraq, GITMO, Terrorism, Immigration, Spying, Katrina, Energy, Global warming, Health insurance

  Iraq investigations to include:
-    pre-war intelligence
-    American troops sent into battle without adequate equipment.
-    What happened to the missing money (at least $45 billion)?
-    Why no-bid contracts?
-    Where were the plans for the aftermath?
-    A plan to get out.

   GITMO/torture  investigations
-    The Taguba Report and findings
-    CIA Renditions
-    Trials and tribunals for  prisoners at GITMO
-    Torture - memos and regulations

   Terrorism
-      DHS and FBI plans to deal with future attacks
-      Implementing the 9/11 Report recommendations

   Spying and Intelligence
-      The Patriot Act
-      The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) must be re-implemented.

   Katrina and the rebuilding of New Orleans
-    The government response
-    No-bid contracts
-    "Brownie" and other officials
-    The rebuilding plan

   Energy - Plans for the Future
-  An investigation into the Cheney Energy Task Force
-   The KOS group Energize America plan, written up by Jerome a Paris has many excellent suggestions.

   Global Warming
-    The censoring of scientific evidence
-    New initiatives needed to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions

   Health Insurance
-     Everyone in a rich country like the US should have access to affordable health care
-      Fix the disastrous Medicare Part D    

Whew, what a horrible mess to clean up.  I'm sure I've left out many important things.  And of course, many of the investigations may lead to other more in-depth investigations including the grounds for an Impeachment investigation.  But, one step at a time.....