Toward a More Perfect Union: A Prescriptive Approach — Congress
Congress
Although it could be argued that term limits would remove good legislators who ought to be allowed to remain, experience has shown that almost all long-standing members of congress are overly protective of their privilege and reelection. Since we have limited the President to two terms, there is no compelling reason not to do the same for members of congress. For senators, two terms (12 years) should be sufficient, and for house members the maximum should be six terms (12 years.)
This would require a Constitutional Amendment like the 22nd.
Salaries are another issue. Currently, congress approves (and hardly ever rejects) its own pay raises. Such decisions should not be in the hands of the recipients, but rather decided on by either (a) popular referendums, or (b) federal judicial decisions. In a democratic society, the first option would be preferable, though harder to administer. The amount of wealth controlled by a given member should also be taken into consideration, with the wealthier members receiving lower salaries.
Connected to the salary issue is the retirement pay issue. Too many ex-congresspeople who have done little to help their constituents are living very well on their retirement income. Even those who have done good in congress are offered benefits way out of proportion to their time in service. In order that these people are responsive to our needs, they should be required to accept the same retirement benefits as the rest of us; i.e. a modest pension during retirement and social security. (While we’re on the subject, they should also be required to accept the same health care provisions that the rest of us enjoy; i.e. ACA or Medicare.)
Ethical issues, such as receipt of bribes and gifts, should have constant oversight and severe limits on what is acceptable. Such limits need to be spelled out in law rather than in general practice. All gifts and other receipts must be recorded publicly. Additionally, to inhibit the feathering of one’s own nest, truly blind trusts should be required for all members of congress who have outside or private sources of wealth beyond personal savings. Such trusts and the trustees will be subject to periodic, random and unannounced auditing by a properly-established ethical office whose members are appointed by the attorney general (and not the president), confirmed by the senate, but are independent of each and not subject to capricious firing. Alternatively, members of an ethical oversight committee could be subject to periodic elections on the national ballot, probably during years that are not Presidential election years, and – again – not subject to the whims of the President. Another alternative would be to use an Inspector General chosen by congress.
The majority rule that exists in both Houses makes it nearly impossible for the minority party to introduce legislation, to force roll call votes on a measure, to subpoena witnesses in committee hearings, or to accomplish anything meaningful. Such rules give virtual veto power to the Senate Majority Leader and to the Speaker of the House on any issue or legislation they may oppose. The ability to bring supreme court nominations to a vote should be included in this rule change; we would then avoid the debacle of one partisan majority leader blocking a good nominee for nearly a year so that a terrible one could be installed under a new administration. Otherwise, what we have is authoritarianism and a kakistocracy, not democracy. We need to allow majority rule in voting, but not in the introduction of legislation, nor in the calling for a vote. This way, members of congress will be forced to own their own votes rather than hiding behind a leader who will not introduce controversial legislation. Moreover, these rules are not spelled out in the Constitution and can be changed without amendments.
In fact, if we change nothing else, changing this one rule in congress – to empower the minority party – would help immensely.
Continued in Part 5 — President & DOJ
Other options:
Return to Part 1 — Prologue
Return to Part 2 — Voting & Election Issues
Return to Part 3 — Gerrymandering & Courts
Go to Part 6 — Campaign Financing
Go to Part 7 — Lying and Ethics
Go to Part 8 — Sexism and LGBT
Go to Part 9 — Abortion & Church/State
Go to Part 10 — Guns
Go to Part 11 — Healthcare & VA
Go to Part 12 — Big Pharma
Go to Part 13 — Environment
Go to Part 14 — Energy
Go to Part 15 — Education
Go to Part 16 — Economics
Go to Part 17 — Unions, Safety Net
Go to Part 18 — Homelessness
Go to Part 19 — Trade, Tariffs
Go to Part 20 — Media
Go to Part 21 — War, National Security
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Above is the fourth of numerous submissions wherein I suggest ways our country, our government, and the world can be made better. I am an old fart in my 70’s and have seen much: the turmoil of the 1960’s; Vietnam (where I served as an infantry officer and was awarded a purple heart and other medals); the anti-Vietnam protests (in which I participated while still in uniform); Watergate, the rise of the right wing attack on the poor and powerless during and after the Reagan years; the continued wars in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan and pretty much everywhere else; the Clinton years, the invasion of Iraq in 2002 and the never-ending war since, the brief glow of sunshine during the Obama years, and now Trump. While my dog in this fight is getting long in the tooth, I still deeply care about three things: my country, my country’s honor, and the future we leave to our descendants. My personal history, other than military service, includes college teaching, computer support, hospital IT supervision, consulting, and now — in my retirement — substitute teaching.
I make my recommendations in all seriousness, recognizing that most of them are not immediately attainable. Nevertheless, if we elect people who share our values as our representatives at all levels of government, we can accomplish much.