Petition to Reform the United States Congress

Petition to Reform the United States Congress

Whereas the members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives do little to represent the Citizens of the United States. They do much to protect their own interests and increase their own power and influence. They have made a very nice deal for themselves including attractive pay and hours, a great pension plan, superb health care plan, with little responsibility or accountability. The appearance is that they are beholden to those that can compensate them for their votes; they are not particularly accountable to their voting constituency. The voting public has the power to reform the United States Congress and hereby propose and adopt the following reforms.

1. Term Limits. Every United States Senator and Member of the House of Representatives shall be limited to a total term of Twelve (12) years only, using one of the possible options below:

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. Every United States Senator and Member of the House of Representatives shall collect a salary while in office and receive no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the extremely generous Congressional retirement fund shall be moved to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. Members of Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress may no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise every two years by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. No Congressional Health Care. Congress loses their current luxury health care system. They can purchase and participates in the same health care system available to the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11. No exceptions.

8. No Lobbying or other government work. All former members of Congress will be prohibited from accepting employment, pay, favors, or other consideration from any U.S. Government agency and shall be prohibited from lobbying any U.S. Government agency or institution on behalf of any private company. It will be a federal crime to employ, pay, or compensate a former member of Congress for any work, influence, lobbying, or other service having to do with the business of any U.S. Government agency or institution.