IMHO by #PopopThePatriot: Campaign Finance Reform & Term Limits
I don't purport to be an expert in US government and US law, I do however, try to think logically about how the US governement can be made more efficient in serving We The People...and...as always, I have an opinion on the subject.
Hi, I'm Popop, and this is In My Humble Opinion. Year after year, election after election the subject of campaign finance reform and term limits for Congress, among the many other campaign fodder subjects that repeat every cycle. Like I said, I don't purport to be an expert, nor do I have all the answers but maybe someone or some group out there will run across our ideas and the ideas will eventually make it to the right people in the right place at the right time. The answer is always no, unless you ask.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM: IMHO, the first reform for National level elections should be to eliminate the enourmous amount of financial waste that goes into National elections. Remember in 2008 elections when Obama broke the Billion dollar mark? I also recall that campaign breaking records for size of FEC violations. That's another story. In any event, first step is to break the financial cycle and ensure a level playing field for all. There's always that complaint about rich old guys in politics. Well, those rich old guys have all the fundraiser connections. I don't even know where to begin if I wanted to run for office.
Set earning, raising, spending, and payroll caps for every level of office. Local offices have lower budgets than state offices, State Representatives, State Senators, and the budget increases with level of office up to the US President. Setting reasonable limits to all, ensuring there are no loopholes for campaigns to skirt around the regulations...I recall the Obmama fundraising machine accepting credit cards online without requiring any information on the donar's location or even country of origin. But I digress.
CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS: We already know we won't get the current Congress to vote themselves term limits, we'll need to Primary Out (#ProjectPrimary) any incumbant who doesn't promise to vote for term limits. That is a long-term battler we must take on and fight, but, here's something we might be able to work in conjunction to getting term limits passed. Some of these reforms may force out some of those "DC Squatters" as I like to call these career politicians. It may also ensure those who run for office do so out of love of country and desire to make a positive difference, rather than what we have now, a bunch of power-hungry, millionaires who got rich while in elected public office.
Ideally, if terms limits were finally imposed for Representatives and Senators, this is what I would like to see: Total of 12 Years service in US Congress combined.
US Representative:
Standard 2-year terms.
Max three consecutive terms for total of six years consecutive.
After third term, member can run for Senate. If elected, can serve one term.
If member choses not to run for Senate or POTUS, or fails in Senate run, must sit out one 2-year term before running for US Representative again.
US Senator:
Standard 6-year terms.
Max two consecutive terms for total of 12 years consecutive.
Member can run for POTUS or US Representative at any time.
POTUS: In either case, a member can run for POTUS at any time; however, total elected office time served cannot exceed 20 years.
Example: Three term US Representative runs for US Senate, is elected, serves one term (6 years) and now has a total of 12 years service as US Elected official. Member runs for POTUS, is elected and serves two terms. The member now has total of 20 years US Elected Government Service and can retire, similar to how Military 20 year retirement is handled.
Retirement: No retirement income for under 20 years of service. Again, similar to US Military.
Health Insurance & Social Security: No more of this, good enough for thee, but not for me we get from our public servants in DC. All members of Congress and their employees and appointees will be required to pay into Medicare and Social Security, as well as us the PPACA exchange, or TriCare (same as military dependents) for their health insurance options. Any other benefits must be purchased and paid for by the member.
Travel: When traveling between home state/district and DC, members will be reimbursed for basic travel, aka coach. Distances will be assigned. If distance member lives is:
</= X miles: member will drive or use public transportation and submit mileage or receipts for expese reimbursment.
>X but <Y miles: Coach bus fare provided. If member choses to drive, or use other conveyance, difference in cost is member's responsibility.
>Y miles: Coach airfare provided. If member choses to drive, or use other conveyance, difference in cost is member's responsibility.
Residency: Congressional Representatives and Senators must live within their respective districts and states unless Congress is in session. Congressional sessions will be limited in such a manner to ensure elected servants are in their states and districts at least 60% of the year, not counting vacation.
Housing: While Congress is in session, or while any Representative or Senator is to report on the job in the DC area, they will be required to use the Congressional Dormatories. The Congressional Dormatories consist of studio apartments with kitchenett. Members can choose to use their per diem to buy groceries to cook in the dormitory, or use the Congressional Cafeteria, or a combination of the two. However, the per diem is limited to $75/day for meals. Alcoholic beverages are not paid for with per diem.
Freshman Senators and Representatives will be required to stay in the Congressional Dormitories for their first 3 months in office for orientation. They will be assigned a senior Congressperson as a mentor and coach throughout their first year. Ideally, once adaquate Term Limits are in place, any Representative or Senator assigned to Freshman members as a mentor will be a final-term member of the respective House.
The ENTITLED ELITE: Do you see the pattern here? Why does Congress get to be treated like royalty while our brave women and men of the United States Military are living in poverty? While I was Leading Petty Officer at a training squadron, I had to sign welfare forms so my E-4's could get food stamps to buy groceries for his family. Tell me that isn't an injustice.
I’m #PopopThePatriot, and that is my humble opinion. Opinions are like, you know, so please let me know yours in the comments below. Follow me on Twitter @im_popop