my 2 point reform plan

[RedRocco]

it's simple really

1) outlaw lobbying, and call it what it is... bribery
2) limit all Representatives pay to the median income of their district

[mandyky]

1. When you say lobbying, you mean professional lobbying, right?

Citizens should be able to lobby their reps, not by bribery but for the fact they are a constituent.

And an additional lobbying aspect - former respresentatives should not be able to become lobbyists for 5 to 10 years after leaving Congress.

[RedRocco]

4. yes I meant pro-lobbying

after all the "average" citizen cant afford to pay for a "fact finding junket" to bermuda, or superbowl tickets, etc.

and limiting their pay to whatever the median income is for their district will make improving the financial condition of their constituents a priority by linking it to their own.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. 2) limit all Representatives pay to the median income of their district

that would narrow the universe to independently wealthy candidates....

[Birthmark]

3. I don't think you can outlaw lobbying.

However, I think that lobbying can be restricted to those who are actually constituents of a legislator. That would require 485 lobbyists per interest. At least it makes lobbying more expensive.

I think that you'd have better luck limiting ALL Representatives and Senators to the median income of the US.

That said, I basically agree with you.

[Democrats_win]

5. Constitutional amendment: any campaign contribution < 0.1% of income

average for that district. So if the average income in your district is $74,000, any person or group can give the candidate $74.00 and no more. Of course everyone in the district could give $74.00.

Puts democracy back into campaign finance.

[annabanana]

6. they'll need a special stipend

to maintain a residence in the DC area too..
(NOT a cheap place to live. . . but outlawing lobbying might fix some of that)

[RedRocco]

8. why?

what makes reps any better than the people they represent? nobody gives me a "stipend" when I have to work out of town. if they want better housing then they can work to get the median income in their districts up.

[johnaries]

7. How about the 3 E's...

Ethics - DeLay, Frist, Rove, Libby, etc...
Efficiency - reduce waste by increasing efficiency, not cuts.
Effectiveness - no more Katrina and Rita fiascos. eliminate cronyism.