Posted on 08/06/2011 8:01:51 PM PDT by PizzaDriver
Rather than a Constitutional Amendment, a Simple 1or 2 page Law could inspire much of our Government's needed change in fiscal outlook. The “Sunset Clause, with TEETH” is what makes it!
EXAMPLE:
A Bill to link the Pensions of elected Federal Office holders to this Nation's “Debt Ceiling”
NO elected Federal Office Holder may draw a pension for that Service UNLESS our Nation's “Debt Limit” and actual “National Debt” went DOWN during that term of Service {was lower at the End of said Service, than on the Day of his/her swearing in.}
ANY future Bill, or other attempt,to alter, amend or replace this Bill ONCE ENACTED must NOT come to a Vote in Either House until Both Houses agree on the exact wording that change.
The Wording of Such Changes and Bills Must be released to the Public and the Media at least 10 [TEN] business days prior to any vote and 100 Days prior to any possible implimentation.
While this Bill IS “Severable” {Federal Courts may do so}; Single Sentences within this Bill are NOT [severable]!
Think about IT!
If our elected ELITE can draw a pension ONLY for lowering the National Debt, will They continue to raise it?
the 10 and 100 day sentence gives teeth to this.
Sounds good! I think some folks run for Congress largely so they can get that outstanding pension plan. Linking that to their particular actions in Congress is a great idea. If they know their OWN money is at risk, maybe they’d be less likely to waste OURS.
Damn great idea.
I am not one to punish the innocent with the guilty.
How about this...
1. Repeal all provisions of the 17th Amendment, and return selection of US Senators to the various State Legislatures. (If your State can’t select a Senator, the YOU have a problem with YOUR State Legislature). This would effectively remove millions of dollars from the reelection campaigns of all US Senators, and make them answerable to the several State Legislatures instead of the two National political parties.
2. Make it US Law that you may not spend more than $10,000 for any campaign for the US House of Representatives.
3. Remove all Senators and Representatives from all eligibility for any kind of Federal pension, or retirement benefits of any sort.
4. Limit the money paid to US Senators and Representatives to actual time served, in the Capitol, actually Legislating, and for reasonable documented expenses. Limit the actual salary paid to legislators $50,000 for Senators and $35,000 for Representatives.
Most of the rules that the House and Senate operate under are self-imposed and extra-Constitutional. Let’s try dealing the States back into the game by returning selection of Senators to the way it was intended, and start running things in Congress the way they were intended in the first place.
The United States was never intended to have a Ruling Class, but that is exactly what we have created in Congress. Time to start over.
bttt
The last person that campaigned on a sunset law was Jimmuh Carter, you sure we want to go there?{:-)
Yes, then the same for state and local governments.
It’s one thing for your statute to withstand constitutional challenges - but a more recently passed statute overrides an older statute. That is why all previous debt solutions have failed. There may be a plan to cut 200 billion over 10 years but when the next Congress authorizes and appropriates new spending of course that law is invalidated.
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