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REVISIT: GOP lawmaker seeks 'virtual Congress' with telecommuting plan
thehill.com ^ | March 22, 2013 | Jennifer Martinez

Posted on 01/23/2019 1:31:16 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com

Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) wants to create a "virtual Congress," where lawmakers would leverage videoconferencing and other remote work technology to conduct their daily duties in Washington from their home districts. Under a resolution Pearce introduced on Thursday, lawmakers would be able to hold hearings, debate and vote on legislation virtually from their district offices.

"Thanks to modern technology, members of Congress can debate, vote, and carry out their constitutional duties without having to leave the accountability and personal contact of their congressional districts. Keeping legislators closer to the people we represent would pull back Washington's curtain and allow constituents to see and feel, first-hand, their government at work," Pearce told The Hill in a statement.

"Corporations and government agencies use remote work technology; it’s time that Congress does the same," the New Mexico Republican said. He introduced the same resolution during the last congressional session. https://thehill.com/policy/technology/289947-republican-proposes-letting-lawmakers-work-from-home https://thehill.com/policy/technology/289947-republican-proposes-letting-lawmakers-work-from-home

Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) "virtual Congress" creation.

SAVE THE NATION SAVE THE NATIONAL BUDGET: SAVE THE ECONOMY

SEND SENATORS & REPRESENTATIVES HOME!!!! Amber S. Owner of (973) 620-1504


TOPICS: Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 01/23/2019 1:31:16 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

IDEA:
CREATE VIRTUAL CONGRESS TO STOP WITH BUSINESS AS USUAL WITH TELECOMMUTING PLAN
Close Capitol Staff Buildings and other government properties in DC. Monies generated from sale and eliminated maintenance designated to national treasury.

DONATE Capitol Bldg to Smithsonian to be used only for Inauguration, State of the Union or to declare war.
Mandate agencies be combined in 2 office buildings with other unused properties sold or developed to be used: house homeless veterans, retirement or skilled care condominiums or federally subsidized housing for welfare recipients and enlarge Arlington Cemetery.

NOTE: Federal agencies own nearly half a million buildings, occupying 3.3 billion square feet. “The buildings alone represent enough space to fit 1.4 million average-sized new American homes.A 2009 government report by the Federal Real Property Council indicates that the agencies themselves don’t even know how to use that much space. Of the 429,000 federal buildings, about 11 percent were underutilized in 2009. The definition for under-utilization varies by building type, but the data indicates that 15 percent to 50 percent of the underutilized buildings’ capacity is simply not being used. Even more egregious, about 2.4 percent of federal buildings — more than 10,000 — are designated as excess buildings, which means they have been “formally identified as having no further program use.”

FEDERAL WASTE: buildings generate real operation and maintenance costs. In 2009 alone, the cost of maintaining federal excess buildings was $134 million, and the operating cost of underutilized buildings was $1.7 billion. The additional waste associated with the unused capacity of underutilized buildings is between $250 and $830 million YEARLY!
https://www.aei.org/publication/the-governments-property-bloat/

COLLATERAL SAVINGS:
1. Little to no transportation per Representative/Senator.
2. Hold town hall meetings every Monday throughout own state.
3. Use of electronic communication for voting, committee meetings, etc. open to Sunshine Laws
4. No need for Senator & Representative duplication of housing, offices, staff
5. More environmental ‘friendly’ reducing: paper waste, reduction electricity,
6. Eliminate Congressional travel expense.
7. One-Third of Federal Government less vulnerable to Washington D.C. terrorist attack

POLITICAL BENEFITS:
1. Reduce lobbyists control over government
2. Representatives/Senators more responsive to their constituents
3. Increase accountability while reducing moral temptations for Representatives/Senators
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/289947-republican-proposes-letting-lawmakers-work-from-home


2 posted on 01/23/2019 1:31:53 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

I am always fearful of major change in the legislative process but there is one big advantage with this. it would help prevent congressmen becoming a part of the Washington social scene and hopefully influence the rep to think of there local district rather then the national DC political party when dealing with legislative maters


3 posted on 01/23/2019 1:44:38 AM PST by PCPOET7
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

In an odd way I kind of like this. Take them out of the swamp they might become human beings again. They might actually listen to constituents. The lobbyists will have a looser grip, and parties would be less relevant.


4 posted on 01/23/2019 1:45:43 AM PST by monkeyshine
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To: monkeyshine

It’s a good idea, but I doubt that you can find more than fifty Republicans and Democrats who’d support the idea.

I always felt that some rule should be put into play that mandated you had to go and live out of your district sixty days of the year. Same for Senators....that they’d have to return and live in the state for that time-period.


5 posted on 01/23/2019 1:48:37 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

https://www.aei.org/publication/the-governments-property-bloat/?fbclid=IwAR1cssaGt-KEw2k1faKFsbx-Gl2Hj62O4B69hNyuFAOjQoZGCDuksGtHNGs


6 posted on 01/23/2019 2:03:52 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

The government’s property bloat
https://www.aei.org/publication/the-governments-property-bloat/?fbclid=IwAR1cssaGt-KEw2k1faKFsbx-Gl2Hj62O4B69hNyuFAOjQoZGCDuksGtHNGs


7 posted on 01/23/2019 2:04:56 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Overdoe. And the lobbyists? They’ll have nowhere to go.


8 posted on 01/23/2019 2:08:21 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

That’s the best part


9 posted on 01/23/2019 2:08:57 AM PST by RightGeek (FUBO and the donkey you rode in on)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

This is a great idea!

But, the Left will not agree. The Left are notorious for being group, tribal people.

One of the things I admire about conservatives is their standard of individualism. The Left does not believe in thinking and then performing as ONE person.

They behave in “packs,” never alone, always with the blanket security of more than person. That’s why they are truly pathetic.

If they had to think and work alone...they would not survive.


10 posted on 01/23/2019 2:30:22 AM PST by Maris Crane
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To: pepsionice

I doubt it too. Especially Senators. They get lots of perks. Congresspeople are kind-of underpaid considering they have to have a DC residence. They are paid well compared to average Americans but many of them bunk together to save money, and the cost in time, stress and money to fly back and forth adds up especially the west coast reps, Alaska and Hawaii.


11 posted on 01/23/2019 2:39:36 AM PST by monkeyshine
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To: PCPOET7

This is exactly what should happen. Let them come to Washington for a finite number of ‘sessions’ per year. This, and very, very strict term limits. Do away entirely with career politicians.


12 posted on 01/23/2019 3:10:54 AM PST by neverevergiveup
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

I have long-thought that this would be an excellent remedy to decentralize or un-groupthink our legislature .... and possibly the ‘deep-state as well.


13 posted on 01/23/2019 3:17:06 AM PST by teppe
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To: pepsionice

K Street will never give them permission.

The Congress Critters need to be firm seated at the feet of the throne of lobby.


14 posted on 01/23/2019 3:19:28 AM PST by Redleg Duke (Disarming Liberals...Real Common Sense Gun Control!)
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To: DIRTYSECRET

Overdoe. And the lobbyists? They’ll have nowhere to go.

Hmm. I didn’t think of that aspect. That alone would be a big plus.


15 posted on 01/23/2019 3:34:30 AM PST by Flick Lives
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

I have posted many times to say that this should be how Congress operates, but I had no idea that it had already been proposed.

Stockholm syndrome is such a huge problem—it may be the primary reason we have so many rinos. In addition, we cannot know who is susceptible to Stockholm syndrome before electing them. If they would telework from their home districts, they would be somewhat insulated from developing Stockholm syndrome. Furthermore, with today’s technology, there is no reason to keep them in DC.


16 posted on 01/23/2019 3:55:57 AM PST by exDemMom (Current visual of the hole the US continues to dig itself into: http://www.usdebtclock.org/)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Because they don’t spend enough time not working...


17 posted on 01/23/2019 4:00:37 AM PST by DoodleDawg
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No.

Unless the Capitol building and all its offices are sold and the goverment is completely divested of its expense.

I have seen telecommuter output in several companies I contracted with. It is not a productive environment. Floating schedules are a better alternative.

Spreading out the K street lobbiests is an interestimg thought though.


18 posted on 01/23/2019 4:02:59 AM PST by Clutch Martin (The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed it wright.)
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To: UMCRevMom@aol.com

Opens the door for some really creative hacking ...


19 posted on 01/23/2019 4:03:45 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: PIF

22 Jan: Breitbart: Pompeo Celebrates Death of Globalism at Davos Speech: ‘Nations Matter’
by Frances Martel
“Over the past few years, all around the world, voters have tuned out politicians and political alliances that they thought weren’t representing their interests,” Pompeo told the crowd ***via satellite from Washington, DC...
https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2019/01/22/pompeo-davos-nations-matter/


20 posted on 01/23/2019 4:08:08 AM PST by MAGAthon
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