Pat Dollard

Commentary transcript from my Local talk radio station

The following is a KSCO commentary. Here is Kay Zwerling:

Only an entrenched irresponsible Congress urged by an irresponsible President would vote into law an irresponsible healthcare reform Bill of over 2000 pages, which nobody in Congress read before voting for it, and which will bankrupt and destroy our Country.

We the People must finally demand term limits.

Last week, local resident Bob Lessley, offered creative sensible ideas about changes in our government focusing on term limits and States’ rights.

Now, another concerned citizen who believes States’ rights and term limits are a must, came up with other creative ideas, calling it “The Congressional Reform Act of 2009”.

So, let’s examine the ideas in this Reform Act, and maybe a groundswell of citizens will get started on Congressional changes from both of these Americans’ ideas.

Senators could introduce the Bill in the U.S. Senate, and Representatives could introduce a similar Bill in the U.S. House. These people could become American heroes.

These ideas are from a modest fellow who calls himself merely “A fellow American”.

And, here are his eight concise reforms:

#1. Term limits: 12 years only for each person in office. I would limit it to six years per person for the Senate, and six years per person for the House, because serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term, then go home and back to work.

#2. No tenure – no pension.
Congress will collect a salary while in office, and none when out of office.

#3. Congress past, present, and future participate in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system where Congress participates equally with the American people.

#4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as we all do.

#5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

#6. Congress loses their current healthcare system (poor babies), and participates in the same healthcare system as they created for We the People.

#7. Congress must equally abide in and by all laws they impose on the on the rest of us.

Remember: Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term, then go home and back to work.

And, finally –

#8. All contracts with past and present Congresspersons are void effective 1-01-2010 because the American people did not make contracts with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts and deals among themselves.

P.S. – Let’s limit lawyers to no more than 15-20% of the Congressional membership.