We all receive emails from friends that exhort us to do this or that, write your Congressman about that or this. I usually pass on most of those emails that fill my inbox and consume my time, but the content of this one caught my eye.

I believe that America has created a political class that has become so entrenched as to fail us when fundamental change is called for in many areas of public policy. This is more the case in the Senate than the House, but it applies to both chambers.

This entrenched political class serves itself first and we, the people second, perhaps third behind the special interests. Elections do not seem to produce the results we need because of the influence of incumbency, perks, special interest money and the voting blocs that often accompany the money.

Here's a prescription for changing this perversity.

.Congressional Reform Act of 2010


1. Term Limits: 12 years only; one of these options:

A. Two Six year Senate terms
B. Six Two year House terms
C. One Six year Senate term and three Two Year House terms

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

2. No Tenure / No Pension:

Congresspersons collect a salary while in office and receive no pay when they are out of office.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators. Serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participate in Social Security:

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system; Congress participates with the American people.

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

4. Congress may purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators. Serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

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


Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators. Serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

6. Congress lose their current health care system and participate in the same health care system as 'we the people'.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators. Serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

7. Congress must equally abide all laws they impose on the American people.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators. Serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/1/11

9.The American people DID NOT make this contract with Congress. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators. Serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.