A 2007 Wish List
In a few days, the 110th Congress will convene, and the Democrats will take over that branch of government for the first time in over a decade. The Democrats got control because of a public backlash against the Iraq War and the multiple Republican scandals that came home to roost right before the election. Now the Democrats are faced with fulfilling a whole slew of campaign promises.
Of course, the first item in the agenda has to be completing a budget because the Republicans in the last Congress couldn't/wouldn't get it together enough to finish their own jobs. That will be a great first test for the Democrats, because the last budgets were so bloated that the country is more deeply in debt than it was before Bill Clinton took office. The Democrats have promised reforms in the process, including the 'pay-go' system that requires funding from some source before passing any increases and some control over pork and earmarks. And that will require some serious efforts in terms of a more basic Congressional reform: ethics.
David D. Kirkpatrick took on the issue in an article published in today's NY Times.
Democrats in both chambers are proposing new restrictions on gifts, meals or trips paid for by lobbyists. They say they plan for the first time to require lawmakers to disclose their sponsorship of the pet items known as earmarks that they insert into major bills. House Democrats also want to require members to certify that they will not personally profit from the projects.
Several states, responding to the federal scandals as well as their own statehouse imbroglios, have already adopted more sweeping gift and travel bans, broader measures to end the central role of lobbyists or government contractors in financing campaigns and new public campaign financing intended to reduce lawmakers’ dependence on big donors.
To enforce their rules, about half the states have also created independent ethics watchdogs, outside the control of the lawmakers they police — something federal lawmakers have so far resisted. House Democrats recently said they would create a panel to study the idea.
The states are indeed far ahead of the federal government on this issue, as they have been on multiple other issues. It might be unfair to chastise the Democrats for not being bolder because they haven't actually started on the job, but it is clear that for all their promises, the plans put forth so far are at best a timid beginning. Still, it is a beginning. Hopefully this will be the year that Americans start taking some responsibility for their own governance by making it clear that they want the big money and graft offered by lobbyists and large organizations (big business and big labor) out of the picture by letting their congressional representatives know how they feel on the issue by phone, fax, letter, and email.
But that's only one item on the agenda.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised immediate action on several other items in her "First Hundred Hours" document. The minimum wage should be raised. The government should be forced to negotiate with the drug industry for lower prescription charges under the Medicare Part D plan. OK, I think both are fine goals, and I think they can be accomplished quickly.
Senator Barbara Boxer promised that her committee on the environment will be pushing forward on issues such as Global Warming and the National Park system. While she's at it, I hope she also comes up with some solid plans for alternative energy sources and some way of funding research into the development of clean and safe energy that does not rely on building more nuclear power plants.
New committee chairs in both houses have promised extensive investigations into the administration's actions over the past six years, including leading us into war with Iraq and leading us away from the consitutional protections that have served us so well. Fine, and while those committees are investigating the malfeasance, they should also undo some of the damage. I want them to revisit the Military Commissions Act so that they can restore the right to habeas corpus. I want the NSA and all the other acronymic security agencies put on a leash so that the First and Fourth Amendments are once again the law of the land. I want an end to torture and extraordinary renditions as tools in our armament. I want the Geneva Conventions, which we signed, honored as law.
This is only a partial list of the items that need to be on the agenda for the 110th Congress. It is, after all, 5:00 AM on New Year's Day that I'm composing this. Over the coming days, weeks, and months I will be adding to the list.
In the mean time, those of you who are so inclined are more than welcome to add to the list via the comments section. Have at it.
Of course, the first item in the agenda has to be completing a budget because the Republicans in the last Congress couldn't/wouldn't get it together enough to finish their own jobs. That will be a great first test for the Democrats, because the last budgets were so bloated that the country is more deeply in debt than it was before Bill Clinton took office. The Democrats have promised reforms in the process, including the 'pay-go' system that requires funding from some source before passing any increases and some control over pork and earmarks. And that will require some serious efforts in terms of a more basic Congressional reform: ethics.
David D. Kirkpatrick took on the issue in an article published in today's NY Times.
Democrats in both chambers are proposing new restrictions on gifts, meals or trips paid for by lobbyists. They say they plan for the first time to require lawmakers to disclose their sponsorship of the pet items known as earmarks that they insert into major bills. House Democrats also want to require members to certify that they will not personally profit from the projects.
Several states, responding to the federal scandals as well as their own statehouse imbroglios, have already adopted more sweeping gift and travel bans, broader measures to end the central role of lobbyists or government contractors in financing campaigns and new public campaign financing intended to reduce lawmakers’ dependence on big donors.
To enforce their rules, about half the states have also created independent ethics watchdogs, outside the control of the lawmakers they police — something federal lawmakers have so far resisted. House Democrats recently said they would create a panel to study the idea.
The states are indeed far ahead of the federal government on this issue, as they have been on multiple other issues. It might be unfair to chastise the Democrats for not being bolder because they haven't actually started on the job, but it is clear that for all their promises, the plans put forth so far are at best a timid beginning. Still, it is a beginning. Hopefully this will be the year that Americans start taking some responsibility for their own governance by making it clear that they want the big money and graft offered by lobbyists and large organizations (big business and big labor) out of the picture by letting their congressional representatives know how they feel on the issue by phone, fax, letter, and email.
But that's only one item on the agenda.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised immediate action on several other items in her "First Hundred Hours" document. The minimum wage should be raised. The government should be forced to negotiate with the drug industry for lower prescription charges under the Medicare Part D plan. OK, I think both are fine goals, and I think they can be accomplished quickly.
Senator Barbara Boxer promised that her committee on the environment will be pushing forward on issues such as Global Warming and the National Park system. While she's at it, I hope she also comes up with some solid plans for alternative energy sources and some way of funding research into the development of clean and safe energy that does not rely on building more nuclear power plants.
New committee chairs in both houses have promised extensive investigations into the administration's actions over the past six years, including leading us into war with Iraq and leading us away from the consitutional protections that have served us so well. Fine, and while those committees are investigating the malfeasance, they should also undo some of the damage. I want them to revisit the Military Commissions Act so that they can restore the right to habeas corpus. I want the NSA and all the other acronymic security agencies put on a leash so that the First and Fourth Amendments are once again the law of the land. I want an end to torture and extraordinary renditions as tools in our armament. I want the Geneva Conventions, which we signed, honored as law.
This is only a partial list of the items that need to be on the agenda for the 110th Congress. It is, after all, 5:00 AM on New Year's Day that I'm composing this. Over the coming days, weeks, and months I will be adding to the list.
In the mean time, those of you who are so inclined are more than welcome to add to the list via the comments section. Have at it.
Labels: 110th Congress
posted by Diane at 9:12 AM
3 Comments:
I think we desparately need to reform campaign finance.
The money feed to media is creating the great sucking-sound that is our civil interests circling the drain.
Special interests are having it both ways. They get to buy-in to a candidate in a myriad of formats (some controlled and some not) as do deep pocketed individuals.
Plus we have a media increasingly being consolidated-incorporated which are (READ STOCKHOLDER) in receivership of the great bounty that comes from election-war one-up-manship advertising. A sick, viscious circle.
Both limiting contributions (legally but IMO improperly defended as money=speech) and forcing air-wave media to give over free time as public service will be two starting points.
Can what advantages incumbents and otherwise popular politicians be said to disadvantage those they serve or hope to serve?
I want my goddamn habeas corpus back and I want it back right now.
I want serious action (not a few tax credits here and there) on global warming.
I want women's right to choose to be protected and if, Goddess forfend, Justice Stevens dies, I want another liberal on the court.
And, I would like an excess salary tax on compensation above the $1 million/year level.
They should do nothing. I need these issues to run on.
However, they could pass a law regarding Congressional authorizations of military action that would lead to certain automatic actions everytime Congress authorizes the President to use military force or declares war. These would include automatic rationing and price freezes. All people between 18 and 50 would have to report to military posts for training at regular intervals and possible activation for needed military or civilian programs. It would be illegal to cancel any insurance policy and all policies would remain in effect, automatically renewed, until the end of the military conflict. Certain industries would be redirected to military production and no workers would be able to be fired or retire without government approval and review. Airlines would have to cancel flights so that their aircraft are always available for government use during the crisis.
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