Michael F.Bennet

Reforming Washington

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• Reforming%20Washington With the U S Senate paralyzed by partisan gridlock that has all but upended efforts to make real progress for the American people I have introduced a sweeping set of legislative reforms that will help fix the worst parts of a broken Washington The Plan for Washington Reform will limit increases in salaries of Members of Congress end Federal health insurance benefits for Members of Congress until they have passed health insurance reform usher in sweeping changes that will limit Members of Congress and their staffs from becoming lobbyists institute reform that will provide more transparency and accountability in the earmarking process reform the filibuster rule in a responsible and practical way and implement new rules for campaign finance Specifically the Plan for Washington Reform would Salaries Spending and Perks bull Freeze congressional member pay until there are 4 quarters of job growth bull Freeze congressional office budgets until there are 4 quarters of job growth bull End Federal health insurance benefits for Members of Congress unless health care reform passes that eliminates discrimination based on pre existing conditions increases coverage doesn t cut guaranteed Medicare benefits and is paid for bull Require Congressional candidates to reimburse in full for the cost of charter jet travel and require disclosure of lobbyists traveling with a Member of Congress on a charter jet Lobbying Reform bull Place a lifetime ban on Members of Congress becoming lobbyists bull Ban congressional staff from lobbying their former boss for 6 years bull Ban former committee staff from lobbying their former boss or any member of the committee who was active during their time on staff for 6 years bull Ban lobbyists from joining congressional staff or committee staff for 6 years bull Require lsquo Substantial Lobbying Entities to report on the former Members of Congress and former Congressional staff that they employ bull Improve web site so that public can better track lobbying bull Enhance maximum fine for violating lobbyist regulations to 500 000 Earmark Reform bull Ban earmarks to private for profit companies and institutions bull Make earmarks transparent Members of Congress must report all earmark requests received and made Earmarks gov to list all earmarks requests sortable by member of Congress bull Hold Members of Congress accountable on earmark requests Earmark requests above 1 million should go before the Appropriations Committee and earmark requests above 5 million must go before the Committee for a public hearing bull Hold earmarks recipients accountable Each year a portion of all earmarks chosen at random will be audited to ensure that taxpayer money is being spent wisely Reform Senate Floor Procedure bull Eliminate anonymous holds bull Require holds to be bipartisan within two days Even bipartisan holds expire in 30 days bull Require 41 Senators to show up to vote in order to block cloture or else it s invoked After 3rd failed cloture vote the minority must find a member of the opposite party or the threshold raises to 45 votes After the 3rd cloture vote if the majority finds support from three members of the minority it raises to 45 votes bull End the filibuster for motions to proceed Campaign Finance Reform bull Support campaign finance legislation to require CEOs to stand by their ads quick disclosure and sunshine rules restrictions on foreign corporations and TARP recipients bull Support constitutional amendment allowing regulation of contributions and expenditures ...
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• With the U S Senate paralyzed by partisan gridlock that has all but upended efforts to make real progress for the American people I have introduced a sweeping set of legislative reforms that will help fix the worst parts of a broken Washington The Plan for Washington Reform will limit increases in salaries of Members of Congress end Federal health insurance benefits for Members of Congress until they have passed health insurance reform usher in sweeping changes that will limit Members of Congress and their staffs from becoming lobbyists institute reform that will provide more transparency and accountability in the earmarking process reform the filibuster rule in a responsible and practical way and implement new rules for campaign finance Specifically the Plan for Washington Reform would Salaries Spending and Perks bull Freeze congressional member pay until there are 4 quarters of job growth bull Freeze congressional office budgets until there are 4 quarters of job growth bull End Federal health insurance benefits for Members of Congress unless health care reform passes that eliminates discrimination based on pre existing conditions increases coverage doesn t cut guaranteed Medicare benefits and is paid for bull Require Congressional candidates to reimburse in full for the cost of charter jet travel and require disclosure of lobbyists traveling with a Member of Congress on a charter jet Lobbying Reform bull Place a lifetime ban on Members of Congress becoming lobbyists bull Ban congressional staff from lobbying their former boss for 6 years bull Ban former committee staff from lobbying their former boss or any member of the committee who was active during their time on staff for 6 years bull Ban lobbyists from joining congressional staff or committee staff for 6 years bull Require lsquo Substantial Lobbying Entities to report on the former Members of Congress and former Congressional staff that they employ bull Improve web site so that public can better track lobbying bull Enhance maximum fine for violating lobbyist regulations to 500 000 Earmark Reform bull Ban earmarks to private for profit companies and institutions bull Make earmarks transparent Members of Congress must report all earmark requests received and made Earmarks gov to list all earmarks requests sortable by member of Congress bull Hold Members of Congress accountable on earmark requests Earmark requests above 1 million should go before the Appropriations Committee and earmark requests above 5 million must go before the Committee for a public hearing bull Hold earmarks recipients accountable Each year a portion of all earmarks chosen at random will be audited to ensure that taxpayer money is being spent wisely Reform Senate Floor Procedure bull Eliminate anonymous holds bull Require holds to be bipartisan within two days Even bipartisan holds expire in 30 days bull Require 41 Senators to show up to vote in order to block cloture or else it s invoked After 3rd failed cloture vote the minority must find a member of the opposite party or the threshold raises to 45 votes After the 3rd cloture vote if the majority finds support from three members of the minority it raises to 45 votes bull End the filibuster for motions to proceed Campaign Finance Reform bull Support campaign finance legislation to require CEOs to stand by their ads quick disclosure and sunshine rules restrictions on foreign corporations and TARP recipients bull Support constitutional amendment allowing regulation of contributions and expenditures ...