SAVE Award 2011 Legislative Branch

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." John F. Kennedy
Today I made a purchase at J.C. Pennies and the cashier asked if I would like to round up my purchase from $23.37 to $24 and donate .63 cents towards a charity they participate in. If a voluntary tax program was established which would be offered on every consumer purchase, the American people... more »

stop federal employees from using thier government issued credit cards to buy hunting supplies, such as $250.00 camo cold weather boots, sleeping bags,gloves, earmuffs and other things associated with hunting. Make IG do thier jobs and stop sittling on cases.

I have worked with the Federal Government as a civilian specialist (USFS, BLM, USGS, etc.)and, for the government as an employee. There were times in the past where an agency had more to do than it could handle, however, with shrinking budgets, technology innovation, etc.,it really is possible to do more with less. Example. USFS using horses to see land that needs management vs. Google Earth from a desktop.

I'm... more »

I believe that both the House and Senate should be accountible for the laws that hurt or take away from the U.S. People. If they get a law passed and it destroys U.S. Citizens income or help with Healthcare, the they should forfit some of their income to make up the difference. I also believe that the House and Senate should not have control over their own raises. This should be a U.S. Citizen vote by the entire Country.... more »

Every time I see Congress with printed poster boards to make a point, I am disgusted by the waste of not only money to print, but also the enormous environmental impact. If they had overhead projectors instead to make their point with virtual slides, a lot of money and trees could be saved.

Congressional Reform

1. Term Limits. 10 years only, one of the possible options below:
A. One Six-year Senate terms
B.Two Two-year House terms
C. Five two-Year House terms

2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement... more »

For every day beyond September 30th that the Government Budget is not approved, all Congress members (House and Senate) will lose a day’s pay without the ability to re-gain that pay. In any other job, individuals are required to make decisions and stick to deadlines. Because of our House and Senates inability to come to a resolution on the budget in a timely manner, often waiting until the last day or two to implement... more »

The idea that reducing printing on ink and paper is not a bad idea however to do so only to have the items taken from digital media and then mass produced at the Offices of Goverment where needed would only serve to blow the cost out at no less than five times what GPO would have produced said doc's in the first place. Knee jerk solutions generally aren't prudent........Haste makes waste. We at gpo are constantly innovating... more »

Fire every member of Congress, or, at least have them take a cut in pay/benefits or be furloughed every other week. More would get done than does with Congress in session. Don't we have an anti-bully campaign going? How can the Tea Party hold this nation hostage?

The Office of the Federal Register by regulation sends up to 300 free copies of the CFRs to every federal agency, many of the CFR copies are simply recycled. Make agencies pay for what they order.

Make a rule that money cannot be borrowed to provide foreign countries funds to rebuild their hostoric buildings.

 

A second idea is to reduce federal Offices by half with consolidation.

Take away Congress pay until they resolve the debt. Thereafter, tie Congress salaries to their approval ratings. End the lifetime pay and bennies. Living in an ivory tower has put Congress out of touch with reality.

Congressmen and Senators are paid far too much for what they produce, which is next to nothing. Cut their salaries by 50% and completely take away pention/retirement pay after ANY number of years served. Theirs is a civil service job, not one meant to make you rich, which it does to the most corrupt of political leaders, the ones in high office.

Limit the leasing of vehicles for all Legislators and their Staffs to vehicles who have a final assembly point in the USA with a content of 60% of components made in the USA. Furthermore limit the monthly charge for each vehicle leased to $500 per month to be indexed for inflation.

Stop providing duplicate Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits to Non Service Connected Veterans. This new initiative would be similar to the program now in effect between the Department of Defense and the Veterans Affairs for military retirees.

Social Security Benefits are a duplicate for Non Service Connected Pensions. The Non Service Connected Pension Benefits is for a veteran that was not injured or... more »