Congressional Reform Act of 2011

I received this from an old friend and, while I think the idea has real merit, I think it has no chance of passing because both Houses of Congress must pass the proposed amendment before it goes to the states and this will not make it through Congress

BUT

If enough people endorse it, get it to the press, and circulate it through the net, there may be such a message sent to our elected officials that they will straighten out their act. Not one of them is unemployed; they all get an outrageous pension; and many slide in right into lobbyist jobs when they leave office -- and, no matter what their party or political philosophy, they got us into this mess -- so think about it!
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Received Message:

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests"
- Patrick Henry.

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months, 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it.

That was in 1971...before computers, before e-mail, before cell phones, etc. Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took 1 year or less to become the law of the land...all because of public pressure. I'm asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2011

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no congressional related pay or benefits when they are out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates 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, in which Congress will participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans may do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise in conjunction with the CPI or 3%, whichever is lower.

5. Congress loses their current health are system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must themselves be subject to and abide by all laws they impose on the American people, without exception.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12.

The American people did not make these contracts with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so our's should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work. If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people, then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe the time has come.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above,
pass it on. If not, just delete. You are one of my 20+. Please keep it
going.
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johnmac -- obviously people aren't happy!