I think Congress should be brought kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

1. Every bill should be posted on-line in it's final form for 72 hrs before any vote can be taken.

2. The text of every bill should be subject to "version control" the same way software is handled. In order to change the text of the bill, the text would have to be checked out by a specific individual, and checked back in. No more surprise insertion of text by some unknown congressional aide.

3. All earmarks would be tagged with the info indicating who sponsored it, who's district will get the project, and who will get the contract.

I heard a good one....

How about...

Every law must be read aloud, every word of it, before a vote is taken.

The whole dang thing.

Wow, I love all of those suggestions. Should make for some shorter bills.

"Should make for some shorter bills."

Highly doubtful, knowing how our congresscritters like to hear themselves talk...

How bout a mandatory retirement age. How bout, no lawyers allowed in congress. How bout enforcing our existing laws rather than write new ones to be ignored.

Congress is a fricking corrupt laughing stock, both sides of the aisle and Bush is with them.

DC, pathetic.

/spit

I'll be glad to see this happen, even if it makes the Democrats look bad if the GOP pushes it forward.

Of course, it's somewhat to the GOP's advantage to do this right now, because the Democrats have the upper hand in both houses so they're more likely to benefit from earmarks...

Nevertheless, this is one of the many ways that real competition can improve things.

My advice: Go ahead and demagogue this issue so that Obey kills all earmarks! After all, isn't this what our goal should be?

kpu979:

My advice: Go ahead and demagogue this issue so that Obey kills all earmarks! After all, isn't this what our goal should be?

OK and while killing all earmarks disallow all amendments not related in a direct way to the bill itself.

Limit terms to 2 for both houses of Congress, attempt to get another line item veto past the Supreme Court and finally fire them all and start over.

"Minority Leader John Boehner threatened Democratic leaders Tuesday, vowing to slow down legislative activities in the House until Democrats agree to open up earmarking policy so that lawmakers disclose their pet projects earlier in the bill-making process."

So why doesn't Boehner just introduce legislation on his own? I hope no one is holding their breath for this to happen...Like the Dems talking big about cutting off fund for the occupation than backing down...no difference here...
It's all about the money...both side owe more to K Street than they do to us...

As a conservative, one thing that drove me to dispair was the way the Republicans took advantage of K street when they were in power, ceding the high ground on good government.

The Democrats are insulated from these kinds of attacks, for the most part, and the loser is the taxapayer.

I just hope Boehner doesn't start crying......

I've always wondered how so many people get into credit card trouble. Now we know, they are democrats that spend money they don't have and then tell their pardner 'I spent next months or the next six months check's today. Isn't it a little too late and worthless to find out 'where' the money went after it's gone.

That is not demagoguing. This, on the other hand, is:

"He betrayed this country!"

"...you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime--Pol Pot or others--..."

There are a lot more examples. These words appeal to people's emotions. That's what demagoguing is.

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black on this one. The Republicans should be ashamed to show their face in public over what they've done the last 6 years with the budget and earmarks.

I expect absolutely NOTHING to change. It's posturing only.

The MSM is killing one of their own (Obey) in the press over this.

Which tells you they must rrreeeeaaaaalllly hate earmarks.