8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 29, 31
8. Revolving door policy: Legislators shall have a cooling off period, equal to one half of the time spent in office, between the time when they leave office, and when they can become eligible to lobby or take positions or compensation from regulatory agencies, banks, big business or any other entity within reach of their former influence.
9. Insider Trading: Congress shall not be exempted from any federal law prohibiting insider trading.
12. Congressional retirement plans: Congress shall purchase their own retirement plans just as all citizens.
13. Salaries: Congress shall not be allowed to vote on congressional pay raises. Congressional salaries shall rise by the lower of the Consumer Price Index [CPI] or 3%.
14. No separate health system: Congress shall not have a separate health care system than that available to the people.
15. Equal under the Law: Congress must equally abide by all laws it imposes on the people.
16. Balance the budget: The members of the California legislature shall be held accountable by operation of law to balance the budget, or enact legislation [such as Proposition 30] to balance the budget on a timely basis each year.
17. Gerrymandering: Congressional Districts shall be mapped using neutral criteria according to physical or historical boundaries, and not to preserve one political party’s dominance over another.
28. Ninety day apprenticeship for incoming elected officials: I advocate that the newly elected shall not be required to wait until November to take part in the running of government business, and that they shall be required to effectively work within the office of the previous administration for 30 to 90 days in order to learn how that business is operated. That is the way the way the proper and efficient transfer of leadership is handled in the business world, and it should be no different by comparison to the running of government business.
29. Increase salaries of the Senate and Congress: Salaries should be increased so that they are commensurate with the salaries of CEO's and COO's handling similar jobs in the private sector. It is much easier to attract executive officials if their salaries are in line with the business world. It makes the seat more attractive to better qualified executives. Also, it would prevent temptation.
However, such an increase in salaries should be voted on by the public as an incentive for past good work only once we clean up the mess that past and current legislators have made. In other words, our current Congress, as far as I am concerned the worst Congress in the history of the United States, should probably not even be paid one more dime. In fact, a number of them ought to be prosecuted.
However, to attract more competent legislators and reduce the temptation to engage in graft, the salaries of legislators should eventually by raised until they are commensurate with the salaries of executives handling jobs of similar scope. A new tax system that eliminates ambiguities for the wealthy tax free aristocracies and requires billionaire tax dodgers to pay their fair share could be the source of such pay increases as voted on by the people for legislatures that prove themselves by enacting straightforward legislation.
30. Increase salaries of police officers, sheriffs and certain similar public servants: Salaries of police and sheriffs officers should be increased once they have received appropriate college level degrees with approved courses in psychology and how to deal with people, or have completed other approved training. Higher salaries make it easier to attract better qualified personnel. Also, it prevents temptation. A new tax system that eliminates ambiguities for the wealthy tax free aristocracies and requires billionaire tax dodgers to pay their fair share could be the source of such pay increases.
31. Increase salaries of California judges and justices: Salaries of California judges and justices presiding over the case load heavy and cash strapped courts should be increased to attract a wider range of executive caliber magistrates. Also, it would prevent temptation. A new tax system that eliminates ambiguities for the wealthy tax free aristocracies and requires billionaire tax dodgers to pay their fair share could be the source of such pay increases.
36. Term Extensions and Limits: A two year term for Congress is not an adequate amount of time to get the job done, because a person elected to Congress has to start right away raising money to become elected again. I would propose extending the terms for the Congress, Senate and the Presidency to five years. However I am inclined to advocate limits requiring 10 years in office only, under one of the following options: (a) Two five year Senate terms, (b) Two five year House terms, (c) One five year Senate term and one five year House term. I would also consider alternative proposals seeking to achieve a similar reform.
40. Increased coordination of legislature with non-lobbyist experts: Promote the coordination of independently chosen non-lobbyist experts with Congress regarding the issues at hand.
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