House Republicans Ignore 80% of the Top Ideas on America Speaking Out
Washington,
Sep 23, 2010 -
“House Republicans are giving Americans a megaphone to speak out, using the best technology available.” - John Boehner
"Through this process, we're going to engage Americans in a way that's never been done and allow them to have a voice in our nation's agenda." – Rep. Kevin McCarthy
Today House Republicans finally unveiled their agenda for the 111th Congress – nearly 22 months after it began. Back in May, House Republicans revealed the America Speaking Out website and asked the American people to log on and help them design their agenda (not their campaign platform, that would be against House rules.) Well, the reviews are in on the House Republican agenda and it’s been panned by both conservatives and progressives – and according to press reports it contains little more than recycled ideas. That’s because Washington Republicans ignored 80% of the top ideas submitted and decided to stick with the same failed Bush-GOP policies that cost us millions of jobs and triggered the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. One of the very top vote getters was stopping the outsourcing of jobs from America, yet Washington Republicans ignored this idea and refused to include it in their agenda. That’s not surprising considering the GOP has repeatedly voted against House Democrats’ efforts to stop Corporations from sending American jobs overseas. Minority Leader John Boehner ended any pretense that the GOP has changed when he said “We’re not going to be any different than we’ve been.” It’s not clear who exactly House Republicans have been listening to for the past four months, it is clear that if you liked the failed economic policies of the last administration, you’re going to love House Republicans’ agenda for the future.
Background:
We took the ideas that received at least 1,000 votes on the America Speaking Out website, examining each of the five sections: American Prosperity, Fiscal Accountability, American Values, National Security and Open Mic. That resulted in 130 ideas. We compared those ideas to the ideas included in the Pledge to America released today. We found 26, or 20 percent, of the top ideas were included in the Pledge. The few chosen ideas are highlighted in red. ***Please note some of these ideas appear more than once because we looked at the number of votes each separate proposal received.
AMERICA SPEAKING OUT IDEAS
http://www.americaspeakingout.com/
AMERICAN PROSPERITY
Job Creation
Stop the outsourcing of jobs from America to other countries that do not pay taxes into the U.S. and stop the tax breaks that are given to these companies that are outsourcing. If there company is in the United States, hire people in the United States. That would create more revenue for the government as the American workers would pay taxes and the companies would be paying taxes to America as well.
4.07K Votes
Let us take a lesson from our past. Hoover ordered the deportation of ALL illegal aliens in order to make jobs available during the Depression. Truman deported over two million illegal aliens after WWII to create jobs and Eisenhower deported 13 million Mexican Nationals so WWII and Korean Veterans would have a better chance at jobs.
4.13K Votes
It is illegal to hire illegal aliens (TITLE 8 > CHAPTER 12 > SUBCHAPTER II > Part VIII > § 1324a). Enforce this federal law to make more jobs available for citizens.
2.87K Votes
RESTORE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY & CONSTITUTIONALLY LIMITED GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON: Create a Blue Ribbon taskforce that engages in a complete audit of federal agencies and programs, assessing their Constitutionality, and identifying duplication, waste, ineffectiveness, and agencies and programs better left for the states or local authorities, or ripe for wholesale reform or elimination due to our efforts to restore limited government consistent with the US Constitution’s meaning.
2.01K Votes
Eliminate tax benefits for US companies that use outsourcing. 2. Increase taxes for US companies that choose to outsource. 3. Provide tax breaks for US companies that hire US workers in industries that typically outsource. 4. Strictly punish industries and companies that are caught employing illegal immigrants. 5. Immigration problems could be significantly reduced if employers found it extremely difficult to hire illegal immigrants and the risk of doing so was severe.
1.71K Votes
We're tired of the "soaring rhetoric" from both sides. We're frustrated with the huge egos that populate the Congress. We're just about exhausted from working so hard to pay our public servants outlandish salaries, impossible perks, and better services than we will ever see. Why is it that the working class must struggle to get by, while our alleged public servants live better lives than most of the people that support them? We're outraged that you folks seem to think more of your "legacy" than of the people who sent you there to safeguard the liberties guaranteed to them by the Constitution. We are exasperated to have to pay for the pensions and healthcare of a millionaire Congress, while seeing our 401k accounts dwindle to .01k accounts. You have taken advantage of your position to turn this country into a two-class society from which only you benefit, while the real producers in this country work themselves to the bone supporting your lavish lifestyle. We're looking for citizen politicians who have the backbone to be the "Party of No" when it's required,. We're looking for honesty, humility, and hard work in those elected to Congress. We're not interested in "how business is done" in Washington, D. C.; we're not even looking for our "fair share", or a "level playing field." We want a better future for ourselves and our posterity, and we can have it if you folks will just leave us alone to work and enjoy the fruit of our labors.
1.67K Votes
Congress should work five days a week year round just like the rest of us. Only non-incumbents should be allowed to campaign.
1.66K Votes
Tax the rich
1.57K Votes
Lawsuit Reform .. prevent the lawyers and Insurance companies from stifling entrepreneurs and small business owners. Small business people in many cases don't even try to build a business idea because the insurance is so costly it's just not doable. Many talented people abandon their chosen professions because of the emotional and financial toll imposed by legal assaults. The lawyers and the insurance companies in this country control and HURT small business people more than taxes!
1.46K Votes
Repeal the absolutely ridiculous law that allows anyone that is born here automatic citizenship. There are underground organizations that keep many hotel rooms and homes available for women in their 8th month so that their child can have dual citizenship. Many foreigners vacation here just in time for baby to be born for that reason only. This is a dumb law.
1.13K Votes
No unrelated spending amendments should be allowed. Too often spending amendments are attached to unrelated bills. If the spending can’t pass on its own, don’t pass it.
1.13K Votes
Make 8 year term limits for Congress and Senate seats. There has been too much power for the same people for too long
1.13K Votes
DO NOT bail out the pension funds of unions. It's bad enough that such a bill is even being considered and even worse that there are Republicans who are supporting it. Union benefits are out of control and under no circumstances should they receive tax dollars.
1.12K Votes
Cut defense spending
1.1K Votes
Prohibit US companies from outsourcing American jobs to foriegn countries.
1.06K Votes
House Republicans are calling on Congress to take the following two actions this month to get Americans working again. First, pass a bill that cuts non-security related government spending for the next year back to FY 2008 levels – before all of the bailouts, government takeovers, and ‘stimulus’ spending sprees began. This would provide the fiscal discipline economists say is needed to promote private-sector job creation and prevent a lame-duck Congress from writing another bloated omnibus spending bill after the November elections. Common sense exceptions should be made for programs affecting seniors, veterans, and national security. Next, enact a two-year freeze on all current tax rates to stop job-killing tax hikes on families and small businesses. This would help ease the uncertainty employers and entrepreneurs are facing so they can get back to creating jobs. While President Obama intends to move forward with his plan to raise taxes on half of small business income in America, House Republicans will continue to fight to permanently stop job-killing tax hikes.
1.01K Votes
Make unemployment eligibility mean "I can’t find a job I am qualified for" and not "I can't find the job I want". If a person is deemed physically fit to work, they should not simply be able to reject a job and get unemployment because it’s not what they want to do. I laid my own sod a few weeks ago and when I returned to the sod farm they asked if I was interested in working there because at $25 per hour, they can't keep people working there. (I have a good well paying job so I didn’t take it) Yes, its hard work but it pays great for a person not already doing anything. I suggested it to someone I know who doesn't currently have a job and is perfectly fit for doing the work, but he just said it would be too hard and prefers being on unemployment. This shouldn't be an option.
1.01K Votes
Energy
REJECT CAP & TRADE: Stop costly new regulations that would increase unemployment, raise consumer prices, and weaken the nation’s global competitiveness with virtually no impact on global temperatures.
1.92K Votes
PASS AN "ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE" ENERGY POLICY: Authorize the exploration of proven energy reserves to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources from unstable countries and reduce regulatory barriers to all other forms of energy creation, lowering prices and creating competition and jobs.
1.26K Votes
Health Care
House Resolution 615: Members of Congress who vote for a government takeover of health care must pledge they will use the health care system they vote for.
2.4K Votes
DEFUND, REPEAL, & REPLACE GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE: Defund, repeal and replace the recently passed government-run health care with a system that actually makes health care and insurance more affordable by enabling a competitive, open, and transparent free-market health care and health insurance system that isn’t restricted by state boundaries.
2.69K Votes
universal health care
1.61K Votes
We need to repeal and replace the health care law with common sense reforms that will actually lower health care costs and let Americans keep the plan they have and like. That’s why Republicans are offering a proposal to repeal the requirement forcing Americans to buy government-approved health insurance. Twenty states and the nation’s leading small business organization agree that this law is unconstitutional and that’s why they are suing to overturn it. The federal government shouldn’t be in the business of forcing you to buy health insurance and taxing you if you don’t.
1.58K Votes
Repeal the Health Care Reform bill passed by Congress. There is no doubt that the health care industry has abuses and problems, however, the bill passed by Congress does nothing to correct the problems and only establishes a federal no value added bureau. Establish a working committee of those in the health care industry (MD’s, RN’s, LVN’s) to identify the problem areas and recommend solutions.
1.14K Votes
Repeal Obamacare! It is an affront and an assault on our personal liberties. It can not and should not be amended, revised or leave in place any aspect of it. You can not make a silk purse out of a pigs ear! If it is not repealed our liberties and our lives are at stake.
1.08K Votes
Environment
Remove caps on oil spill liability so we aren't spending billions of taxpayers' money to clean up the messes caused by (highly profitable) private corporations
3.15K Votes
Federal Regulations
Here's one that's long overdue: Make English the official language of the United States.
2.77K Votes
Just get out of the way! Businesses do fine on its own if you don't saddle them with taxes and regulations.
2.19K Votes
End the idea of Net Neutrality. American's do not need the government censoring our websites for us. Leave the internet alone.
1.02K Votes
FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Spending
Reduce the size of our military spending drastically. It's currently over 50% of our national budget and doesn't need to be so gargantuan. Our carrier fleet alone is several times larger than the entire world's fleets put together. If you cut that by itself you'd save the American taxpayer quite a bit of money and even have some left over for infrastructure improvements, better schools and social programs that will make this nation stronger over all.
4.79K Votes
Expenses of members of congress must be drastically reduced by reducing staff, eliminating postal privileges, closing office gyms, eliminate travel budgets, selling limos, revoking military aircraft privileges, revoke medical insurance coverage at end of service
4.64K Votes
Balanced Budget, Eliminate Dept of Education, eliminate estate tax, cpa cap gain tax at 15%, Eliminate the IRS, institute a flat tax rate, reduce govt bureaucracy and spending, no more earmarks
4.14K Votes
We should stop paying politicians for life. There is no other job where you can be fired (not re-elected) and keep your salary and all benefits for life
3.98K Votes
Welfare Reform: With 1 in 5 people being on food stamps its past due time to reform government handouts. Welfare in the United States has been transformed to the point where its no longer designed to help people get by during bad times. Instead, welfare is used as a permanent crutch for the recipient and as a political advantage to one political party or another. Take out the politics and welfare is a huge strain on the budget and means to grow government dependency. You hear everyone talking about how 'unsustainable' social security, medicare, medicaid...etc are, so now is the time to do something about it.
3.47K Votes
Remove caps on oil spill liability so we aren't spending billions of taxpayers' money to clean up the messes caused by (highly profitable) private corporations
3.15K Votes
If the GOP is really the party of smaller government then I think they should advocate an across the board reduction of federal spending on the order of 5-10% to demonstrate it. This should be a centerpiece campaign issue. If the GOP really wants smaller government, then they will need to actually reduce the spending. I would vote for the GOP if they actually endorsed such an idea.
2.96K Votes
ALL pay raises, benefit changes and any additional rules concerning the Senate, Congress, VP, Pres, etc. have to be voted on by the people and receive a 2/3 majority vote to pass.
2.25K Votes
Force Defense Contractors to account for surplus spending instead of warehousing useless purchases in order to acquire next years full budget.
1.69K Votes
I think we should quit giving the resigned politicians a pension, Most times they have done nothing to deserve it. Think of the money the government would save. They are not entitled to it and I would bet that 90% or better of the registered voters would agree on this.
1.26K Votes
"NO UNION BAILOUTS"
1.19K Votes
The budget for the Dept of Education is $68.6 billion. My property taxes fund the local schools. Why do we have a giant bureaucracy wasting billions of dollars while we are running the largest deficits and highest debt in US history? Do away with Department of Education
1.18K Votes
Americans HATE the 'ear marks' that washington pushes through. Someone should pass legislation that eliminates 'ear marks' for good. Every bill that comes up for a vote MUST STAND ON IT'S OWN MERITS-PERIOD!
1.16K Votes
Pass the Flat Tax and eliminate the need for the IRS.
1.13K Votes
Make it as easy to get rid of the dead wood, and the incompetent, in government, as it is in the private sector. None of these jobs, nor pay, pensions, benefits, nor corrupt activities, should be any better protected than the private sector jobs. This has become absurd.
1.11K Votes
Waste
STOP THE PORK: Place a moratorium on all earmarks until the budget is balanced, and then require a 2/3 majority to pass any earmark.
3.28K Votes
End all subsidies to farmers and business from the Federal Government. Currently, ten of thousands of farmers receive government checks to NOT grow any crops or raise livestock. One exceptionally insane example concerns tobacco. The US government will fund programs to stop people from smoking but subsidize tobacco farmers so they will not go out of business. Let the free markets work!
3.12K Votes
Require all Congressional travel expenses to be public within 30 days of travel, eliminate Congressional staff travel & restrict the size of Presidential entourages on foreign travel to however many people will fit aboard Air Force One.
1.42K Votes
Washington’s fiscal failures are unacceptable and we need to chart a new course. Republicans have identified over $1.3 trillion in spending cuts, including the following ideas: We can cancel unspent “stimulus” funds and dedicate these funds to deficit reduction. We can reduce government employment and freeze government pay for a year. We can cut and cap discretionary spending – returning spending to pre-Obama levels. And we can reform and bring transparency to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to limit taxpayer exposure and combat crony capitalism. These are just a few specific proposals offered by Republicans to help get our spending, deficits, and debt under control – and to get the economy and jobs to grow.
1.12K Votes
Tax Reform
Abolish the IRS (70,320 pages and $304 billion a year compliance cost) which is nothing more than a greedy, institutionalized stealing agency. It's immoral and inhumane to steal people's fruit of labor. End taxes at all levels of income for businesses and workers including payroll taxes. This will reduce the price of goods/services (govt induced inflation) and increase worker's take home pay. Pass a law that govt can only tax at the point of consumption (no more than 15%) where it is clear, straight forward and visible to the consumer - no more hidden taxes built into the price like in gas, cigs, alcohol, etc. The poor and lower middles classes who use 90% of govt services yet pay zero federal income taxes would pay their fair share and the rich would no longer seek tax shelters to hide their money since making money and succeeding is no longer punished by the federal govt. One national sales tax is a much fairer tax system that doesn't allow politicians to divide people into income groups for political gain. It's none of the govt's business how much a person makes.
3.59K Votes
ENACT THE FAIR TAX and end the IRS. Not a flat tax, not some future adjustable 'tax reform', but the Fair Tax is the way to boost our economy while ending Congress' ability to re-distribute wealth or manipulate behavior the way they have with the income-based tax system. Other benefits: it will attract businesses to locate themselves in the USA (increasing jobs), it collects taxes from EVERYONE here (including tourists and illegal aliens), and most importantly taxes aren't hidden in your payroll check, they are obvious every time you purchase something.
3.24K Votes
Tax Churches. Most are just a money making scheme for those in control of them. Use said money to decrease the weight of taxes on average every day Americans. Also prevent institutions from mixing god with education if they do it on the public dole.
3.21K Votes
STOP THE TAX HIKES: Permanently repeal all tax hikes, including those to the income, capital gains, and death taxes, currently scheduled to begin in 2011.
2.57K Votes
The IRS needs to go and the Fair Tax implemented. It is the best vehicle for limiting the spending of congress, fairly taxing citizens, and removing the tax code as a vehicle of political clout.
1.67K Votes
Replace all taxes with a simple flat income tax on all individuals and corporations.
1.47K Votes
Get rid of the federal agriculture program that pays farms to grow nothing.
1.07K Votes
Budget Process
I very much want to see a strong Balanced Budget Amendment. Congress pays lip service to this and makes no serious effort to pass it. We need this desperately.
2.61K Votes
Government Reform
Amendment 28 - "Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators or Representatives, and Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."
3.92K Votes
Streamline Government, there are 100 of Agencies doing substantially similar things. Government should be managed more like a company and eliminate duplicate or substantially similiar programs.
2.66K Votes
DEMAND A BALANCED BUDGET: Begin the Constitutional amendment process to require a balanced budget with a two-thirds majority needed for any tax hike.
1.28K Votes
Prohibit legislators and their employees and families from receiving money and other gifts from businesses and lobbyists. Our representatives should be accountable to one and only one interest, their constituents. Big business was not founded "by the people" or "for the people". Government should not be viewed as inherently evil.
1.58K Votes
AMERICAN VALUES
Life
Termination of pregnancy should be safe, legal, and rare.
4.21K Votes
the sanctity of life should support whatever of woman wishes to do with her body. Without this right freedom is meaningless
4.14K Votes
Abortion is not healthcare. Any bill that replaces or changes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act must ensure that no federal funds go toward elective abortion, must prevent any federal agency from mandating abortion, and must protect the conscience of healthcare workers.
4.11K Votes
Abortion is a complex, difficult moral issue. It is not the proper role of the government to make our moral decisions for us. Let people make up their own minds and take responsibility for their decisions. If we are to be the party of small government, less government intrusion, and personal liberty, we must stop trying to legislate abortion away. It's not the government's place to be a nanny that chooses our morality for us.
3.68K Votes
Oppose using public revenues to promote or perform abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it. Support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity and dignity of innocent human life.
3K Votes
Religious arguments should have no place in modern political discourse.
1.93K Votes
Protect the sanctity of human life with single-payer health care, Medicare for All.
1.74K Votes
I think that the only reason that I don't vote Republican is their extreme reliance on religious thinking and beliefs instead of scientific and rational thought. Everything else about the republican party I'm pretty much on board with. Republicans should stop basing their policies on the beliefs of ancient superstitious ignorant tribal people who spent half of their time committing genocide and the other half burning animals to appease an imaginary sky-god. Thanks.
1.62K Votes
Work with Democrats to be truly Pro-Life: reduce the number of abortions in ways that are proven to work.
1.59K Votes
Support the Term Limits for All Constitutional Amendment that has been introduced in the Senate. Limit congressional terms to three terms in the House (six years) and two terms in the Senate (twelve years). Serving in Congress should be a temporary job, not a career!
1.57K Votes
Teach Creationism in schools whenever Evolution is taught.
1.56K Votes
Illegals giving birth in the USA just to have an American child and stay here illegally. If an illegal gives birth in the USA, the mother and child should be deported back home and the child not recognized as an American citizen. They need to go back to thier home country and follow the legal process of becoming an US citizen.
1.34K Votes
I was always thought that Conservatives viewed every one as equally, that no one should get special rights, or help from the government when some one else doesn't , so if this is true shouldn't the party of Lincoln back full rights for gay persons? Are we the party that holds every one to the same standard or do we believe that some people are "More equal than others"
1.24K Votes
We should teach comprehensive reproductive education (the other phrase was deemed "inappropriate" by the webstie) in an effort to reduce unintended pregnancies and the associated abortions. This is something everyone should be able to agree on.
1.2K Votes
Let's actually have separation of church and state, no public funding should go to anything related to religion whatsoever.
1.15K Votes
Strengthening Families
•Legalize gay marriage. Given the facts, gay marriage is not destroying the sanctity of marriage. Just look at the number of elected officials that get caught cheating on their spouse, or having gay affairs. THAT is what is destroying the sanctity of marriage.
2.21K Votes
There are as many different kinds of families as there are Americans. And as in so many areas, this diversity is a strength. We should help respect all of these families, not condemn some to a second-class existence. Two people of the same gender who want to have a family should be allowed to marry and help preserve our great institution of marriage.
1.83K Votes
Protect marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Children do best with a married mother and father, and our laws and our judges should respect and defend this most fundamental institution of society.
1.63K Votes
•Legalize gay marriage
1.47K Votes
Any member of congress who commits a crime must resign immediately, including adultery, prostitution, and statutory rape. There are several members who admitted to such crimes but continue to serve in congress.
1.38K Votes
All US Citizens should know the US Constitution forwards & backwards. We need to ensure that it is being taught extensively to our children. Also, all Government Officials, Law Enforcement Officers & Military should be required to study it as they are required to swear an oath to uphold & protect it...kind of hard to do when you don't know or understand what it says.
1.03K Votes
Constitutional Limits
PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION: Require each bill to identify the specific provision of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to do what the bill does.
4.11K Votes
We need to pass a law, perhaps a Constitutional Amendment, that clarifies that the First Amendment is supposed to protect INDIVIDUALS, NOT CORPORATIONS, UNIONS, TRADE ORGANIZATIONS, or other GROUPS, from Government restriction of speech and ACTION based on sincere religious and political beliefs. In other words, we need to overturn the Supreme Court's invalidation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and Campaign Finance Reform.
2.16K Votes
The government should leave more issues up to the states. The beauty of America is that it was created as a union of states, held together by a limited federal government. Since then, the national government has constantly drained powers from the states. More states rights please!
2.14K Votes
Liberty and Freedom
Keep the government out of our personal lives. Government has no business being involved in dictating morality beyond simple public-safety concerns.
2.68K Votes
All law abiding citizens, even in New York City, and Chicago, have the right to bear arms. No government, city, state, or federal has the right to take that away. This needs to be put in print AGAIN.
1.87K Votes
Ban handguns. No exceptions, except for law enforcement and military.
1.47K Votes
In your fight to defend liberty, please protect my right to play poker. In 2006, Congress passed an ill-conceived law that seeks to restrict me from playing poker with other adults over the Internet. This misguided prohibition has been a total failure and does nothing to provide necessary consumer protections. Please support H.R. 2267 and S. 1597, bills that would establish sensible regulation, protect consumers and generate considerable revenue. All this by simply protecting a basic freedom for responsible adults. Please support my right to play America’s greatest game. Greg "Fossilman" Raymer
1.19K Votes
We should respect the rights of all Americans to their choices, including our soldiers. Stop forcing them to hide who they are, and eliminate Don't Ask Don't Tell. Our armed forces are mature adults, and they can handle it.
1.03K Votes
Immigration
Illegal immigrants are coming across the border from Mexico for one reason: jobs. Instead of passing insane laws why don't we instead arrest and heavily fine the CEO's and owners of businesses that hire illegal immigrants? If they had to serve 6 months in a jail and were fined $100,000 for every illegal immigrant they hired, then there wouldn't be a demand for illegal labor and they would stop coming across the border. The majority of Mexicans wanting to come here are hard working people who are Christians and want an opportunity to provide for their family. What's more American than that? If they want to come here and work then let's open up legal avenues for that to happen by granting them citizenship like everyone's ancestors in this country were at one point. Their wages will be taxed, creating income for our government and by having opportunities to get jobs with benefits they'll no longer be a burden on our hospitals. If they can come here, earn money and legally get accepted to schools, then they WILL learn the language.
3.16K Vote
Congress should end birthright citizenship for so-called anchor babies.
1.57K Votes
Being an illegal immigrant should stay a Crime!!! And those laws need to be enforced. I support immigration but I do not support illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants, when caught, should be sent back to their home country and be placed on a list here in the US stating that they can NEVER become a citizen of the United States. I support workers coming in to the country to do jobs that most Americans don't want to do but make them do it LEGALLY!
1.35K Votes
Transparency/Open Government
Transparency - American taxpayers deserve to see where their tax dollars are going, on the way into the legislative process and on the way out. This means ending the practice of rushing bills through Congress at the speed of light by requiring legislation be posted online for five days before it can be scheduled for a floor vote. This gives taxpayers the opportunity to read bills and offer feedback and potentially devastating legislation. We also must demand that ALL government expenditures, down to the line-item expense, be put online in a searchable, easily accessible format so taxpayers can track, dollar-for-dollar, where their hard-earned money is going. The only way to stop the spending is to keep representatives accountable - American taxpayers deserve the tools that will empower them to become good fiscal watchdogs of the state.
2.26K Votes
Term limits for Congress! The Pres. already has them, and some state congresses already have them!
1.18K Votes
No bill should be voted on without time for every American to know what’s in it. Rep. John Culberson of Texas has introduced a resolution (H. Res. 554) requiring a bill be available online for at least 3 days before a vote. I think this is a reform that’s needed right now. What do you think?
1.1K Votes
Other
The United States is not a Christian nation and never has been. The idea that it is should be eradicated and we should continue to re-enforce the separation of church and state.
2.17K Votes
NATIONAL SECURITY
Terrorism Abroad
No US rights for terrorist, treat them as prisoners of war not as citizens. Allow enhanced interrogations when needed.
1.65K Votes
American is not the welfare state for Mexico. We need to adopt Mexico's immigration law. We have an infestation of illegals because they have no respect for our country and refuse to obey our laws. Immigration numbers must be limited to a level that can be assimilated. Anchor babies and chain migration must stop. The current laws need to be enforced.
1.62K Votes
Let’s actually look at this situation for what it really is; if anyone was to sneak into your backyard and was stealing your things, you would be upset and call the police because “they” have stolen your stuff. In essence “they” (illegals) are stealing your stuff but you just don’t witness it as readily. They cross the border with full knowledge that they are breaking our laws, they enroll their children in our public school system which they do not pay a cent into, they use our emergency services/hospitals and do not pay for their care, and not all but quite a few are engaged in illegal activities on our soil. This by no means an all-encompassing list of offences, it is just meant to say “Hello they are Criminals”, who do not care if they are breaking our laws or not. Whether they cross the border with a kilo of drugs or a bag lunch, they still have disrespected our sovereignty and laws. If my desire to identify and punish criminals makes me a bigot or a racist then so be it.
1.23K Votes
Immigration reform: Close the border; institute a guest worker program which requires all applicants to apply from outside the US; enforce immigration laws. If you are here illegally you get sent home immediately; fine all employers using illegal immigrants; require proof of citizenship or legal status in country for all school children
1.09K Votes
Homeland/Border Security
Lets face the real truth here. The reason we have illegal immigrants is because we don't enforce our current laws on the books. The reason we don't do that is because the parties either want to gain votes from these people or are afraid of losing votes for standing against them. The reason for that is we do not require proof of citizenship at the voting stations in every state, A few states do but most do not... That being the case we need to pass legislation that requires all states to verify citizenship at voting time. If they can't vote then politicians won't be vying for their support and will be encouraged to insist our immigration laws are enforced in all states. I would even offer rewards to whistle blowers for reporting businesses that use illegal laborers.
2.51K Votes
Seek out and fine and/or prosecute employers of illegal aliens.
1.58K Votes
Control our borders, stop illegal immigration, and stop giving handouts to current illegal immigrants! The U.S. government refuses to control our borders and gives handouts to millions and millions of illegal aliens including: welfare, food stamps, housing assistance, free medical care and social security. This creates an incentive for illegals to enter our country.
1.57K Votes
How about the Federal Government protects legal U.S. citizens rather than illegals? That's it's primary job. Landholders along the border would love to feel safe on their own property. Stop the armed invasions of drug cartels: stop illegal crossings: root out illegals in our towns and cities and deport them: stop chain migration and anchor babies. Law abiding immigrants will come through the legal process established by law. (And, no, it's not too hard!)
1.34K Votes
Place very strict penalties for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. I think the business owner should face jail time for multiple violations or extreme violations (such as > 50 illegial immigrants working for one company.. or > 5% of total workforce). If there aren't jobs for illegal immigrants then they will stop coming. The hourly pay of other employees will rise as business have to pay the prevailing rate for legal employeess.
1.25K Votes
Simply enforce the immigration Laws already in existence. Stop the flow of ILLEGAL immigrants.
1.2K Votes
Shut down the borders until a decision has been reached to stop the influx of illegals invading our country. Stop all federal assistance to anyone not in the country legally and stop listening to politicians from other countries trying to tell us how to make our laws.
1.08K Votes
Defense/Military
Get rid of dont ask dont tell
1.91K Votes
OPEN MIC
I think America would be a better place if Republicans were more liberal and democratic.
3.57K Votes
Decriminalize/legalize marijuana and tax it like alcohol and cigarettes. We waste way too much law enforcement resources in arresting and prosecuting individuals for simple possession. Taxing legal marijuana sales could add millions of dollars in revenue.
3.09K Votes
eliminating minimum wage laws will allow companies to hire many more Americans for just a fraction of the price. If Mexicans can work for 2$ an hour, so can we.
2.92K Votes
We need to decriminalize marijuana, which currently wastes taxpayer money.
2.78K Votes
Help secure our Boarder by ending Marijuana Prohibition. Cartels make 60% of there profit from Pot and are the single biggest threat to our Boarder. The only thing the Prohibition of Marijuana has done is made our enemies stronger from the BILLIONS in Pot profit that they use to fund even more harmful activities and crimes. Government has NO RIGHT to tell someone what they can and cant put into there bodies as long as it does not harm anyone else. Anyone with common sense knows Pot fits right into that category.
2.18K Votes
Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Simple. Let the LGBT community serve in the military.
2.17K Votes
Release non-violent drug offenders - taxpayers are sick and tired of paying for non-violent drug offenders to sit around all day in jail. For one, there would be less of an 'overpopulated jails' issue. Secondly, it would save taxpayers money (housing, feeding, rehab programs, etc.). Third, it would create jobs if we grant more PTI (pre-trial intervention) programs and workers to help rehab people with drug programs.
2.12K Votes
Each year taxpayers foot the bill for a "war on drugs" that costs tens of billions of dollars, results in hundreds of thousands of arrests, and does absolutely nothing to solve the drug problem in this country. It's time that we end the ineffective prohibition approach (just like we did with alcohol), and enact a new system of legalized regulation and taxation for drugs like marijuana. In addition to generating fiscal savings and new tax revenue for our economy, legalization will also improve public safety and national security by bankrupting the violent gangs and cartels who control the currently illegal market for drugs.
1.97K Votes
Make the Arizona immigration law a national law! Don't let the illegals run out of Arizona and hide. We have had enough of congress dithering on this. This will make it easier for us to find the illegals and deport them. And I think that we should do something to identify them in case they try to come back over. Like maybe tattoo a big scarlet "I" on their chests -- for "illegal"!!! What do you think?
1.92K Votes
Members of Congress should no longer be able to vote themselves pay raises. Congressional pay raises should be approved at the ballot box by the general electorate
1.89K Votes
There is no freedom of religion if there is no freedom from religion. There are some who claim that the United States of America was founded and based on Christian faith and principals. While it is true that almost every one of the Founding Fathers considered themselves Protestant, this did not mean that they forced their beliefs onto anyone. Indeed, according to Article 11 of the Treaty between Tripoli and the United States, written in 1796, “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; …” • Instead, according to Phillip Schaff in his 1888 book Church and State in the United States, “Separation secures religious thought, speech, and action. Religion is voluntary and cannot be forced. The United States furnishes the first example in the history of a government deliberately depriving itself of all legislative control of religion.” Let's stop censoring or ignoring the portion of the populace (by some estimates as 10% of the population) that doesn't believe in a higher being. It shouldn't be impossible for an Athiest to hold public office. Let's agree that separation of church and State does not seek to take away our religious liberties. In 1872 the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that, “The structure of our government has, for the preservation of civil liberty, rescued the temporal institutions from religious interference. On the other hand, it has secured religious liberty from the invasion of the civil authority."
1.84K Votes
The GOP needs to do the following things in order to regain the support of the American people, as well as to help our great Country. 1. Help to strengthen our social safety net. No one should be hungry in America. 2. Invest more heavily in protection and restoration of the environment of our Nation. 3. Make sure that public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade are strong and free from political bias, such as the shameful display recently seen in TX. 4. Make college affordable to all would would like to go. 5. Improve workplace safety laws, make it safe to do a good day's work. 5. Increase the minimum wage.
1.79K Votes
Can we make policy decisions that are based on sound science and that are data driven and quantifiable? Not politicized ones or ones based on a mythology like Christianity?
1.74K Votes
1. Keep working on repealing the healthcare legislation that was passed and implement real fixes to the escalating costs. 2. Our Constitution only has ONE requirement for holding the office of POTUS and it needs to be enforced. Those that drop the ball need to be removed and held responsible. 3. Do away with all the federal perks. We are broke and cannot afford to support all of the fine retirements, healthcare, boondoggles – the list goes on and on – when many of us struggle to keep our own families fed. 4. Cut all federal salaries to reflect America’s private sector wages. These are public servants, not heirs to a dynasty. 5. Illegal immigration is draining our economy. Enforce our laws and send those that are here illegally back to their ‘homes’. Protect our borders. 6. Our Welfare system is badly broken. What did people do before there were all of these public handouts? Put time limits on our ‘help’. Put teeth into the laws to prevent scamming and a new way of life for so many. 7. Don’t fall for global governance – America is our land and our responsibility and we can take care of ourselves if we are allowed to follow our founders’ blueprint. Get us out of United Nations, Workers United and all of that nonsense. 8. Have an annual (or every 5 years at least) audit of federal government. Audit the spending programs, the waste, the bloated layers, the threads leading to lobbying groups and big union bosses, national security – everything. If Congress can’t, then I’m certain the private sector can. Bring back small government. 9. America’s morals are what keep us strong. Do not allow our government to take God out of our churches, our schools and our lives. Separation of Church and State means that government cannot force or deny any religion – it does not mean that what our Founders framed and included in their foundations of government should be abandoned. 10. Quit wasting money printing 15 languages on everything we purchase. It’s America – learn our language. It’s our Flag, respect it. It’s our nation, quit condemning it. It’s our American taxpayers that support America, listen to them.
1.64K Votes
What happened to my Republican Party, the one I remember from my youth? Fiscal discipline, wariness about foreign entanglements and taxes but a sober commitment to the public good. I just don't see it in today's Republican Party with its courting of gun owners, anti-environmentalism, and the religious right. Forget the social issues, forget the divisiveness, put some intellectual heft behind the party in place of Beck, Palin, and Limbaugh. What you are gaining in frenzy you are losing in wisdom and leadership.
1.58K Votes
Legalize and Tax Marijuana. The savings from the wasted resources used on fighting the war on Marijuana would be very large as well. Not to mention the many, mainly young minority, lives hurt by the current marijuana laws. We and the medical community know the plant is safer than alcohol. Let’s put the tax revenue and saved resources towards real problems.
1.43K Votes
America Speaking out, neat idea though it is, is being censored on the back end, specific topics are having the maximum number of votes capped, and the user is not informed that his vote didnt count.. this happens in the background as an ajax call with a result of "aspx-forbidden" when the specific comment has been capped.. while its true that the site itself does not seem to prevent the posting of topics it doesnt like, it does prevent those topics from gaining any more votes once its been noticed, and so the fiction of "what america wants" is crafted for the next election
1.37K Votes
Congress should quit considering the number of illegal immigrants in a state when determining the number of Congressmen the state is awarded.
1.3K Votes
Repeal prohibition. For over 40 years the United States has waged a war against its own people. This war has cost the American tax payer over $1trillion dollars. It's the war on drugs. What has it accomplished? It's time for the government to get out of regulating choice. Allow for busiensses to make profits off of the drug trade. Think of the jobs, think of the money now going to Americans instead of foreigners. Think of the money freed up with the DEA, NIST, law enforcement. It far exceeds what the downside would cost.
1.19K Votes
Legalize Marijuana. The states have already strarted. You can then regulate it simular to tobacco. This would help law enforcment by freeing them to work on violent crime. The violence in the illegal drug trade is created by the drug being illegal.
1.14K Votes
Legalize marijuana. This idea coming from a very hard core conservative. If Uncle Sugar could control every seed, thus creating a very strong revenue source...and let's face it...that is really the only concern the Feds have...then I for one would support the venture, and be done with all the silly cat and mouse. One consequence: a drop in Domestic Disturbances, and a rise in the birth rate...sorry that was two. Good'ay
1.06K Votes
Terrorists abroad are not as great a threat as leftists at home.
1.05K Votes
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Congressman Chris Van Hollen
