Accountability in Government
Act
by: Rich N Penniless
Whereas a large number of elected officials of The United States
of America place more importance on reelection or partisan politics than on
performing the duties for which they are elected in the first place, it has
become necessary to enact the Accountability in Government Act.
Article 1: Accountability to Same Laws
Members of congress and their staff are hereby subject to
the same federal, state and local laws and regulations as all other private
citizens living and working in Washington DC.
Article 2: Full Time Employment Devotion to
Duties
Members of Congress are full time employees of the
government of The United States of America and, like employees of other
organizations, are expected to devote their entire skill, efforts and attention
to official congressional business during normal business hours. Campaigning and reelection activities, as well as personal speaking engagements, are not
considered official congressional business and can only be performed during those
times after normal business hours or during personal time off (“PTO”)
Article 3: Business
Days and Personal Time Off (“PTO”)
Member of congress are entitled to up to five (5) weeks of Personal
Time Off (“PTO”) per calendar year. During
normal business hours, they can only engage in activities not considered to be
official congressional business during PTO.
Members of congress must spend a minimum of 200 workdays in
Washington DC; either in session or performing official congressional business.
Article 4: Government
Shutdown Salary Suspension
Members of Congress shall not receive their government salaries
in the event that any government shut down or related activities prevents any
other government departments from receiving their salaries. This includes the event of a full or partial
government shut down. Furthermore,
members of congress are required to remain in Washington DC during any such
periods in which there is a full or partial government shut down. During such periods all PTO will be
suspended.
Article 5: Balanced Budget
It is the responsibility of congress to establish and pass a
budget in which all government programs and spending are projected to be funded
and paid for using government collected income.
In the absence of a balanced budget, all members of congress will
forfeit all salary.
Article 6: Best
Interests of Entire Country
The Congress is tasked with representing the welfare and
interests of the United States of America.
Given the current practices of congressional voting procedures, it is
possible for the minority to block legislation that is supported by a strong
majority of its members. To make sure that
any legislation that is supported by a strong majority of the people’s
representatives is brought to each house for a vote, any legislation that has
the support of 60% of its respective house members must be brought to the floor
for debate and vote. Such support votes
shall be the top of each day’s agenda.
Furthermore, the filibuster shall become law of the land for
purposes of government appointees. If a
government appointee cannot muster 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, then that
official cannot fully represent the good of a strong majority of the United
States of America.
