End Congressional Riders
Dear President Obama, We, the undersigned Citizens of The United States of America: 1. Ask that you dedicate the full weight and power of your office to ending the Congressional practice of attaching non-essential riders to pending legislation and actions. 2. Believe that the attachment of riders that are not essential to the purposes of their host bills or legislative actions comprises a serious abuse of power and is a mechanism by which the U.S. Congress squanders large quantities of taxpayer money, mostly without accountability. 3. Believe that this practice is not consistent with the principle of Legislative Transparency, to which your Presidency is dedicated, nor with the principle of government "For the People." 4. Believe that Members of Congress who participate in this practice are motivated mostly by the crass concern of re-election, and not by service to country. 5. Believe that the cause to which we seek your commitment holds unexceeded potential to reduce wasteful spending and introduce transparency to legislative process. 6. Understand that the change we propose will necessitate unprecedented modification to the conduct of Congressional business. We realize that it will become more difficult for legislators to return tax money to their home districts. We accept any hardship this brings about as a necessary cost of reasonable and responsible government.
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