(Sign at the bottom of petition, please)

Regardless of who is President of our great country, s/he constitutes only one of three branches of federal government.  The President alone cannot change the world, and that is how it should be.  Congress is a vital check and balance to add our voices to the mix, ensuring forward movement for the highest good.

Congress has proven to be ineffective, locking first with one party and then the other. We see ahead of us more of the same no matter which party holds the Executive Branch.

While special interests, election law, and businesses all have a part in Congressional (in)effectiveness, the citizens' contract with elected legislators has veered far from the path that one would think our Founding Fathers intended. 

If we realign the pay and benefits of our legislators, their motives and behavior are more apt to change to one of service, accomplishment, and fluidity.  Elections are not creating the widespread leveling that is needed at once.

It is safe to believe that the Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, not the lobby-oriented, high-paid, long-tenured professional politicians that we see in Congress today.  They have passed pay raises and benefits for themselves and their families that are unparalleled in private industry and among its citizenry.

While they may be elected By The People, we move to amend the Constitution to realign Congress to be Of The People, in the hopes that they will then be For The People.

Congressional Benefits Restructuring and Reform Act

1.  No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.  

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective January in the year after this passes.

The American people did not write these contracts with Congressmen -- they wrote them for and with each other.

o    ----    o    ----    o    ----    o   ----     o    ----    o    ----    o 

We the undersigned agree with these provisions.