A group of experienced observers of Congress here recommend several dozen ideas for helping make Congress more productive. Almost all of the recommendations are to alter certain congressional internal rules of procedure. But, recommendation XIX is that Congress exercise its Article One authority over congressional elections to set a nationwide primary day for congressional elections. The group recommends June but does not explain the rationale for choosing that month.
Currently, states set their own congressional primary dates, and they range from March to September. Louisiana has abolished congressional primaries and merely holds an election for Congress in November; all candidates from all parties appear on that ballot. If no one gets 50%, there is a runoff in December.
The authors of the recommendations include Alan Frumin, parliamentarian of the U.S. Senate; former Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, former Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, former Congressman Bob Livingston of Louisiana, former Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts, and political analyst Lawrence O’Donnell, Jr. Thanks to the ElectionLawBlog for the link. The recommendations are published in Esquire magazine.
NO primaries.
P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.
NO lame duck sessions – take office at midnight on election day night.
Since August 6th, 1995, the 9th USA Parliament
continues to be a nursery bed for unity and
cooperation among many diverse candidates for
state and federal elective office.
Green, Socialist & Compassion Party Candidates Further Unity
http://usparliament.org/ca-2014d-1.php
Since August 6th, 1995, the 9th USA Parliament
continues to be a nursery bed for unity and
cooperation among many diverse candidates for
state and federal elective office.
Green Party candidate for Governor of Colorado
Honorable Harry Hempy [Green], Socialist Party
candidate for New York State Assembly Joe Phillips
[Socialist] (SD40) and Compassion Party candidate
for Governor of Rhode Island Anne Armstrong
[Compassion] all voted for the national “Unity
Platform” planks and combined the three elected
four new planks plus nominated a new item.
Harry Hempy [Green] for Governor of Colorado voted
and wrote in a new plank item; “Eliminate the cap
on income subject to Social Security taxation”.
Socialist Party candidate for New York State
Assembly Joe Phillips [Socialist] (SD40) voted
and states; “United for the working class and
not divided by party!”
Compassion Party candidate for Governor of Rhode
Island Anne Armstrong [Compassion] voted and
wrote; “I have a vision for our state where
common sense, compassion, and cooperation can
re-create Rhode Island into a place where
everyone can live in abundance.”
http://chapinsito.com/press-release/
* * *
* * *
Nine National “Unity Platform” Items Elected!
http://usparliament.org/ca-2014d-1a.php
1 End all corruption in the State of California.
2 Advocate for legislation that will improve tax revenue by decreasing both individual and corporate tax rates.
3 Online Voting via any Internet device — to increase voter participation
4 Comprehensive tax reform upon further analysis with the goal of lessening the tax burden on middle and lower earners, removing loopholes for corporations in order to spread the tax burden, and potentially lessen the overall taxes on both corporations and individuals.
5 Added specific ending of corrupting influence of money in politics, including but not limited to repealing Citizens United, lower campaign donation limits, clean money disclosures and up to some form of publicly funded campaigns (if deemed necessary)
6 Immediate labeling of all foods containing GMO products and require that seeds be made available for testing as a condition of their release to the market.
7 Re-institute the Glass-Steagall firewall to separate banks, brokerages, and insurance.
8 Improved utilization of internet and technology for interactive citizen-government relationship at all levels of government and community
9 Re-regulate derivatives markets to ban the most dangerous speculative instruments prevent oil, gasoline and food price spikes.
* * *
XXI – Like it wherever you like things. The rest? Meh.
XXIII–All plans for reforming Congress will be written down in plain english rather than political-ese and that way we know what they are talking about.
James Ogle:
“Re-institute the Glass-Steagall firewall to separate banks, brokerages, and insurance.”
I know I have not called you yet as promised, but I was looking at the Nine National “Unity Platform” Items, and if Item No. 7 as show above, is the best you can do regarding our private banking system, then I do not know if I would be happy in your USA Parliament.
I not only believe in abolishing the Federal Reserve System, but I believe Congress has the right to not only print (coin) money, but also the right to establish a National Bank, where usury or interest on money would become illegal.
This is what is wrong with our nation today, the fact our nation is controlled by the private banking system under the guise of the Federal Reserve System, with the interest which must be paid on loans it makes to the public, and to private citizens.
As long as a nation remains strong militarily and economically, and remains a republic based on democratic principles, we do not need any type of metallic money system – be it gold or silver.
Again, I will give you a call one day, and we will discuss this and perhaps some other issues.