Congressmen Ami Bera, David Cicilline, Rodney Davis and Adam Kinzinger talk problem solving.
Make the Presidency Work!
Submitted by Kelsey McLaughlin on November 1, 2012
MAKE THE PRESIDENCY WORK: With the election only five days away, the two candidates are making some serious promises. But when one of them is elected, they won't have the tools necessary to work with Congress to deliver on these promises. No Labels Co-Founder Jonathan Miller writes that No Labels' Make the Presidency Work! action plan could solve this problem: "History shows that when leaders talk to one another and put the country ahead of partisan gain, they can move beyond the differences so that the country's most significant problems get fixed. Updating rules and procedures to clear away barriers, along with an attitude change away from obstruction, can help the President deliver on more of his promises." Jonathan Miller for The Huffington Post: Make the Presidency Work!
PARTISAN INFORGRAPHIC: Check out this infographic showing the growing hyper-partisanship and dysfunction in Congress over the years: Chris Cillizza for The Washington Post: The story of how Congress has grown more partisan — in one amazing chart
HOW SANDY BROUGHT US TOGETHER: "Sandy didn't just knock the campaign off the front pages; it transformed it, as well. At a moment of extreme polarization, Mother Nature brought us together. Suddenly, the artificial walls that our political process erects to separate us into little demographic micro-groups to make us believe we have no mutual interests got blown away by the massive hurricane," writes Arianna Huffington for The Huffington Post. As the country begins to recover from this disaster, we'll see how long the spirit of working together lasts: Arianna Huffington for The Huffington Post: How Hurricane Sandy Downgraded Our Election and Upgraded Our Barn-Raising Spirit
BEING A PROBLEM-SOLVER: Rep. Amy Klobuchar is featured in an article written by Thomas Friedman for one simple reason: she is a problem solver. "Klobuchar built that lead by combining a moderate liberalism with a pro-business, pro-jobs agenda and a pragmatic problem-solving approach. All of Klobuchar’s campaign ads are positive, and many feature Republican business leaders explaining why they are voting for her," Friedman writes and Klobuchar added that most Minnesota voters “want their politicians to be problem-solvers, not ideologues." Thomas Friedman for The New York Times: The Minnesota Mirror
AGREE ON THE FACTS: Bob Banov and Roger Ohlsen note that it is hard for our leaders to find solutions if they can not agree on what the problems are. Their solution? Enforce our Make the Presidency Work! proposal for our leaders to embrace different opinions but same facts. Our leaders need to agree on the facts in order to find solutions. "No Labels is a movement united behind a simple proposition, the desire to see our government stop fighting and start fixing. Their no nonsense solution: all members of Congress and the president get a nonpartisan report on the fiscal facts once a year -- and sign on their support," they write: Bob Banov and Roger Ohlsen for The Huffington Post: They Do It Much Better in High School (Debating)
DIFFERENCE IN OPINION: No Labels Co-Founders Dave Walker and John Avlon may disagree on who they're voting for on Tuesday, but both want a problem solver in the White House. Click here to check out Walker's article, and read Avlon's piece here. Regardless of who you think should be president, one thing is clear: voters want problem solvers.
MONSTER MATH: Halloween may be over, but the realities of our fiscal situation are scarier than ever. No Labels Co-Founder Dave Walker made a parody of the famous Halloween song "Monster Mash" with a fiscal responsibility twist. Click here to watch the video.
THE DAILY BREAK: Rep. Richard Tisei has released one of the most subtle campaign ads ever. Click here to watch it.
ACTION OF THE DAY: Re-pin one of No Labels' images on Pinterest. If you don't have an account, click here to create one.
STAT OF THE DAY: The total cost of this election is set to exceed $6 billion: Eliza Newlin Carney for Roll Call: Total Cost of Election Will Exceed $6 Billion, Group Predicts
12 Ways to Make Congress Work!
- 1. No Budget, No Pay
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
- 2. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
- 3. Fix the Filibuster
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
- 4. Empower the Sensible Majority
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
- 5. Make Members Come to Work
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
- 6. Question Time for the President
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
- 7. Fiscal Report to Congress
A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.
- 8. No Pledge but the Oath of Office
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
- 9. Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
- 10. Bipartisan Seating
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
- 11. Bipartisan Leadership Committee
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
- 12. No Negative Campaigns Against Incumbents
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
- 1. No Budget, No Pay
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
- 2. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
- 3. Fix the Filibuster
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
- 4. Empower the Sensible Majority
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
- 5. Make Members Come to Work
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
- 6. Question Time for the President
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
- 7. Fiscal Report to Congress
A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.
- 8. No Pledge but the Oath of Office
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
- 9. Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
- 10. Bipartisan Seating
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
- 11. Bipartisan Leadership Committee
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
- 12. No Negative Campaigns Against Incumbents
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
- 1. No Budget, No Pay
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
- 2. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
- 3. Fix the Filibuster
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
- 4. Empower the Sensible Majority
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
- 5. Make Members Come to Work
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
- 6. Question Time for the President
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
- 7. Fiscal Report to Congress
A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.
- 8. No Pledge but the Oath of Office
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
- 9. Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
- 10. Bipartisan Seating
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
- 11. Bipartisan Leadership Committee
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
- 12. No Negative Campaigns Against Incumbents
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
11 Ways to Make the Presidency Work!
- 1. Regular News Conferences for the President
- 2. Fast-Track Legislative Authority for The President
- 3. Make The Parties Pay for Presidential Fundraising
- 4. A Line Item Veto With A Twist
- 5. Reduce the Number of Appointees Subject to Senate Confirmation
- 6. Identify a "Slate That Can't Wait" of Critical Nominees For Expedited Confirmation
- 7. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments
- 8. Question Time for The President
- 9. Expanded Presidential Power to Reorganize
- 10. Different Opinions, But the Same Facts
- 11. Regular Meetings Between the President And Congressional Leadership
- 1. Regular News Conferences for the President
- 2. Fast-Track Legislative Authority for The President
- 3. Make The Parties Pay for Presidential Fundraising
- 4. A Line Item Veto With A Twist
- 5. Reduce the Number of Appointees Subject to Senate Confirmation
- 6. Identify a "Slate That Can't Wait" of Critical Nominees For Expedited Confirmation
- 7. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointment
- 8. Question Time for The President
- 9. Expanded Presidential Power to Reorganize
- 10. Different Opinions, But the Same Facts
- 11. Regular Meetings Between the President And Congressional Leadership
- 1. Regular News Conferences for the President
- 2. Fast-Track Legislative Authority for The President
- 3. Make The Parties Pay for Presidential Fundraising
- 4. A Line Item Veto With A Twist
- 5. Reduce the Number of Appointees Subject to Senate Confirmation
- 6. Identify a "Slate That Can't Wait" of Critical Nominees For Expedited Confirmation
- 7. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointment
- 8. Question Time for The President
- 9. Expanded Presidential Power to Reorganize
- 10. Different Opinions, But the Same Facts
- 11. Regular Meetings Between the President And Congressional Leadership
Problem-Solver's Daily: A Quick Email Digest for Problem-Solvers
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, members of the House has an agreement in principle for immigration reform, scandals are hurting everyone and one cabinet nomination was confirmed.
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