Congressmen Ami Bera, David Cicilline, Rodney Davis and Adam Kinzinger talk problem solving.
Punting Again
Submitted by John Thornburgh on July 30, 2012
PUNTING AGAIN: Congress has again decided that instead of solving problems, it is easier to just put the decisions off. Government funding will end on September 30, right in the heart of the election season. Now Congress will leave Washington on a five-week recess, leaving them with only eight days in September to avert a shutdown: Erik Wasson for The Hill: Legislation to prevent government shutdown will wait until September
FILIBUSTER REFORM COMING? Sen. Daniel Inouye, the longest-serving active senator, wants to modify rules to limit debate on procedural motions. This comes after majority leader Harry Reid said he is in favor of reforming the filibuster. Reforming the filibuster would continue to protect the voice of the minority, while also enabling more issues to be debated and voted on in the Senate. That's why it is reform three in our Make Congress Work! action plan: Niels Lesniewski for Roll Call: Daniel Inouye Backs Filibuster Changes
JUDICIAL GRIDLOCK: Fifteen judicial nominations with across-the-aisle support are awaiting confirmation from the Senate. These comprise just a small fraction of the 76 vacant federal judgeships across the country as courts are being overwhelmed with cases. Republicans are citing the "Thurmond rule" which is a tradition in the Senate not to act on any nominations in the final six months of a president’s term. This problem could be avoided if Congress had an up-or-down vote within 90 days on all presidential appointments, proposal number seven in our Make the Presidency Work! action plan:The New York Times: A Poor Excuse to Block Judges
QUESTION TIME FOR THE PRESIDENT: Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), or question time as it is often called, is an important part of the British political system. As Stephen Dubner notes, "It is quite a piece of theater to watch, but it also struck me that PMQs provide the British government and especially the British electorate an opportunity to have what the American government and electorate do not have: a real and real-time dialogue between members of opposing parties as well as the country's political leader." That's exactly why question time is reform eight in our Make the Presidency Work! action plan: Stephen Dubner for Freakonomics: Star-Spangled Banter?
HYPER-PARTISAN RHETORIC: As the election approaches, there's no question President Barack Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney are going to use negative ads, the only question is how nasty it is going to become. While it is useful for candidates to differentiate their platform from that of their opponents, ads focused on fringe issues are neither helpful nor relevant. Romney's horse or the suggestion that Obama needs to "learn how to be an American" are not going to help the American people make an informed choice this November: Justin Sink for The Hill: Obama, Romney campaigns are walking fine line between negative and nasty ads
THE DAILY BREAK: While you watch the Olympics for the next couple weeks, keep an eye out for these athletes who have incredible backstories: Entertainment Weekly: 20 Olympic Athlete Stories to Know
ACTION OF THE DAY: Help change the tone of politics and direction of the country by attending theMeeting to Make America Work on January 14 in New York City.
STAT OF THE DAY: 76 percent of Americans believe that it is very or extremely important for the next president to work to overcome political gridlock in Washington: Jeffrey Jones for Gallup: Americans Want Next President to Prioritize Jobs, Corruption
Written & edited by Kelsey McLaughlin, Collin Berglund, Lauren Gilbert, John Thornburgh, and Jack McCullough
Tips, questions or ideas? Email the Problem-Solver's Daily team at psdaily@nolabels.org or tweet at us (@nolabelsorg).
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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
On today's Problem-Solver's Daily, how can President Obama restore faith in the government, the filibuster is back in the news and an across-the-aisle retweet shows that both sides can agree on issues.
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