On Jan. 31, 2012, No Labels supporters joined a conference call to talk to Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) about how to pass the No Budget - No Pay Act in Congress. Citizens asked how to make Congress listen, what the best ways to persuade their own members of Congress are and what the bill will actually do if it becomes law.
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
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.
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
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.
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
If Congress can't pass a budget and all annual spending bills on time, members of Congress should not get paid.
All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.
Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.
Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.
Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.
Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.
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.
Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.
At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.
Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.
Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.
In today's Problem-Solver's Daily, Standard and Poor's warns the U.S. of another credit downgrade, Washington insiders give their outlook for Congress and political dysfunction hurts democracy.