One taxpayer's proposed solutions

Since election time is near, this taxpayer has some solutions to the political deadlock our representatives can't seem to solve.

The following are some suggestions. Our representatives should:

Represent the taxpayers and not special interest groups.

Spend more time and effort working for us rather than campaigning.

Declare that English is the official language.

Be restricted to one or two terms in office.

Balance budgets without accounting tricks.

Re-evaluate all programs and get rid of outdated, duplicated and programs that just don't work.

Get rid of the tax code and death tax. Fair share is non-existent anyway.

Enforce immigration laws and protect our borders.

Cancel the welfare system and get those recipients to take the jobs that the demonstrating illegals are doing.

Not be allowed to give themselves raises. Any raises should be at the discretion of the taxpayers.

Not be allowed to accept any money other than their salaries. If they do then their salary and perks should not be taxpayer funded.

Be vested in Medicare and Medicaid like the taxpayers are. All benefits should match what the taxpayers receive.

Reduce the size of government, which includes departments that duplicate/overlap existing work.

Re-examine all earmarks. Re-building the collapsed bridge in Minnesota is necessary unlike a bridge to nowhere or a park in some obscure small town.

Eliminate tax incentives for big business.

Tax businesses that operate outside the U.S. at a higher rate than those that operate inside the country.

Eliminate farm subsidies for the large corporate farms. Any subsidies should be for the smaller family owned farms.

Not allow anything to be sold to foreign countries. Examples are toll ways, shipping companies and the like.

Our representatives were elected to do a job. That job comes with the responsibility to make tough decisions for the good of the people.

Wayne Oras Sr.

Schaumburg