Get Congress back to work

I am writing today to bring to your attention a growing grass-roots political movement. The group called “No Labels” is a nonpartisan political action organization with one simple goal: get Congress back to work.

As you well know, there are a number of serious issues facing our great nation today. Regardless of what any individual believes should be done about these issues, almost everyone agrees that something needs to be done. Unfortunately, we currently have a Congress that is so gridlocked it is incapable of completing even the most basic tasks like passing a budget or confirming presidential appointments.

No Labels has come up with a 12-step program to fix the structural issues preventing our Congress from getting anything done. The steps are as follows: 1) Congress doesn’t pass a budget, they don’t get paid; 2) All presidential appointments must be voted up or down within 90 days; 3) Reform the filibuster; 4) Allow bipartisan majorities to bring bills to the floor for debate; 5) Make members come to work; 6) Allow question and answer time between the President and Congress; 7) Have a yearly nonpartisan fiscal report so everyone is working on the same numbers; 8) Allow no pledge but the oath of office; 9) Hold monthly bipartisan gatherings; 10) Establish bipartisan seating; 11) Form a bipartisan leadership committee; 12) Prevent negative ads from incumbents against other incumbents.

More information is available at NoLabels.org. Citizens can go there to get involved and get Congress back to work.

Adam Schuster

Algonquin