What's your opinion of t he Dem Reform Plan? WJ CSPAN

[Skidmore]

First question. Anyone able to call in to lend support.

[annabanana]

1. if I could get through I would say

That it's better than the repppub's plan... still doesn't go far enough.. I'd outlaw legislators being eligible for jobs as lobbyists and vice versa..

[KoKo]

5. Agree...they didn't want to ban former Congresspeople from the floor and

restrict the number of years before one can be a lobbyist. It's one year now...I think it should be at least three. I think all lobbyists should be banned from the floor while voting is going on and from the gym, cloak room or wherever they can go around glad handing and pushing for Corporations.

[Cassandra]

7. I'm less worried about lobbyists running for office...

and more concerned about them being appointed to run agencies they used to lobby against; something only repukes do.

[mrcheerful]

2. Remember it was the repukes that reformed lobbying in 1999

you think they will do any better this time? At least the dems are willing to put a punishment clause in their plan. Sure beats what some idiots are saying, back to term limits as the answer to reform.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. One thing the Democrats did not address is the Retirement pension

for Congressman who are FELONS. IMCPO, no convicted felon should get a pension when he's sent to prison, but that's just me.:) The Dem plan needs to speak to the issue.

[The Witch]

4. seems harsh to me

felon or not, when you're old you're old. reduction in pension, sure, but pensions are important for those late-life medical costs. I dunno, what's the DU consensus on this?

[KoKo]

6. They still have Social Security. If they are felons they only get small

time in a cushy Fed Prison. Then they can come back as lobbyists or go on talk shows or whatever they want.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. I Agree With In Cog Ni To

You forfeit your governmental pension when you break the law. Those felons betrayed the public trust. The public should no longer be responsible for their well being. They forfeited the privilege of having society care about them when they stopped caring about society.
The Professor