Finally, a Senator Thinks in a Madisonian Way

Image via Wikipedia

Senator Michael F. Bennet of Colorado recently introduced legislation (and gave a floor speech) to reform the Senate. Among the things most latched onto by some is the way he wants to reform the fillibuster rule. I would actually make the point that the fillibuster rule, as well as lowering the cloture threshold to 60 from 67, has increased the partisan ship and made it too easy for the extremes of both parties to get things they want but to stick to the point let us move on.

The parts that should be highlighted for making annoyingly too much sense, are his Earmark and Lobbying reforms. They are:

Lobbying Reform

• Put a lifetime ban on Members of Congress becoming lobbyists
• Ban congressional staff from lobbying their former boss for 6 years
• Ban former committee staff from lobbying their former boss or any member of the committee who was active during their time on staff for 6 years.
• Ban lobbyists from joining congressional staff or committee staff for 6 years.
• Create stricter rules for lobbyist registration.
• Institute penalties for failing to register as a lobbyist

Earmark Reform

• Ban earmarks to private, for-profit companies and institutions.
• Make earmarks transparent
• - Members of Congress must report all earmark requests they receive and all earmarks requests made
• - Earmarks.gov should list all earmarks requests, sortable by member of Congress
•  Hold Members of Congress accountable on earmark requests
• - All earmark requests above $1 million should go before the Appropriations Committee
•  Hold earmarks recipients accountable
• - Each year, a certain percent of all earmarks will be audited to ensure that taxpayer money is being spent wisely. These reports should be made public on earmkarks.gov

On almost all of these he has the right idea but in some cases, he doesn't go far enough. For instance, no former staffer (either kind, committee or congressional) should be allowed to be a lobbyist to anyone, for anything. No lobbyist can ever work in any manner in Congress and their should be a lifetime ban for failing to register with Congress as a lobbyist.

On earmarks, their should simply be a ban on all earmark requests for non-state wide projects. One small town should not be getting millions of federal money. Turn non-state wide projects into a waiver program. If a town wants money from the federal government for a highway expansion or a new overcrossing, etc they can apply for a federal waiver in tax payments up to the dollar amount needed for said project. A couple examples of a state wide project would be a state wide highway or state wide energy infrastructure overhaul, etc.

His fillibuster changes and spending etc are just make up on a donkey but Sen. Bennett deserves credit for thinking in a constitutional manner rather than a political one.

Ezra Klien of the Washington Post apparently got a follow up interview with Sen. Bennett that can be read here.