CONCORD MONITOR OP-ED: Hold Congress accountable

Hold Congress accountable

Americans are sick of status quo

It has been over a year since the election that was supposed to bring us hope and change, and this much is clear: This Congress is incapable of changing, and hope is fading fast for most Americans.

The days of trading taxpayer bribes, favors and power at the cost of American citizens must end. If we are ever to make progress on the critical issues of jobs creation, energy independence and health care, we must reform the way Washington does business.

The voters in Massachusetts spoke in a loud, clear voice when they elected Scott Brown. They shouted "No!" to the ways of Washington, "No!" to insider politics and closed-door deals, "No!" to out of control spending that destroys opportunity and crushes the hopes of future generations.

Americans are sick and tired of the old ways of Washington, tired of being treated as though we are stupid. Congress is shirking its responsibility. Gimmicks like debt commissions and false spending freezes are not substitutes for lawmakers doing their job. We understand how to balance a budget, and we expect those we elected to make the same tough choices we make every day: prioritize, cut, balance.

Government has grown beyond its means. It is too big, too intrusive and too expensive. Congress has become a swamp of power brokers engaged in backroom trades and buyoffs. The health care debate exposed this more clearly than ever before, as one senator after the other demanded a payoff in exchange for votes.

They have put power and party above the people, and it has to end. It is time to drain the swamp.

Make no mistake: This is a nonpartisan problem. The Republicans were fired with cause in 2006, and that is not a Washington we want to return to. If we are to preserve our democratic republic and return our legislators to the task of working responsibly for the people again, we must return integrity and openness to Congress.

The next Congress must commit to genuine reform. Let those who would earn the privilege of serving their neighbors in government remain engaged entirely in service.

It is up to us to make them understand that the privilege is a temporary one, not a lifetime assignment. Let us make it clear that they will forever be accountable to us, not the other way around.

Only when we change the kind of people we send to Washington can we fully expect to change Washington itself.

There are several simple steps we can take to make Congress work for the people once again.

We must have term limits in both houses- three terms in the House, two in the Senate. That is more than enough time to make an impact - get it done and then return home to your real job.

Congress must be forced to be responsible with our money. A balanced budget amendment and constitutionally sound line-item veto will force them to think before they spend.

The earmark process, which is nothing more than a blatant exchange of power, must be eliminated completely. We must have representatives who pledge not only never to seek earmarks, but to work aggressively to eliminate them altogether.

Congress must be held accountable for every law it passes; if there is to be health care reform that includes a public option, members of Congress must accept that option for their own coverage. The days of exceptions for Congress, unions and other special interests must end.

We must have sunset provisions on every dime spent so that no program is funded indefinitely without review for efficiency, necessity and integrity. The taxpayers of New Hampshire are not ATMs, and it is time to stop treating them as such.

Finally, congressional pensions must come to an end. Service to the people should never be used as a means to support yourself for life. Our founding fathers frequently expressed concerns that power would prove to be too intoxicating a drug for those who achieved it and warned us against the dangers of career politicians.

We are living today with the consequences of exactly that, but it does not have to be. We, the people, can embrace our own power as voters. We can make our voices heard and demand the change we have been promised over and over again. Let every incumbent and career politician take notice: pink slips are on their way.