RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT

The Congress no longer holds government accountable and we regularly see our government at every level shirk their appointed responsibilities to the country. I have several ideas to implement to ensure and enforce the intention of the very purpose of our government.

Executive Branch

- EXECUTIVE ORDER REFORM: Major reforms are needed to curb executive orders. Regardless of party, the increased use of executive orders by recent Presidents has undermined the separation of powers set down by the constitution. The country now stands at the precipice of potential efforts toward totalitarian rule if we continue down this path. No matter the intent or outcome by the President’s use of these orders, the US Congress must put into action laws to reinforce our long-held contempt of a single individual enacting legislation through personal decree. 

My solution: Any executive orders should require the approval of the specialized congressional committee to which the order holds the most merit, as appointed by speaker of the house, within 30 days for said order to continue to be considered binding for employees of the executive branch. Upon approval by that committee executive branch employees can no longer be prosecuted for following or executing the direction of said order. 

- PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES: An area of particular lack of effort in our last few Presidents is positions ranging from undersecretary cabinet to state department security, being left unappointed for the entire length of their term. There is currently no timetable to make these Presidential appointees. 

My solution: I intend to introduce legislation to require all appointees to be presented to the senate within the first 18 months of the new President’s administration. Any unappointed position by this time would require a bipartisan committee to make this appointment, with said committee to be chaired by the President of the Senate (Vice President).

  - SENATORIAL HEARINGS: How often have we seen critical Senatorial hearings held up because of partisan holdouts? Or worse, frivolous hearings fast-tracked with seemingly zero resistance? Too much of our government is being slowed down or grinding to a halt because of needless bureaucracy. 

My solution: In conjunction with legislation to require presidential appointees in a timely fashion I would also introduce legislation to require the senate to begin hearings within 90 days of the Presidential appointment. This would extend beyond cabinet appointees and include federal justices. Should the senate not fulfill beginning hearings within that obligated time, the position would be then filled by the appointee on the 91st day, and unlike a recess appointment, would no longer be obligated to senate approval. 

-  CONGRESSIONAL ETHICS REFORM: Regardless of party, it’s plain to see congressional ethics need SERIOUS reform. While only the most egregious acts of deception and illegality go punished, we see an increase in poor decorum and outright lies from our “leaders” in Congress. 

My solution: I propose the formation of a special bicameral committee to investigate ethics on social media and the spreading of false, misleading and improper information (also known as misinformation, disinformation and “mal-information”) by our elected officials on social media. Any dissemination of information encouraging violent or treasonous behavior by members of congress should lead to immediate expulsion. 

  - TERM LIMITS: As we have seen, the lifetime appointment no longer prevents the partisan-ization of the Court as was the intent. As we continue in an age of unprecedented, rapid technological development, it is imperative that our justice system continue to be infused with new blood that understands and utilizes this technology to fully comprehend the impact of their rulings on the citizenry at large. 

My solution: The Supreme Court justices should have a single 25-year term appointment. This new approach this would require a constitutional change, which makes the process longer and more difficult; but a necessary one to provide the insight needed to apply the law to the current and changing demands of business, communal, and societal interests.

- CODE OF ETHICS: This really should be a no-brainer, but recent events involving our Supreme Court justices make clear that they live by their own set of codes and ethics. How is it even possible that the branch of government responsible for determining what is and is not Constitutional, isn’t held to a standard of ethics??

My solution: In an expansion of the checks and balances system the Senate Judiciary Committee should be impowered to enact a code of ethics to govern all federal judges, not to exclude the Supreme Court. All federal judges should be required to follow the same rules as congress on accepting gifts and favors from individuals, companies, and special interest groups. 

  - TRUTH IN REPORTING: You’d have to have been living in a cave to not have heard the term “fake news.” In fact, it’s so prevalent, that even credible news outlets and stories are being branded as “fake news.” That’s not to say the media doesn’t have its issues; it absolutely does. News organizations now are so desperate for clicks or reposts on social media that they have completely abandoned the reporting of fact in favor of attention-grabbing or salacious headlines. And in this day and age of the 24-hour news cycle, there’s no need to run a retraction because they’re already on to the next thing. It’s irresponsible, and it’s leading to a lot of division and hostility towards each other. 

My solution: All newsworthy institutions shall be certified as credible and truthful by a review of their own industry, regardless of any political bent in which this information is presented to the American populace. Congress should appoint a certification board comprised of current and former journalists and they shall be tasked with studying the veracity of reporting, starting with the largest news agencies and programs based on viewership and/or distribution and continuing the process based on circulation. Basically, this will establish a grading system based on truthfulness of the reporting, similar to the health inspection grade on the outside of restaurants, or the ratings you see on television shows. Any news outlet that operates on a national level should be required to display this grade in a corner during its tv/computer broadcast, printed on the front page in its paper, or as a disclaimer at the beginning of its radio/podcast broadcast. The ratings should be just as grades in school with 90% accuracy above being considered an “A” or most reputable, 80-89% accuracy considered a “B” or largely reputable, 70-79% accuracy considered a “C” reputable, 69-69% accuracy considered a “D” and questionable, and anything below considered entertainment only and not to be considered news. I believe that participation will be easy to do on a voluntary basis as the news organizations that present honest facts will desire and proudly display their accuracy, while disreputable new resources will attack even this voluntary system as oppressive and untrustworthy, proving exactly why such a system is needed.