OPINION: Let's Move Congress Into The 21st Century

I go to a lot of Christmas parties. I love them! Because I cover politics, the discussion at these parties often turns to how Washington is broken. This year, the conversation reached a full crescendo. The parties were in full swing as the Senate passed the payroll tax bill and the House did not. “What is going to happen?” I was asked, as if I somehow could see the future. I gave my usual answer that I give whenever Congress is in town late during the Christmas season. “Congress doesn’t want to come back to Washington” or “The husband or wife is on the phone with the kids and the family pressure is on the member to get something done.” Sure enough, this year was no exception.

Members of Congress are people, even if they are also politicians. They have kids and grandkids and husbands and wives, and it does not sit well with them at this time of year to have them in Washington, D.C. There is the Christmas play, and Aunt Jane and Uncle Jim who have come to visit. The next-door neighbor has planned a cocktail party with your friends, and your spouse is not very excited to go alone. Pressure is on, and that bill that you felt so strongly about suddenly fades with the days of the season. It’s Christmas, and no one wants to be in Washington, D.C., far away from home.

So, what did Congress do this year? It went directly to the easiest trick in the book. It decided to do things by unanimous consent. It means a few members of Congress get up in the chamber and pass a bill. It only takes a few minutes and happens while the member is out shopping, going to the Christmas play, watching a sporting event or cooking with the family. There’s no heavy lifting.

Why, if this important bill passed with just a few members showing up in the chamber, can’t most of Congress’ work happen while members are home? I am not suggesting that all bills happen by unanimous consent, but if such a big bill can get passed while members are in their home districts, then why can’t others?

We live a very technological era. There is face recognition technology, fingerprint and iris readers, complicated sign in verifications. Why can’t we use some of these so that members can vote while at home? If the idea is to be in touch with the voters, then why does everyone need to come to Washington, D.C., for every vote?

I am not suggesting that we do a virtual Congress. There are real reasons for people to work together and make decisions and get to know other members from around the country. But, the money that would be saved by having Congress in town a whole lot less is staggering. Members would not be traveling back and fourth each weekend, and those terrible fundraisers that members have to go to every night would not happen. The influence of “power breakfasts,” aka interest groups seeking to influence legislation, would not be as prevalent. The wear and tear on the body of the members traveling home every week would also be saved.

We live in the 21st century. We no longer elect someone to stay in Washington for months at a time. The founders never intended for Congress to be a weekly commute. It is time we get real and looked at the realities of how legislation can get passed, the fundraising/influence peddling that now occupies members’ time in Washington and the broken game of partisanship in Congress. Have members vote from home, come to Washington for real legislative meetings and save us all from watching the dysfunctional show we saw this December. Let’s move Congress to the 21st century.

OPINION: Primary Rules

Why is it that only two of seven major contenders will be on the ballot in Virginia’s Republican presidential primary?

It’s because our federal system allows each state and each political party to design their own method on picking a nominee for President.

The qualifications are set by the Constitution — You must be 35 years old and a natural born American citizen. But each national party tells each state how many delegates they can send to their national conventions that actually make the nomination.

Then, to pick those delegates, each state party creates its own system. If that involves an official election, then state campaign laws also come into play.

That’s how Virginia can require 10,000 signatures, divided among 11 congressional districts, as a pre-condition to get on the ballot. Doing well in the polls doesn’t count; you’ve got to be well-organized and plan ahead to qualify.

From The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.

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OPINION: Groped Over The Holidays

While Louise and I said “No” to the Chertoff Porno X-Ray Scanners this past weekend - and so were punished by waiting and getting groped - the TSA’s “security theater” has hit the road.  TSA Security teams are now roaming the country setting up shop at other transportation depots besides airports.  Over 9,300 unannounced checkpoints were set up this year at places like train stations, subways, ferries, and other mass transit hubs – costing taxpayers 110 million bucks.  While they left the Chertof x-ray porno scanners back at the airports – the TSA teams do arm themselves with radiation detectors and dogs.  There’s no proof that the random checkpoints are working to prevent any sort of terrorist attack – but they are doing one heckuva job trampling on the rights of Americans to be presumed innocent for just wanting to get on a bus, train, or plane. 

OPINION: The Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas,
And all ‘cross the land
All the people were saying,
“Wasn’t Christmas just grand?”

The children were joyful,
The parents were tired,
And grandfolks, aunts and uncles
Had been really inspired.

The stockings still hung by the chimneys with care
But the toes were now empty; there was nothing left there.

All the presents were opened
The carols all had been sung
We’d enjoyed our big gathering
Where we’d seen everyone.

But beneath all the clutter, the leftovers and toys
Was the meaning eternal, and the source of our joys.
For we’d focused our time not on gifts, not on food
But on the true source of our holiday mood.
We read verses, we sang songs, we remembered and smiled
For the cause of it all was the holy Christ Child.

So may we proclaim ‘ere the year starts again:
Let’s promote peace on earth, and good will to men.

From The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.

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OPINION: Flash Mobs At Christmas

I really enjoy the flash mobs at Christmastime.

No, I don’t mean the Occupy protestors; I mean people who surprise people at a mall, a restaurant, an airport, or anyplace else with an outburst of unexpected music, singing and maybe dancing.  It’s a modern variation on Christmas caroling, but it surprises large gatherings rather than households.

Handel’s “Messiah” is one of the most popular themes, but others are light-hearted Christmas songs or classic carols.  Thanks to social media, organizers can bring together large groups that sometimes didn’t even know each other until they pull off their surprise.

Of course they record it on cell phones or pocket cams, and share it on the Internet.  If you haven’t seen a group of senior citizens singing and dancing slowly in store aisles with canes and walkers, then you better look online.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

From The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.

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