WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) is urging President Trump to act swiftly on government reform proposals including term limits, budget amendments, and anti-corruption measures. In a letter sent on Monday, Trump’s first full day in office, Fitzpatrick pressed the Administration to support the anti-corruption legislative package he introduced immediately after being sworn in to the House.

“As a former FBI Special Agent and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, I understand the crucial importance of clean government and anti-corruption efforts in maintaining the trust between every American citizen and their government officials. I believe that passing these common sense reforms are the first step towards restoring the essential trust between the American people and Congress,” said the letter in part (complete letter below). “You were an outspoken supporter of term limits and other reform efforts during the campaign, and I ask you to join me in transitioning power away from the political parties in Washington DC and sending it to its rightful place: in the hands of the American people.”

Included in Fitzpatrick’s reform package are three Constitutional amendments and one bill aimed at fixing Washington’s broken system:

• Term Limits for Members of Congress (Constitutional amdt.)
  • Limits members of the House of Representatives and Senate to 12 years of service total
• No Budget, No Pay (Constitutional amdt.)
  • Prevents members of Congress from being paid unless a budget is passed.  Goes further than previous iterations of No Budget, No Pay by docking pay for time without a budget as opposed to simply putting member salaries in escrow until end of term.
• Balanced Budget Amendment (Constitutional amdt.)
  • Requires Congress to adopt a budget that balances like most states, including Pennsylvania, and municipalities
• Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform (CLEAN) Act (H.R)
  • Ends Congressional “pensions for life” and directs members toward standard 401K retirement savings accounts
  • Requires Congress to act on single-issue legislation
  • Codifies that all laws passed by Congress must apply to its members
  • Reforms the broken “Gerrymandering” process by moving all redistricting to independent, non-partisan commissions
  • Allows access to political party primaries for Independents or non-affiliated voters

Full text of the letter is below. A signed .pdf is attached.

January 23, 2017

 

President Donald J. Trump

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

 

Dear President Trump:

In the 115th Congress, the House will have the opportunity to show the American people that we are serious about reforming our government and preventing corruption before it takes root. At a time when many of our fellow citizens feel that the system is broken and too many hardworking Americans feel left behind, I look forward to working with you in pursuing an agenda that transcends political parties and restores trust in our leaders and government institutions. To that end, upon being officially sworn into office, I immediately introduced a package of anti-corruption legislation—reform measures that you have outspokenly supported during the campaign. The three Constitutional amendments and one bill are among the first legislation filed in the 115th Congress and come following months of effort and discussion. Included in the package are:

•  Term Limits for Members of Congress (H.J. Res. 7). The amendment would limit members of the House of Representatives and Senate to 12 years of service total

•  No Budget, No Pay (H.J. Res. 9). The amendment would prevent members of Congress from being paid unless a budget is passed.  This goes further than previous iterations of No Budget, No Pay by docking pay for time without a budget as opposed to simply putting member salaries in escrow until the end of term.

•  Balanced Budget Amendment (H.J. Res. 8). This amendment requires Congress to adopt a budget that balances each year like most states are required.

•  Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform (CLEAN) Act (H.R. 145).   This bill ends Congressional “pensions for life” and directs members toward standard 401K retirement savings accounts, requires Congress to act only on single-issue pieces of legislation, and codifies that all laws passed by Congress must apply to its members. This Act would also seek to reform the broken “gerrymandering” process by transferring all redistricting powers to independent, non-partisan commissions at the state level, and would allow access to partisan political party primaries for independents or non-affiliated voters.

As a former FBI Special Agent and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, I understand the crucial importance of clean government and anti-corruption efforts in maintaining the trust between every American citizen and their government officials. I believe that passing these common sense reforms are the first step towards restoring the essential trust between the American people and Congress.  You were an outspoken supporter of term limits and other reform efforts during the campaign, and I ask you to join me in transitioning power away from the political parties in Washington DC and sending it to its rightful place, in the hands of the American people. I hope that you will consider joining me in this effort to reform Washington through endorsing and supporting this legislative agenda.

Sincerely,

 

Brian Fitzpatrick

Member of Congress

 

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