	Reprinted from www.libertylobby.org, home of The SPOTLIGHT archive
Home About us Archives Search Links Support us Contact us Books	Congressional Campaign Reform According to Pat Buchanan, "We must end the glorified bribery that passes for fundraising in congressional campaigns, and cleanse our capital city of the buying and selling of political influence." To that end, Buchanan has put forth a number of solid proposals which follow: Congressional Reform • Reestablish the Right of States to Limit Terms Congress should pass a law that recognizes the right of the states to impose term limits on members of Congress and that restricts the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court so that it cannot overturn state term limit laws. • Abolish Congressional Pensions Congressional pensions will be eliminated. Retired and current members of the House and Senate may keep their pensions, but payments will be frozen, and there will be no future cost of living increases. Congressmen will not be allowed into the pension system. They will go on Social Security and can use their personal savings, like everyone else, for their retirement. • Ban Franked Mass Mail Franked mass mail will be banned. Members of Congress will use the frank only to answer unsolicited mail and constituent queries. Campaign Finance Reform • House Campaigns: Limit Money From Outside the District House candidates should raise 75 percent of their campaign funds from within the district they are seeking to represent. Contributions will be limited to $1,000 per contributor for the primary and $1,000 for the general election. • Senate Campaigns: Limit Money From Outside the State Senate candidates should raise 75 percent of their campaign funds from individuals within the states they are seeking to represent. Contributions will be limited to $1,000 for the primary and $1,000 for the general election. • No Corporate PAC Money Corporate Political Action Commit tees will be barred from contributing to candidates for federal office and national party committees. • No Corporate Money Corporations will be barred from contributing to the national political party committees. Lobbying Reform • $10,000 Fee For Foreign Agents Americans registering with the Justice Department as foreign agents for foreign corporations, institutions and governments will be required to pay a $10,000 annual licensing fee. The Justice Department will use the money to track and publicly report the activities of these foreign agents of influence in the United States. • No Foreign Agents in a Buchanan Administration Members of a Buchanan administration will take an oath pledging to never work on behalf of a foreign government. • 5-Year Lobbying-Ban on Former Congressmen and Staff There will be a 5-year ban on all lobbying by former members of Congress or their staff. • 5-Year Lobbying Ban on Former White House Staff There will be a 5-year ban on all lobbying by every former White House staff member. • Tax Exempt Institutions Must Report Foreign Contributors All tax-exempt public policy institutions -- foundations, think-tanks, advocacy groups -- will publicly disclose all money received from foreign governments individuals and institutions.

Reprinted from www.libertylobby.org, home of The SPOTLIGHT archive

Congressional Campaign Reform

According to Pat Buchanan, "We must end the glorified bribery that passes for fundraising in congressional campaigns, and cleanse our capital city of the buying and selling of political influence." To that end, Buchanan has put forth a number of solid proposals which follow:

Congressional Reform

• Reestablish the Right of States to Limit Terms

Congress should pass a law that recognizes the right of the states to impose term limits on members of Congress and that restricts the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court so that it cannot overturn state term limit laws.

• Abolish Congressional Pensions

Congressional pensions will be eliminated. Retired and current members of the House and Senate may keep their pensions, but payments will be frozen, and there will be no future cost of living increases. Congressmen will not be allowed into the pension system. They will go on Social Security and can use their personal savings, like everyone else, for their retirement.

• Ban Franked Mass Mail

Franked mass mail will be banned. Members of Congress will use the frank only to answer unsolicited mail and constituent queries.

Campaign Finance Reform

• House Campaigns: Limit Money From Outside the District

House candidates should raise 75 percent of their campaign funds from within the district they are seeking to represent. Contributions will be limited to $1,000 per contributor for the primary and $1,000 for the general election.

• Senate Campaigns: Limit Money From Outside the State

Senate candidates should raise 75 percent of their campaign funds from individuals within the states they are seeking to represent. Contributions will be limited to $1,000 for the primary and $1,000 for the general election.

• No Corporate PAC Money

Corporate Political Action Commit tees will be barred from contributing to candidates for federal office and national party committees.

• No Corporate Money

Corporations will be barred from contributing to the national political party committees.

Lobbying Reform

• $10,000 Fee For Foreign Agents

Americans registering with the Justice Department as foreign agents for foreign corporations, institutions and governments will be required to pay a $10,000 annual licensing fee. The Justice Department will use the money to track and publicly report the activities of these foreign agents of influence in the United States.

• No Foreign Agents in a Buchanan Administration

Members of a Buchanan administration will take an oath pledging to never work on behalf of a foreign government.

• 5-Year Lobbying-Ban on Former Congressmen and Staff

There will be a 5-year ban on all lobbying by former members of Congress or their staff.

• 5-Year Lobbying Ban on Former White House Staff

There will be a 5-year ban on all lobbying by every former White House staff member.

• Tax Exempt Institutions Must Report Foreign Contributors

All tax-exempt public policy institutions -- foundations, think-tanks, advocacy groups -- will publicly disclose all money received from foreign governments individuals and institutions.