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• Government Reform for Competition and Innovation Ideas

Ideas contributed by Community Member

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  Make Congress Work More Days Each Year

  What does it look like to have so many people unemployed and have a part-time Congress. Make Congress stay in session longer. They just came back from a ten (10) day break. An average of 160-190 workdays is too light for the problems that we have. Make it mandatory that a Congress' Session Calendar be posted to each Member's website, so that we can see what their workweek looks like. Basically, it is a three day week. ...more »

  What does it look like to have so many people unemployed and have a part-time Congress. Make Congress stay in session longer. They just came back from a ten (10) day break. An average of 160-190 workdays is too light for the problems that we have. Make it mandatory that a Congress' Session Calendar be posted to each Member's website, so that we can see what their workweek looks like. Basically, it is a three day week. If they are going to be part-time, they should be paid accordingly.

  http://www.thecapitol.net/FAQ/cong_numbers.html

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  STOP Nearly 1 in 10 House members paid at least six-figure bonus

  "Nearly 1 in 10 House members paid at least six-figure bonuses to their staffs last year", see the link below. This is a nosebleed that must stop. Take the ability to give these bonuses out of Congressional hands. OMB or some other agency must approve. What this means is that the staffers THEMSELVES are putting in for a bonus. They do all the work. Millions of Americans are out of work, this is shameful waste of tax ...more »

  "Nearly 1 in 10 House members paid at least six-figure bonuses to their staffs last year", see the link below. This is a nosebleed that must stop. Take the ability to give these bonuses out of Congressional hands. OMB or some other agency must approve.

  What this means is that the staffers THEMSELVES are putting in for a bonus. They do all the work.

  Millions of Americans are out of work, this is shameful waste of tax money.

  http://www.legistorm.com/blog/some-members-very-generous-with-staff-bonuses.html

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Fewer House Members - Immediately

  We should lower the number of House Members from 435 to 335 (as a start). Fax machines, instant messaging, no horse back riding and having to get back to harvest the crops--we haven't needed this many members in a very long time, but have failed to adjust the number. No need to enumerate all of the failures to compromise and get things done with the number that they currently have, we can read. Twenty-five years ago, ...more »

  We should lower the number of House Members from 435 to 335 (as a start). Fax machines, instant messaging, no horse back riding and having to get back to harvest the crops--we haven't needed this many members in a very long time, but have failed to adjust the number. No need to enumerate all of the failures to compromise and get things done with the number that they currently have, we can read.

  Twenty-five years ago, each had a cost of 1M for each staff office. No telling what the cost is now. That's over 100M in instant savings just for running congressional staff offices. Untold amounts in saving for the convoulted things they do, (or don't do). Lower the number. We owe it to our children to lower the number of these people, they are ineffective at this level. Reduce the number by 100, and keep reducing until they get the message and can do the work of the people. We are paying for their inefficiency.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Increasing Trade, Exports, and Overall Competitiveness »

  Eliminate Corporations Ability to Move Off Shore to Avoid Paying

  How dare they? With so many unemployed Americans, an economy that has been on the rocks and needs everyone pulling in the same direction----these corporations that have been founded here and take all the perks, manage to go outside the country for lower taxes--PAID TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. Corporations say that they have an ordained right to go to other countries to make their corporate headquaters a European city rather ...more »

  How dare they? With so many unemployed Americans, an economy that has been on the rocks and needs everyone pulling in the same direction----these corporations that have been founded here and take all the perks, manage to go outside the country for lower taxes--PAID TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. Corporations say that they have an ordained right to go to other countries to make their corporate headquaters a European city rather than in the U.S. It's all in the law, they say.

  Read the 60 Minutes transcript if you missed the show:

  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/25/60minutes/main20046867.shtml

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Make congress members pay for overnight office use.

  However Congress members think they are saving the taxpayers money by bedding down in the office, is beyond the pale. Make Congress members pay for their overnight accomodations on principal. Would be easy to implement, machine count their badges if they are leaving for the night. Collecting revenues wherever we can, for one thing, but also--wouldn't it be nice if we can convince them that they are not royalty? Treasury ...more »

  However Congress members think they are saving the taxpayers money by bedding down in the office, is beyond the pale. Make Congress members pay for their overnight accomodations on principal. Would be easy to implement, machine count their badges if they are leaving for the night. Collecting revenues wherever we can, for one thing, but also--wouldn't it be nice if we can convince them that they are not royalty? Treasury should be compensated for

  the extra lights and flushes. The absurdity must stop, these people purport that they are saving taxpayers by doing this. Even youth hostels have a room fee!

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Eliminate campaigning by Congress

  Each Member of Congress should be required to use the Internet alone for campaigning for office once elected the first time. That will take the teeth out of lobbyists and special interests that have them in their sites the minute they take office. Millions of dollars must be raised by members for their re-election, there is bound to be trouble with special interests which write the check. Use the internet so the barest ...more »

  Each Member of Congress should be required to use the Internet alone for campaigning for office once elected the first time. That will take the teeth out of lobbyists and special interests that have them in their sites the minute they take office. Millions of dollars must be raised by members for their re-election, there is bound to be trouble with special interests which write the check. Use the internet so the barest amount is spent. If I want to know, I'll look it up.

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  Ideas Worth Spreading---- Ted Talks

  Each government employee should spend a few minutes with Ted Talks---Ideas Worth Spreading. http://www.ted.com/ Find some subjects of interest and watch to see what develops in YOU. The presentations are, by definition, concise. Rarely does any speaker go over the 15 minute suggested time. That time element is part of what makes Ted Talks such a great tool. If you can't give your "elevator speech", then go back ...more »

  Each government employee should spend a few minutes with Ted Talks---Ideas Worth Spreading. http://www.ted.com/

  Find some subjects of interest and watch to see what develops in YOU. The presentations are, by definition, concise. Rarely does any speaker

  go over the 15 minute suggested time. That time element is part of what makes Ted Talks such a great tool. If you can't give your "elevator speech", then go back to the drawing board until you can.

  Watch at least three (3) to get a feel for how they are constructed. You will learn that sprightly presentations work. Using humor, personal examples get the listener's attention. You will soon learn, that if we were all thinking like this, we would get alot more done, in our families, in the workplace, in our nation, which is part of our ever expanding World.

  You can listen on your home computer or through your home download of iTunes.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Ideas to Make Other Parts of Government More Efficient and Effective »

  Make Supreme Court Justices Attend State of the Union Address

  Our taxes go to the pay of Supreme Court Justices. Our children need to see them in attendance at any State of the Union Address. Each justice must be present. This is Our Government made visible--to the entire nation and to the the world. The arrogance of three or four of the nine not in attendance is something that should not be tolerated. One justice said they were like bumps on a log. Well, that is one person's made-up ...more »

  Our taxes go to the pay of Supreme Court Justices.

  Our children need to see them in attendance at any State of the Union Address. Each justice must be present. This is Our Government made visible--to the entire nation and to the the world.

  The arrogance of three or four of the nine not in attendance is something that should not be tolerated. One justice said they were like bumps on a log. Well, that is one person's made-up perception--change your perception. Remember that someone is in a foxhole, that person would wish to be a bump on a log. If SOTU addresses bore you, you shouldn't have taken the job. Arrogance of the first rank, you were given the job because we thought you could be bi-partisan. Obviously they are not going to police themselves on this issue. The American people must demand it.

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  Social Security Should Be Means Tested

  Social Security should be means tested for income. One should be able to withdraw all that has been deposited, over the course of however many months, and then folliowing that--usually it teakes less than 2 years to recover all that has been put in--following that, there should be a means-structure. Super-rich people--the ones who oppose paying their fair share, should not be collecting social security on the backs of ...more »

  Social Security should be means tested for income.

  One should be able to withdraw all that has been deposited, over the course of however many months, and then folliowing that--usually it teakes less than 2 years to recover all that has been put in--following that, there should be a means-structure. Super-rich people--the ones who oppose paying their fair share, should not be collecting social security on the backs of younger workers. Social Security should be a baseline payment, as it was intended to be. Magazine articles have touted the idea that one can "payback" all the social security money received by an individual and then the person can reapply for benefits at a much higher rate. This is scamming the system. One hears commentators say that he or she "gives social security to charity", and sounds proud of it.

  Give it to the Treasury and the American people---Give It Back.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Government Forms of Every Type

  Forms of every kind used by the federal government, should go to a master form design. It is rare to find a government form that is well designed and useful. Forms that can't get it right in just two (2) pages are the culprit. Making duplicate copies is an unnecessary cost over-run at every agency, on a daily basis. Each form used by an agency should be evaluated and re-designed. Invariably, you've got too many wordy ...more »

  Forms of every kind used by the federal government, should go to a master form design. It is rare to find a government form that is well designed and useful. Forms that can't get it right in just two (2) pages are the culprit. Making duplicate copies is an unnecessary cost over-run at every agency, on a daily basis. Each form used by an agency should be evaluated and re-designed. Invariably, you've got too many wordy lines designated for Instructions with not enough line for the input. A high percentage of non-standardized forms go to mulitiple pages trying to say what they want it to say---ineffectively ! "Write for the Web" for these forms. Condense the information to two pages max, give us some room to write what you're asking to be completed, give us some eye-appeal and ease. Copy paper goes flying out of most agencies. Let's analyze what we are copying and where necessary---cut to the chase to save paper.

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  Use All-Agency Check Before Travel Expenses

  The $5M wasteful spending for "training" in Atlanta was a black eye for government work. It wasn't the first time it happened for one thing and for another, that kind of "training" is totally ineffective. The cost was exposed by an ABC news story, but it SHOULD have gone reported by many others who, in one way or another, had a hand in the flagrant abuse of authority. There must be an all-agency checkpoint. Anything ...more »

  The $5M wasteful spending for "training" in Atlanta was a black eye for government work. It wasn't the first time it happened for one thing and for another, that kind of "training" is totally ineffective. The cost was exposed by an ABC news story, but it SHOULD have gone reported by many others who, in one way or another, had a hand in the flagrant abuse of authority. There must be an all-agency checkpoint.

  Anything over a certain dollar amount must be pre-approved by a board outside the agency. No one should limit actual peer training and collaboration, but spending this much money for powerpoint and a big party is flagrant abuse. If a proposed training event can be done better/faster/cheaper closer to home, or with use of webinars and teleconferencing, then those suggestions must be made. Simple design, let the proposal request go via an email form to GSA or OPM, and let it be approved at that level. The people who let this happen should have been disciplined and Travel for this agency should be severely curtailed. If you missed the story, use your home computer to view:

  http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/party-time-faa-critics-question-million-gathering/story?id=9390933

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  Education should be taken out of states' budgets

  Education should be paid for by the federal government for a ten year period. It would give the duplication of services, the layering of expenses, poor performance and decaying infrastructure time to be fixed. Citizens should run local schools, but each American should not have to suffer the consequences of Age In Place adminstators who fail to produce results for our children. Society as a whole suffers when kids are ...more »

  Education should be paid for by the federal government for a ten year period. It would give the duplication of services, the layering of expenses, poor performance and decaying infrastructure time to be fixed. Citizens should run local schools, but each American should not have to suffer the consequences of Age In Place adminstators who fail to produce results for our children. Society as a whole suffers when kids are not educated. Take education out of state budgets for a limited amount of time, let's let do the work from the ground up, taking tenure and politics out of the equation. Teachers know how to produce excellence and kids respond to excellence. The cost saving is not just for education alone, it is for every failure that we eventually pay for in those who did not benefit from a quality education.

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  Military Officers have to pay a higher fee for Tricare

  We love our military. We love our military retirees. They were promised lifetime care, and they will have it. But, it flies in the face of a pay scale to begin with--officers make more money than enlisted, don't they? Retired military officers pay the same as enlisted $39.00 a month is not realistic. Of course they were promised, and may have made lifetime decisions based on the fact that TriCare would be there, but we ...more »

  We love our military. We love our military retirees.

  They were promised lifetime care, and they will have it. But, it flies in the face of a pay scale to begin with--officers make more money than enlisted, don't they? Retired military officers pay the same as enlisted

  $39.00 a month is not realistic. Of course they were promised, and may have made lifetime decisions based on the fact that TriCare would be there, but we have to face facts. Military officers and those enlisted who are retired who, say, make over 100K a year, simply should be paying more. Military retirees who come into the federal government as a civilian must be made to take federal hospitalization insurance. Must be mandated. In the case of a married person whose spouse can get the hospitlzation, there should be an incentive for them to shift the burden to a private company if it is possible.

  We have to face facts....$420 a year is too light. Let's not burden enlisted retirees, but others should have a fee hike, Proposal of a modest $60 yearly increase has been on the table for years. Get those who can use a spouse's hosptialization out of TriCare with the understanding that if something falls through, they can get back into the system, no questions asked. We have to make way for the lifetime care our Wounded Warriors will deserve.

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  Social Security for Caregivers of Wounded Warriors

  A younger worker who is Caregiver for a Wounded Warrior should be given immediate Social Security Benefits as if they were of the right age for collecting. Spouses and parents of our wounded are providing caring 24 hours a day.

  We owe the families of our wounded vets everything. No one should have to quit work and be denied an income because he or she is providing for our nation's best who have sacrificed for us.

  2 comments for Idea: Social Security for Caregivers of Wounded Warriors

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  Require Any Licensed Station to Provide Campaign Time

  Every licensed FCC radio and television outlet should have a mandatory 45 minute set-aside time each day during the election campaign season. Campaigners can have time slots and not have to pay for airtime--airtime that belongs to the public. Make the innovation a temporary 7- year period to see how things go, but we MUST take the money, and therefore the graft, out of elections. Corporations are carnivores and they ...more »

  Every licensed FCC radio and television outlet should have a mandatory 45 minute set-aside time each day during the election campaign season. Campaigners can have time slots and not have to pay for airtime--airtime that belongs to the public. Make the innovation a temporary 7- year period to see how things go, but we MUST take the money, and therefore the graft, out of elections. Corporations are carnivores and they are running the show, in each and every state throughout the country. Make it a level playing field for anyone running for national or state office. The idea that campaigners have to spend this mind-boggling amount of money means that special interests rule. We've GOT to break the backs of lobbyists and special interests. Make it clear that this is temporary, so as to take the teeth out of any who say it's a socialist subversive idea. We must take favoritism, graft and greed out of politics in any way that we can. The last presidential election was a mind-numbing 19 months' campaign. If there were a limited, regulated amount of time allocated for presentation at no cost to candidates, it would be better for all of us.

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  Transit Benefit Payment Modification -Use Timecard History

  It's impossible to track Actuals for use of the daily transit benefit. The payment should be as "look-back" from last month. Submit what you actually spent last month for this very generous benefit. Timecard data should agree with what is submitted. Electronically submit for the benefit through your electronic Time and Attendance. If someone has a few days' unexpected telework or is out three days for medical, this is ...more »

  It's impossible to track Actuals for use of the daily transit benefit. The payment should be as "look-back" from last month. Submit what you actually spent last month for this very generous benefit. Timecard data should agree with what is submitted. Electronically submit for the benefit through your electronic Time and Attendance. If someone has a few days' unexpected telework or is out three days for medical, this is not being reflected in the actual payment that is made. Tremendous waste is built into the system. Transit benefit should be tiered-for-income as well. Highest paid workers should not get the same benefit as lowest grades, it should be means tested--Congress members make $174K a year, should they have exactly the same $230 monthly benefit as a

  GS-4?

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  Make David Walker Special Assistant to the President

  Former Comptroller of the United States, David Walker should be asked to be a White House Special Assistant. He knows all about the budget, he speaks as a prophet. As any good prophet, he says there is hope if we actually do something. There is hope, but little time. Speaking before Congress didn't work. Mr Walker should be asked to be a Special Assistant to the President for the remainder of this Administration, and ...more »

  Former Comptroller of the United States, David Walker should be asked to be a White House Special Assistant. He knows all about the budget, he speaks as a prophet. As any good prophet, he says there is hope if we actually do something. There is hope, but little time. Speaking before Congress didn't work.

  Mr Walker should be asked to be a Special Assistant to the President for the remainder of this Administration, and be asked to sit in at any cabinet meeting. Every American should hear what Mr. Walker has said, mostly to deaf ears.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_M._Walker_(U.S._Comptroller_General)

  He has a clarion call about what needs to be done for the budget and how to control spending.

  If he is in cabinet meetings at the WH,, he can tell them how important it is to reign in spending, and most importantly, how it can be done. Appearing before Congress hasn't worked. He's no longer a government employee. As a Special Assistant to the President, he'll be able to function more effectively. Changes we need to make must be taken out of politics. We need to think like a business, at least long enough for the crisis to pass. We're stuck in the mud, we have to think cleverly to get pushed out.

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  Make Postal Service Give Us Barcodes via its website

  It's no longer part of Microsoft Word to have the postal barcode available to print. It is causing people to use FEDEX far more than should be permitted. The federal government should not subsidize the postal service only to make rich private companies such as FEDEX, Mandate purchase of barcode capability, make it part of a "website.gov " or USPS.com itself so that we can use postal barcodes deskside and not have to ...more »

  It's no longer part of Microsoft Word to have the postal barcode available to print. It is causing people to use FEDEX far more than should be permitted.

  The federal government should not subsidize the postal service only to make rich private companies such as FEDEX, Mandate purchase of barcode capability, make it part of a "website.gov " or USPS.com itself so that we can use postal barcodes deskside and not have to resort to using a private company. Barcodes greatly improve speed of delivery. When you send something out, you want to use a barcode and we no longer have the ability to do it, Microsoft has eliminated the app. Postal Service would get more business once people have to use it to get barcodes, they'd see all the different services available.

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  Give Clocktime to Shiftworkers for Medical and Dental

  Shiftworkers have special needs. Constantly changing work periods, need for extra sleep and proper nutrution, these people who do our most important work need special consideration. Most people wait a month to get a doctor's appt. How can it be that a shiftworker can plan in advance? Isn't that why they forego dentist and doctor appointments? Shift workers should have minimally six (6) paid days each year to take care ...more »

  Shiftworkers have special needs. Constantly changing work periods, need for extra sleep and proper nutrution, these people who do our most important work need special consideration. Most people wait a month to get a doctor's appt. How can it be that a shiftworker can plan in advance? Isn't that why they forego dentist and doctor appointments?

  Shift workers should have minimally six (6) paid days each year to take care of dental and medical, and possibly avail themselves of health- related classes, like sleep hygiene and nutrition. They should have free blood pressure screening and health checkups at

  government expense. This will ensure that each of them, as well as their managers have their health in mind.

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