Issue Position: Restoring Common Sense and Accountability to Government

Issue Position

You don't have to look far today to find proof that Americans in general and Michigan citizens in particular are upset with politics as usual in Lansing and Washington. Poll after poll confirms this, and the incumbents who haven't already announced their retirement are scrambling. They know that unlike the past, when voters gave politicians the benefit of the doubt based on good intentions, today's voters are judging results. It's no secret that both parties share blame.

When this country was founded, the government was made up of citizens who never envisioned spending their lifetime in public office. They knew that to do so, one risked becoming far too comfortable, too cozy with special interests, and susceptible to corruption and addiction to power. They also knew, having fled a tyrannical government, that the new country needed two separate systems -- a strong state government, and a limited federal government. The federal government would handle only certain specified issues. Everything else would remain with the states.

Today's government in Washington is a far cry from that envisioned by the Founders. It is too big, too inefficient, and too far removed from the people it seeks to serve. It spends money it doesn't have on things it doesn't need to avoid future budget decreases. It awards no-bid contracts to select political connections rather than demanding the most for our money. It has grown so arrogant that it seeks to extend its very reach into our homes and dictate even what light bulbs we may use.

The federal government has a proper role and it is time to return the balance. There are many decent, hardworking federal employees and we salute the important work they do on our behalf every day. To restore the government to the People, we must adopt the following principles beginning January 2011:

Constitutionality - Integrity - Accountability - Transparency - Efficiency - Accessibility

CONSTITUTIONALITY means that politicians should be required to cite the provision in the Constitution which allows for each action sought to be taken by the federal government. At a time in which tough choices need to be made, it only makes sense that the government do first things first -- that is, do those things well which it is MANDATED to do before attempting to do those things which are not. Doing otherwise only encourages the building of a society upon a shaky foundation. While worthy programs might not receiving the funding level preferred, making promises of increased funding this year which will only necessarily be cut back next year is not responsible and suggests that politicians are playing politics with our money and our lives.

INTEGRITY means doing the right thing even when it's not an election year. If a politician campaigned on fiscal responsibility, his voting record should reflect that -- no blame game, NO EXCUSES.

ACCOUNTABILITY means answering to the people. Public servants are supposed to serve the public…not party bosses, not special interests, but the people in the District. If a politician can't keep his voicemail cleaned out, host a live town hall, or answer a simple question with a direct and honest answer, how can he do the tougher parts of the job we elected him to do such as reduce the deficit?

TRANSPARENCY means performing the job in the open…no secret meetings with special interests, back room deals, cronyism, disingenuous euphemisms, or legislative gimmicks. A politician should mean what he says and say what he does. Transparency means not burying crucial language in a pile of legislative gobbledygook like saying questionable organizations are de-funded, then re-funding them under the radar. Transparency also means that the People's business should be recorded in such a way that the average citizen does not need a PhD or JD to interpret it.

EFFICIENCY means remembering that every elected official and government employee is a steward of the public purse. That purse is not a slush fund from which to buy loyalty, favor, or job security for any individual or party, but rather is the personal wealth of individuals earned through hard work and ingenuity, and collected only to meet the limited responsibilities of the federal government toward the citizens. Efficiency in government means looking for ways to do more with less, just as our families must do in these challenging economic times. No-bid contacts do not allow a full process to ascertain true value for cost, and therefore, do not advance the goal of improved efficiency and elimination of waste.

ACCESSIBILITY means keeping the door, which for too many in Washington is presently wide open for well-heeled lobbyists, open for the citizens who pay the bills. This year alone we've heard about citizens around the country threatened with arrest for trying to visit their congressperson to share an opinion, citizens who receive form letters not at all relevant to their earlier contact, mailboxes full for days, and lawmakers ducking out the backdoor to avoid visitors. That is shameful and it needs to stop. If a politicians does not want to do the job for which they were elected, they should resign…not get reelected.

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