No Labels Make Congress Work Action Plan

Below is the No Labels Make Congress Work action plan. This plan advances three goals: breaking gridlock, promoting constructive discussion and reducing polarization. Each idea would use one of the following four mechanisms to be enacted: Codes of Conduct [CC], House or Senate, Leadership [L], Rules Change [RC] or Bill [B]. We ask that you mark the ideas you support and then mail the action plan back to No Labels in the provided envelope.

Breaking Gridlock
No Budget, No Pay [B]
- Members of Congress will be docked pay for each day that they fail to pass the budget and all appropriations bills for the next fiscal year before the prior fiscal year ends

Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments [RC]

- All presidential nominations for executive and judicial positions must be confirmed or rejected within 90 days after the Senate receives the completed nomination - Completed means all paperwork and background check - The 90 days includes both committee and floor action - Rejection can occur at the committee stage if the nominee fails to obtain majority support in the relevant committee of jurisdiction

Fix the Filibuster [RC]

- Talking Filibuster: If senators want to halt action on a bill, they must take to the floor and hold it through sustained debate - End filibusters on motions to proceed to debate

Empower the Sensible Majority [RC]

- Reform House and Senate procedures to fast-track legislation with majority support - In the House, reform the discharge petition to restore the secrecy that allows individual members to vote without fear of leadership retribution by reversing the 1993 decision to make the process public - In the Senate, institute a parallel procedure that would enable majority coalitions to force floor consideration of bills held up by leaders, committee chairs, or individual senators

Make Members Come to Work [L]

- Each four-week congressional period will include three weeks in Washington followed by a week available for working at home with constituents - Each week in Washington will consist of a five day workweek - The House and Senate will coordinate schedules so they are in Washington during the same weeks

Promoting Constructive Discussion

Question Time for the President [L]
- Institute a regular question period that brings Congress and the president together

- President meets with House and Senate respectively on an alternating, monthly basis - Each session lasts for 90 minutes and is televised, with the majority and minority alternating questions

Fiscal Report to Congress: Hear it. Read it. Sign it. [L]
- Institute an annual report to a joint session of Congress on Americas fiscal
condition, coordinated and delivered by a high-ranking, non-partisan official such as the Comptroller General

- The president, vice president, all cabinet members, senators and representatives must
attend this fiscal update session and take individual responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the report by signing the report, just as CEOs are required to affirm the accuracy of their companies financial reporting

Reducing Polarization
No Pledge but the Oath of Office [CC] Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings [L]
- House and Senate institute monthly bipartisan gatherings - Gatherings would be off the record and not televised - If both sides agree, outside experts could be invited in to brief members on topics of concern

Bipartisan Seating [L]

- At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party - On committees and subcommittees, seating also would be arranged in an alternating bipartisan way by agreement between the chair and ranking member

Bipartisan Leadership Committee [L]

- Includes the President pro tempore of the senate, the speaker of the house and the Senate and House majority and minority leaders - Includes four open slots for any two members of the Senate and House, determined by lottery on a rotating basis - Meets weekly and, subject to mutual agreement, monthly with the President

No Negative Campaigns Against Incumbents [CC]

- Incumbents of one party should not conduct negative campaigns against incumbent members of the opposing party - Members are free to campaign or fundraise in support of candidates from their own party - This prohibition would not apply in the case of open seats

This form was completed by: _________________________________________________________ Office: ____________________________________________ Date: __________________________
No Labels - 1680 Wisconsin Avenue - Washington, DC 20007 Phone: (202) 588-1990 - Fax: (202) 588-7383 - Email: NancyJacobson@NoLabels.org