Service is an honor, not a career

Dear editor:

I received an article which I think may be something that could save America from our corrupt congress. It is called the "Congressional Reform Act of 2010."

I address this to all conservatives, liberals and everybody in between. This act contains eight provisions, all of which would probably be strongly endorsed by those who drafted the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I can already hear many saying "this is impossible." Let me remind you, Congress has the lowest approval of any entity in government. Now is the time when Americans can join together to reform congress -- the entity that represents us.

Congressional Act of 2010

1. Term limits: 12 years only, one of the possible options below:

A. Two six-year senate terms.

B. Six two-year house terms.

C. One six-year senate term and three two-year house terms.

Serving in congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

2. No Tenure/No Pension:

A congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.

Serving in congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

3. Congress (past, present and future) participates in Social Security:

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund moves to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security System. Congress participates with the American people.

Serving in congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s) then go home and back to work.

4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan just as all Americans.

Serving in congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

Serving in congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

Serving in congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

7. Congress must equally abide in all laws they impose on the American people.

Serving in congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

8. All contracts with past and present congressmen are void effective 1/l/11. The American people did not make this contract with congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves.

Serving in congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.

Sooner or later, if we want to keep this great nation of ours, this must happen. We have to stop congressmen from making this a career. They have to start representing the people. They seem to be representing only themselves.

This may be the only avenue left for a representative government our Founding Fathers intended.

Larry J. Heinen