Government Reform #2: Earmarks

The biggest problems in government is that Senators and Congressmen buy votes by providing money for projects in their home state and district. This empowers lobbyists in Washington and an unfair advantage to incumbent Congressional leaders (they get reelected 96% of the time).

In order to eliminate this unfair power grab for lobbyists and incumbents, I propose a new system of allocating money.

1. The previous government reform rules apply

2. The state legislature will prioritize their list of demands and will submit it to their congressional delegation to bring it to Washington. This list must be made public, and all organizations on that list must show complete financial information, just like a bank loan.

3. All funding priorities should be included on this list including Medicaid funding, health care funding, roads and bridges, water projects, and all other projects.

4. Money will be fought for as a block, and that block money will come back to the state for allocation to the list by the legislature. The money is recommended to fund the highest priorities first, but it is up to the discretion of the state.

5. Voters will vote on the priorities list of their local and state elected officials, thereby bringing power back to the people and away from the power of the incumbent Congressional Delegation.