MAKE CONGRESS WORK No Labels Make Congress Work Action Plan

Congress is broken. No Labels has 12 common sense proposals that can have an immediate, positive impact on how our government works. Most of our proposals could be adopted all at once when the next Congress convenes in January 2013. Registration Opens To sign on Room, Cannon House Building Work action plan, please go to Caucus in support of No Labels Make Congress www.nolabels.org/work *The entrance is located at the corner of Independence Avenue, SE and New Jersey 1. No Budget, No Pay If members of Congress cant make spending and budget decisions on time, *Coffee and bagels will be provided. they shouldnt get paid on time either. Americans dont get paid if they dont do their jobs. The same should apply to Congress. Citizen Leader Meeting Begins: No Labels Strategy and Progress Report Jonathan Miller, Former Kentucky State Treasurer 2. Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments The Senates Advise and Consent role on presidential appointments is important. But it has become a partisan logjam that keeps crucial cabinet and Polling Presentation: The Numbers Are on Our Side judicial positions unfilled. A 90-day requirement for up or down votes will speed a process critical to a Mark McKinnon, Republican Strategist functioning government. Why Fixing the System Matters: Big Ideas to Change Congress 3. FilibusterCongressman first 50 years of (D-TN) and it was used only 35 times. InTom Davis Reform In the Jim Cooper the filibuster, Former Congressman the last two years, it was (R-VA) than 100 times to block passage of popular legislation. No Labels solution is a used more simple rule change requiring senators who want to block a bill to explain why in public and conduct an actual on-the-floor filibuster. Action Plan: No Labels National Press Conference Make Congress Work Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) 4. EmpowerSenator Dean Heller Party leaders may get political benefit from keeping Democrats the Sensible Majority (R-NV) and Republicans at each others throats, but it creates a poisonous climate that paralyzes Congress. ProSenator Bill Nelson (D-FL) cedural reforms that fast-track legislation with majority support and protect members against partisan Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) retribution will create room for bipartisanCleaver (D-MO) Congressman Emanuel solutions. Congressman Jim Cooper (D-TN) 5. Make Members Come to Work Everyone (D-IN) Former Senator Evan Bayh agrees Congress has a lot of work to do. It could actually get done if members put in a five-day workweek and spend three weeks of the month doing the peoples Former Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE) business. That will leave one week for constituent events in their home districts. Former Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) Former Congressman Mickey Edwards (R-OK) 6. Question Hon. for the President Former U.S. Comptroller General period that brings ConTime David Walker, No Labels proposes a regular question gress and the president together and puts all ideas on the table for open debate. Each 90-minute session would be televised so Like in Congress: can decide if their elected officials are serious about solving What It Was the American people A Conversation with problems. Former Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), Former Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) and Former Congressman Mickey Edwards (R-OK) 7. Fiscal Report to Congress: Hear it. Read it. Sign it. Politicians are entitled to their opinions, but not their ownDiscussion and Deep Dive: A Conversation About Each Rule Lunch facts about Americas fiscal condition. Getting the president, cabinet members, senators and members of Congress all workingPolicy Advisor to President Clinton Bill Galston, Former from the same set of numbers can be accomplished with an annual presentation to a Nardi Riddle,Congress by a nonpartisan leader such as the comptroller general. Clarine joint session of Chief of Staff to Senator Joe Lieberman 8. No Pledge but the Oath of Office With 80 percent of Congress having signed pledges to never raise taxes or never cut Social Security, there is no room for compromise on two of the biggest factors in Americas budget deficits. No Labels demands members of Congress make no pledges except the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.
*Lunch will be provided. Avenue, SE.

December 13, 2011 Draft Agenda

MAKE CONGRESS Action No Labels Make Congress WorkWORK Plan

9. Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings Like any workplace, Congress needs good human relationships to function. But members are more likely to glare at each other from partisan bunkers than get to know each other. Monthly bipartisan gatherings in the House and Senate will make it harder to demonize the other side and easier to forge solutions. Registration Opens Caucus Room, Cannon House Building 10. Bipartisan Seating Atis located at the corner of Independence Avenue, the and New Jersey all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, such as SE State of the *The entrance Union address, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party. Avenue, SE. Mature, clique-curbing seating should also be used on committees and subcommittees to alleviate *Coffee and bagels will be provided. us against them partisan tensions. Citizen Leader Meeting Begins: No Labels Strategy and Progress Report 11. Bipartisan Leadership Committee Republican and Democratic leaders turn virtually every Jonathan Miller, Former Kentucky State Treasurer meeting into a partisan pep rally. A bipartisan congressional leadership committee, including rotating positions for any memberThe Numbers Are on Our Side forum for discussing both Polling Presentation: of the House or Senate, will provide a legislative agendas and substantive solutions. Strategist Mark McKinnon, Republican 12. Negative CampaignsSystem Incumbents Informal customs that discouraged one member Why Fixing the Against Matters: Big Ideas to Change Congress aggressively Congressman Jim Cooperbeen ignored over the lastCongressman Tom Davis working to defeat another have (D-TN) and Former decade, setting off a cycle of mistrust and retribution that prevents problem solving. Under this change, members would be (R-VA) free to campaign for candidates of their own party, but not to engage in negative attacks on their colleagues across the aisle. Make Congress Work Action Plan: No Labels National Press Conference Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) To sign on in support Heller (R-NV) Congress Work action plan, please go to Senator Dean of No Labels Make www.nolabels.org/work Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) Congressman Jim Cooper (D-TN) Former Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) Former Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE) Former Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) Former Congressman Mickey Edwards (R-OK) Hon. David Walker, Former U.S. Comptroller General What It Was Like in Congress: A Conversation with Former Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), Former Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA) and Former Congressman Mickey Edwards (R-OK) Lunch Discussion and Deep Dive: A Conversation About Each Rule Bill Galston, Former Policy Advisor to President Clinton Clarine Nardi Riddle, Chief of Staff to Senator Joe Lieberman
*Lunch will be provided.

December 13, 2011 Draft Agenda