THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 8, 1994 TAG: 9408040012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Here are some suggestions to improve the efficiency of Congress and help the people and governments that must live with its decisions.
To end attaching funding for pork-barrel projects to important legislation, allow no amendments except those to improve the operation or effectiveness of the measure.
To control the creation of ``hidden'' taxes, eliminate all federal taxes except income tax and users' fees directly related to expense (federal highway tax on gas and diesel fuel).
To prevent deficit spending and the looting of Social Security funds, require all future legislation to stipulate where money to pay for it will come from. Include existing laws or programs, or eliminate them.
To allow people to decide issues which the Congress lacks the political courage to act on, create a structure for national referendums. To alleviate the stress on our overburdened state and local governments, require any legislation mandating action by state and local governments to contain funding for all expenses.
Perhaps these common-sense reforms would start our Congress on the road to honest service.
JEFFREY B. McINTYRE
Norfolk, July 22, 1994 by CNB