Principles of Reform

Reform Party of Alaska

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Principles of Reform

The following Principles of Reform, adopted as part of the Platform Packet in Dearborn, Michigan July 24,1999, are considered an integral part of the Reform Party USA Platform.

Readopted Aurora, Colorado September 7, 2002.

1. Set the highest ethical standards for the White House and Congress

2. Balance the Budget

3. Campaign Reform

4. Create a new tax system

5. Carefully putting together plans to deal with Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security

6. Promoting jobs in the USA

7. Lobbying Reform

Set the highest ethical standards for the White House and Congress:

No more gifts.
No more trips or junkets paid for by special interests.
No more free meals.
Pass laws with significant penalties - not rules.
Give Congress and the White House the same retirement plans and health care as the average citizen.

Balance the Budget:

Develop a detailed blueprint to balance the budget.
Eliminate the practice of keeping some programs off-budget.
Pass the Balanced Budget Amendment.
Create an annual financial report in plain language so the American people will know whether or not we are following the plan to balance the budget.
Give the President the Line Item Veto.

Campaign Reform:

Reduce the cost of campaigns by shortening the election cycle.
Vote on Saturdays and Sundays - not Tuesdays - so working people can get to the polls.
Replace the Electoral College process for electing the President with a direct vote from the citizens - so that every vote counts.
Prohibit announcements of exit polls until all voting has been completed in Hawaii.
Require Members of Congress to raise all money from voters in their districts, and require members of the Senate to raise all money from voters within their States.

Term Limits:

Limit Members of Congress to three terms in the House of Representatives and limit Senators to two terms in the Senate.

Create a new tax system:

It must be fair.
It must raise the money to pay the bills.
Require that any future tax increases under this new system be approved by the people in the next federal election, in order to impose discipline on spending.

Carefully putting together plans to deal with Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security:

Explain these plans in detail to the American people.
Get a consensus.
Pilot test each of these programs before implementing them nationwide to make sure they produce the anticipated results at the anticipated cost.
Keep these programs dynamic, so they can be changed based on experience - don't freeze them with restrictive legislation.

Promoting jobs in the USA:

Negotiate trade agreements that promote American jobs, consumer safety, environmental protection, and fair trade.
Create a business environment that supports small business, which accounts for roughly 80 percent of jobs held by Americans today. Trade agreements, tax reform, health care reform, and other programs must reflect the needs of small business.

Lobbying Reform:

Prohibit former elected and appointed officials from ever taking money from foreign governments or foreign interests.
Prohibit any former high level federal employees - including elected officials - from ever working as a foreign lobbyist.
Allow foreign governments to provide information to our government through the State and Commerce Departments and the Executive Branch, but prohibit them from giving contributions or gifts of any kind.
Allow foreign representatives to visit with Members of Congress, but under no circumstances allow them to give elected officials anything now or later.
Prohibit any former high level federal employees - including elected officials - from working as a domestic lobbyist for five years after leaving government service in the area for which they served.
Limit domestic lobbying to presenting client's ideas to the Legislative and Executive Branches
Prohibit domestic lobbyists from giving money, trips or other incentives to current or former members of the Legislative and Executive Branches.