called for reforms in Congress Monday morning when he announced his plan to “clean up Washington” during a news conference at his campaign headquarters in Waukesha.
Neumann, who is running on the Republican ticket to replace the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl, said his plan has three major parts:
- enacting term limits,
- requiring federal legislation to specifically state where in the Constitution the federal government receives its powers, and
- removing benefits for retired members of Congress who become registered lobbyists.
“Those are the three policy changes we think would go a long way toward cleaning up Washington, D.C.,” Neumann said.
Neumann is running in the fall election against a full Republican field, including former and . The Democratic candidates include
The U.S. was founded on a premise that the country should be run by private-sector citizens who serve for a specific time period, Neumann said, which is why he wants to enact term limits for members of Congress.
Neumann’s proposal for an Enumerated Powers Act focuses on the 10th Amendment. Neumann said that if the Constitution doesn’t give the federal government the power to enact certain legislation and policies, “the responsibility belongs to the states, and more importantly, the people.”
The plans to eliminate benefits for members of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate who leave their elected positions and become lobbyists by using their government contacts would affect about 400 former members of Congress, according to a news release from Neumann. Some of these lobbyists are making millions in their work, he said during his news conference.
“Taxpayers are no longer going to supplement the income of lobbyists and special interest groups by supplying pensions and health insurance benefits,” Neumann said.
State Legislators Endorse Neumann
Meanwhile, Neumann also announced Monday the endorsements of Wisconsin assemblymen Jeremy Thiesfeldt, R-Fond du Lac, and David Craig, R-Big Bend.
Thiesfeldt, who was present at Neumann’s news conference, said he was proud to endorse Neumann.
“I think Mark Neumann has a great record from his years in Congress back in the Republican revolution of 1994,” Thiesfeldt said. “He established a strong record of being a budget hawk and had the great accomplishment of being able to get the budget balanced in the United States government. That is something that we need in Congress today.”
2. Do we really need federal legislation to legislate how the federal government legislates? 3. People who take jobs with benefits attached should be able to keep them without strings. In the case of elected officials I would favor that benefits would be lost for treason. Talking term limits, I believe the U.S. should look at federal Supreme Court Justices. Lifetime appointments are supposed to relieve them of partisan interests and activism.
Greg, there's nothing wrong with ideas, but there's a time and a place. I'd be satisfied to focus the ideas on helpful things. Like jobs. Ending Citizens United. Holding Wall Street financially accountable. Etc.
Why would we -not- want to include this type of statement in every piece of legislation that Congress writes.
Since Neumann is not a deep thinker, this issue will keep his mind off of cow farts for a while.
Term limits are a good thing. One term, one turn and you are done. Wait out one term and get re-elected if you are that valuable to the taxpayer. Votes still matter each term. “2. Do we really need federal legislation to legislate how the federal government legislates?” Absolutely. Running Congress like private business where the board members vote their own raises and benefits is ludicrous. “3. People who take jobs with benefits attached should be able to keep them without strings.” Not their spokesperson, but convince the public sector employees of WI of this. “In the case of elected officials I would favor that benefits would be lost for treason.” Bribes to exempt special interests like badge unions giving them a pass on ACT 10 due to campaign contributions isn’t treason. Just business as usual? Right? Treason versus corruption, a sell out either way. “Talking term limits, I believe the U.S. should look at federal Supreme Court Justices. Lifetime appointments are supposed to relieve them of partisan interests and activism.” No more lifetime appointment for them either. Throw them under the bus too.