Friday, January 06, 2006

Can Corruption in High Places be cured?

David Brooks has some interesting suggestions combat corruption in today's New York Times. In one he states: "There's bound to be corruption when spending provisions can be slipped into legislation in the dead of night, outside the normal oversight procedures. There's bound to be corruption when members are forced to vote on sprawling bills nobody has a chance to inspect. Instead, all legislation should be posted online for 72 hours before the vote, so the staff and bloggers can nitpick and expose."
Local man suggests that in addition, every congressman and senator casting a vote be required to check all of these boxes that apply:
1. I have read the Bill and understand its provisions.
2. The provisions of the Bill have been explained to me.
3. My vote is the result of a recommendation to me by trustworthy person*.
(* e.g, a colleague, a member of the administration, or a lobbyist)
That would encourage legislators to read the bills they vote on, and to stand by their vote.

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