The Voting Alert Beacons’ core focus and central emphasis point toward Americans as “WE THE PEOPLE.” The government is subservient. America was built on the principle that government belongs to the people.
Consistent with these founding and historic principles, our early tradition of the “CITIZEN LEGISLATOR” envisioned public service as exactly that—service. Citizens would leave their communities and professions, represent their neighbors in Congress, and eventually return home to live and work under the laws they helped create.
In recent decades and years, Congress has taken on a different cloak. It has become a class of its own: a professional elite. Congress should once again look more like public service and less like a permanent profession.
It is time to refresh the original idea. A Congressional Reform Act could be built around five simple principles:
1. Establish Reasonable Term Limits
Serving in Congress should be an honor and a period of public service—not necessarily a lifetime occupation. Reasonable limits on House and Senate service would regularly bring new experience, new thinking, and new voices into Congress.
2. End Special Congressional Retirement Benefits
Members of Congress should participate in retirement systems comparable to the Americans they represent. Public service should not create a special lifetime financial reward simply for holding elected office.
3. Stop Members of Congress From Trading Individual Stocks
Members routinely receive information and participate in decisions that can affect industries, companies, and markets. Congress should establish clear rules to prevent members from using public office—or even appearing to use public office—for private investment gain.
4. No Budget, No Pay
One of Congress's most fundamental responsibilities is funding the government. If Congress fails to complete its budget and appropriations responsibilities on time, members should not continue receiving their congressional salaries as though they had completed the job.
When Congress fails and a government shutdown occurs, members of Congress should experience the financial consequences along with the federal workers and American families affected.
5. Close the Revolving Door
Congressional service should not become a pathway to cashing in on relationships and influence immediately after leaving office. Strong restrictions on former members lobbying Congress would reinforce a simple principle: congressional office is a public trust, not a business-development opportunity.
None of these ideas belongs exclusively to Republicans, Democrats, or Independents. Members of both parties have already introduced versions of many of them in Congress.
Let’s bring this back to where we began. The larger principle is more important than any particular bill: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WORK FOR US. They are not a separate political class. They are citizens temporarily entrusted by other citizens with extraordinary responsibility.
A Congressional Reform Act could help restore that relationship—refreshing the citizen-legislator tradition and reminding every person elected to Congress that the Capitol belongs ultimately to “WE THE PEOPLE.”
Voting Alert Beacons are a framework for making your best decision when you vote. Take your concerns with you as you listen to and talk to candidates, and use the BEACONS as a guide.
When you vote for a candidate for Congress, ask the following five questions about Congressional reforms.
- Will you support reasonable congressional term limits?
- Will you reform congressional retirement benefits?
- Will you prohibit members from trading individual stocks?
- Will you support No Budget, No Pay?
- Will you close the congressional lobbying revolving door?
Then listen carefully to the answers.
YOUR VOTE IS YOUR BEACON. MAKE IT COUNT.
. . . Remember that America’s best days aren’t behind her. America’s best days are ahead of her. They have always been and will always be.
David
Copyright © [2026] by David William Wygant. All rights reserved.