The Porposal Continued

Congress did not hesitate to head home when it was a holiday, when the nation needed a real fix to the economic problems. Also, we have 3 senators that have not been doing their jobs for the past 18+ months (on the campaign trail) and still they all have been accepting full pay. These facts alone support a reduction in senators & congress.
Summary of opportunity:
$ 44,108,400 reduction of congress members.
$282,100, 000 for elimination of the reduced house member staff.
$150,000,000 for elimination of reduced senate member staff.
$59,675,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining house members.
$37,500,000 for 25% reduction of staff for remaining senate members.
$7,500,000,000 reduction in pork added to bills by the reduction of congress members.
$8,073,383,400 per year estimated total savings. (That's 8-BILLION just to start!)
Big business does these types of cuts all the time.

"The Proposal"

When a company falls on difficult times, one of the things that seems to happen is they reduce their staff and workers. The remaining workers must find ways to continue to do a good job or risk that their job would be eliminated as well.
Our government should not be immune from similar risks.
Reduce the House of Representatives from the current 435 members to 218 members.
Reduce Senate members from 100 to 50 (one per State).
Then, reduce their staff by 25%.
The remaining representatives would need to work smarter and improve efficiencies. It might even be in their best interests to work together for the good of our country!
We may also expect that smaller committees might lead to a more efficient resolution of issues as well. It might even be easier to keep track of what your representative is doing.
Congress has more tools available to do their jobs than it had back in 1911 when the current number of representatives was established. (Telephone, computers, cell phones to name a few)

$8,073,383,400 per year estimated total savings. (That's 8-BILLION just to start!)

CLOSE DOWN FEMA

Here is what you do instead for the next hurricane to hit FLA or the Gulf Coast.

Have (designated) Publix food stores remain open to dispense ice, food, gas, ect. in the affected counties.

Have (designated) Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart in each county remain open in the affected counties.

Any of the above selected stores that do not have backup generators will be given a one year tax writeoff for having them installed.

The reason this makes sense is that the companies listed above already have their resupply infastructure in place.

Besides, it is good community public relations.

Local charities like Salvation Army, Red Cross can set up in their parking lots.

Remember not all counties will be affected so the number of stores involved will be kept to the absolute
minimum per catastrophic event.

The stores involved can have a sign in the window indicating they are a designated disaster relief facility.
This will educate the population ahead of time as communications will be horrible after the catastrophic event.

1. All Members of Congress and Senate should be paid based upon the GDP.
If the GDP is falling they get a pay cut.
If the GDP is rising they get a pay increase.
(That should help limit the pork-earmark and wasteful spending)