9. Eliminate earmarks. If it isn't requested in the budget, debated, and approved on its own basis, it does NOT go in. No member of Congress should EVER be able to direct a single dollar of funding to their own state or district.
10. Line item veto. A president should be able to veto individual line items in any spending bill. No business runs on an "all or nothing" approach, there is no reason that our government should be run that way.
11. Campaign financing. Eliminate ALL private financing for Congress and the President. All financing of political contests is provided by the public financing system. The amount provided is determined by the office being sought. Every candidate is allowed the same amount as their opponent. No candidate or person directly associated with a candidate is allowed to profit from a candidacy. No candidate, spouse, child, sibling, parent, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew of a candidate should be allowed to receive ANY pay from an election campaign.

6. Term limits. 2 terms and you are DONE. The President can't serve more than 2 terms. Neither should any member of Congress.
7. Enforce our laws. No one gets to choose which laws they obey and which ones they ignore. So, why is Congress and the President allowed to choose which laws are going to be enforced? For example, why are they incapable of upholding their Constitutional mandate to "protect and defend". Millions of people illegally entering or staying within this country every year is a violation of their Constitutional mandate.
8. Eliminate lobbyists. This is a democracy where the MAJORITY rules. The only purpose of a lobbyist is to stick money in the pockets of members of Congress, in the form of campaign contributions, in order to buy viotes for things that the majority of people do NOT want. If the majority of people wanted something, then there would be no need for a lobbyist.

4. Require some one else to approve the pay and benefits for Congress. It is unconscionable that Congress has the ability to set their own pay and benefits and no one has the ability to approve or reject the pay/benefits package. Congress works for US! Require that Congress' employer, the American people, must approve any pay/benefit package. Pay/benefit packages for Congress should be voted on every two years as part of the ballot for every federal election. Require a 2/3 majority to increase pay/benefits for Congress, President, or any Cabinet member.
5. Do what every American is required to do - pay our bills. Every American has to balance their budget or file for bankruptcy. This is OUR money, not Congress' money. We expect Congress to pay their bills. I care that we have a ZERO deficit. More specifically, I care that we have ZERO DEBT! Require that Congress permanently eliminates budget deficits and also require that the federal debt is reduced by 10% every year until it is eliminated.

3. Put in a fair day's work. It is absolutely ridiculous that Congress only comes in to work less than 30% of the year, but expects to be paid a full salary. It is equally ridiculous that anyone serving a term in Congress collects a paycheck and benefits for the rest of their lives.

2. In conjunction with #1, don't treat us like we're stupid. You didn't "inherit" anything. Congress approves the budget and controls all funds. President Obama doesn't get a free pass, he was part of the Congress passing the spending and not regulating anything. As a member of Congress, he is just as responsible for the last 2 years of spending as anyone. Since the deficit and debt is Congress' responsibity, how about giving up your paychecks for your complete failure to do your job.

1. Put your money where your mouth is. If you are going to propose or require Americans to give back pay checks, then step up to the plate and give up yours.