Promises congressional candidates should make

As we start thinking about electing someone to represent us in Congress, we need them to promise to behave better than some of our current or past representatives. If they are unwilling to make these promises, let’s not vote for them.

What are the promises? I list 13. Please add yours.

If elected, will they promise to:

1. Involve members of the other party when legislation is being drafted.

2. Allow time for members of both parties to read bills before agreeing to vote.

3. Read proposed legislation before voting on it.

4. Find a way to explain clearly and succinctly the rationale for every vote they make in sources (newspaper, Facebook, TV, etc.) their constituents can access.

5. Decline to vote on bills as your party leader requests when they know to do so will be against the clear wishes of the majority of most voters in their district or state.

6. Avoid pivoting when interviewed on the radio or on TV and stick to the subject, answering questions without falling back on talking points. If this is not possible, will they promise to say something like “I am sorry but I am not ready to discuss this now.”

7. Invite at least one person from the other party to meet socially (breakfast, lunch, dinner, church, poker, etc.) at least once a month.

8. Encourage leaders to remove committee chairs who are abusing their power.

9. Hold frequent and geographically distributed town hall meetings during each recess or work break that are open to all citizens they represent.

10. Pressure the Senate leader (if a Senate candidate) to schedule debate and votes on proposed legislation passed by the House.

11. Honor your oath of office and vote to rein in a rogue president or congressional colleague.

12. Make time to read all the letters and emails from the voters in your district or state. By doing so — and letting everyone know they do this — they will hear from more voters. Staff may organize them to facilitate quicker review (including grouping similar ones and doing an analysis by topic), but will not be allowed to screen them.

13. Personally respond to as many queries as they can. When the numbers preclude this, personally approve the form letters, paragraphs or talking points used to facilitate prompt answers. Do not approve any communication that does not respond to the specific suggestion, issue or question that precipitated the original query. They should remember that for every person who takes the time to contact them, there are probably dozens (hundreds?) more who had the same thought — and the persons who contact them will tell others about their experience.

I only bet on sure things. I am willing to bet that any elected politician who follows these suggestions will have no trouble being reelected. JIM HAMMONS

Fayetteville