Rigell: Reform Congress, starting with members' perks

VIRGINIA BEACH

Republican Scott Rigell's first public act after winning Tuesday's 2nd District election was to attack what he calls "a culture of privilege" that afflicts members of Congress to the detriment of taxpayers.

Rigell rolled out a 10-point proposal for scaling back congressional perks and privileges and vowed to adhere to it himself regardless of whether it becomes law.

Rigell acknowledged his proposals won't make steep cuts in federal spending but argue d they would signal to the public that lawmakers want to set a good example.

Congress has developed "a culture of privilege, a culture of unaccountability," he said. "This is true of both parties."

His plan calls for,

- Cutting congressional office budgets to 2008 levels, limiting government-sponsored direct mail to two pieces a year, and banning government-funded robo- calls.

- Replacing lawmakers' pensions with a matching fund account similar to a 401(k) plan.

- Serving a maximum of 12 years in Congress and pushing for a constitutional change to make the term limit mandatory.

- Banning all congressional travel paid for by lobbyists or foundations and limiting trips to "real official business."

- Publishing all congressional committee votes online.

- Banning members of Congress and their staff members from lobbying or working for a lobbyist for five years after they leave government.

- Requiring all legislation to cite its constitutional basis.

- Prohibiting the introduction by legislators of so-called earmarks - specific spending allocations - unless they are related to defense or national security.

- Voting "present" on any bills introduced to honor sports teams or similar groups until a balanced federal budget is approved.

- Naming future federal buildings only after individuals who have died in defense of the United States.

Early this year, Rigell, a car dealer and a first-time candidate, had been working with a handful of other GOP congressional candidates on a similar list of proposals. He had hoped to announce the plan last spring. But that effort was halted, his campaign said, after the plan was stolen by two GOP primary opponents.

In March, Rigell accused Ben Loyola and Scott Taylor of stealing and passing off as their own the multi part plan. They released their competing "Contract on Congress" - which in some cases was almost identical to the plan Rigell had been working for months - just before Rigell was to unveil his proposals.

At the time, Rigell's campaign staff provided The Virginian-Pilot with copies of e-mails and other documents showing how they developed the plan, nicknamed "The Big Idea." GOP congressional candidates in Indiana and Washington state confirmed they were involved.

Loyola and Taylor denied the accusation but in separate interviews could not offer details of how they developed their own plan or when they decided to make it public. Rigell defeated the two, as well as three other candidates in the June Republican primary.

In the months after the controversy, the three men set aside their differences. Loyola and Taylor were in the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center ballroom Tuesday night when Rigell celebrated his election win over U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, a Democrat. Rigell thanked them for supporting his general election campaign.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com