GOP: Give us your best ideas to rescue nation

Republican lawmakers are asking Americans to speak out and share their best ideas on how to rescue the nation.

The House Republican Conference officially launched its social-media project, America Speaking Out, today. It includes a forum "as part of an official effort to increase the dialogue between Americans and their Congress."

GOP leaders are asking citizens to provide their own input on fiscal accountability, national defense,
immigration reform, health care and a host of other political issues.

The following is a video announcing the project's launch:

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"This is about listening to people today," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio. "I would expect ideas to come out of this website and the involvement of our members will lead to ideas that we can attempt to implement today."

Boehner and GOP Chief Deputy Whip Kevin McCarthy said Republican lawmakers will begin using suggestions posted on AmericaSpeakingOut.com to inspire legislation "within weeks."

However, he said the project will not lead to a new "Contract with America" that Republicans could use to win support in the upcoming election, according to the Hill.

GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) called the project a "dialogue and discussion" available to citizens concerned about solving problems facing the U.S. government.

In a column about America Speaking Out, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., wrote, "We would not be doing our job if we were to merely go along with Washington’s reckless agenda that has put our nation $13 trillion in debt. Clearly, the priorities of Washington are not in tune with that of the people, and Americans are standing up and making their voices heard."

A statement at the bottom of the project website reads, "As Republicans, we are committed to our principles of limited, more accountable government; economic freedom; lower taxes; fiscal responsibility; protecting life, American values, and the Constitution; and providing for strong national security."

It continues, "This is an open forum, however, where all Americans are welcome to respectfully offer their opinions, regardless of party affiliation and whether we endorse them or not. It is our hope the active engagement of the American people will produce a robust debate that will aid in the construction of a new American agenda."

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The website asks Americans to choose categories that they care about, such as American prosperity, fiscal accountability, American values and national security. An "open mic" option allows visitors to suggest their own topics.

The following are some suggestions already posted in several categories:

• Fiscal accountability – cancel all unused TARP funds, balance budget with tax and expenditure limits, cap government spending, stop paying Social Security benefits to those who haven't paid into the system, end farm subsidies, eliminate the Department of Education

• American prosperity – audit the Federal Reserve, provide tax incentives for companies that move overseas jobs back to the U.S., lifetime caps on federally funded welfare programs, eliminate special treatment of unions, drill for oil in America

• American values – Make English the official language of the United States, implement mandatory course in public high schools on the importance of financial independence and self-reliance, require elected officials to make birth certificates available to the public, a workable system for immigrant workers to come to America

• National security – Secure borders by enforcing existing federal law; station National Guard on the north and south borders; streamline the intelligence community; end birthright citizenship; fine employers who hire illegal aliens; strengthen the Second Amendment; build a strong missile-defense system

• Open mic – pass a law that requires all debates be open in real time during the formation of any bill, ban earmarks, restore total U.S. sovereignty by removing the U.N. and all its programs from the country, term limits for the House and Senate, support Israel

"The thrust behind this project is to enable every single American who feels their voice has fallen on deaf ears because Washington is more focused on pursuing a radical, liberal agenda than the priorities of the majority of the American people," Bachmann said. "It’s time for the American people to drive the agenda in Washington, not the other way around."

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