U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, right, and Democratic challenger Andrew Romanoff debated a wide array of topics in The Denver Post’s 6th Congressional District debate on Sept. 23, 2014. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)
Andrew Romanoff, the Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, on Tuesday rolled out the first half of his “10-point agenda to reform the way Washington works.” The first set of proposed reforms focuses mostly on perks for Congress. It’s a collection of ideas that has found limited reception in Congress — as Coffman, a Republican, has learned.
Coffman, it turns out, of some of Romanoff’s ideas. Though they’re split on many other issues, the candidates also find common ground when it comes to .
Romanoff, in a news release that promises announcements of the remainder of his reform agenda later in the week, says it’s important to keep trying.
“Washington isn’t working for the middle class, in part because Congress doesn’t have to play by the same rules as the rest of us,” he says. “Too many members of Congress protect their own perks and privileges — sacrificing our needs and sticking us with the bill. It’s time for a change.”
Here’s what Romanoff proposes:
1. Cutting lawmakers’ salaries by half if they fail to pass a budget, portraying the item as a “pay-for-performance penalty.” On this issue, Coffman that would halt congressional pay if both chambers fail to pass a budget by Oct. 1 each year. The idea did get adopted once, when a 2013 debt ceiling increase — also billed as the “No Budget, No Pay Act” — passed along with the stipulation that Congress pass a budget a couple months later or else have lawmakers’ pay withheld. But the idea hasn’t been adopted on a recurring basis, in part because of concerns it would violate the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition of congressional pay changes that take effect before the next election.
2. Axing congressional pensions, characterized as “golden parachutes.” Coffman also supports the idea, proposing pensions’ elimination in a bill co-sponsored with Democratic Rep. Jared Polis. (As The Denver Post has reported, related to his government service.)
3. Trimming congressional office budgets by 10 percent, limiting lawmakers’ expense accounts. Coffman has supported smaller budget cuts for their offices.
4. Tightening requirements for franked mail, which enables lawmakers to send mass mail to constituents on taxpayers’ dime. The privilege long has come under scrutiny, especially as some House members have sent glossy mailers that critics argue cross the line into campaigning. This is an instance where Coffman has attracted attention, because he’s in Congress.
5. Prohibiting House members from taking first-class or business-class flights on taxpayers’ dime.
Coffman campaign manager Tyler Sandberg, in referencing his boss’ support for some of the same ideas Romanoff proposes, was ready with a pithy comment: “If Andrew Romanoff ran in the Congressional District in Denver that he’s from, he could actually co-sponsor Mike’s bills on these very issues.”
He added: “In his list of reforms, Romanoff forgot about term limits, making Members of Congress get health insurance through Obamacare, and a balanced budget amendment,” all of which Coffman has supported. Sandberg questioned whether Romanoff would stand with Coffman in supporting the term limits and health care ideas.
Romanoff’s announcement connected his ideas to his record in the state House, highlighting a few measures he pursued that were focused on donor disclosure requirements and cracking down on gifts connected to public officials’ service.
