The Speaker Project (Reforms for management of the U. S. House of Representatives)

“No Labels” has created “The Speaker Project", an important effort to reform management of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Besides the direct link in the previous sentence, you can download it here: No Labels' ideas.

 Below I have charted the ideas and added a few more that I or other people have suggested.  As always, your comments are welcome. 

The Speaker Project	Current Approach	Proposed Change
Motion to Vacate The Chair	A single house member can demand a no-confidence vote	Require a full party caucus majority to vote for it.*
Selection of the Speaker	A majority vote of the House	# of the majority party + 5
Notice for votes on bills	Can be sprung by the majority	Min of 5 days unless top-ranking Dem & Rep agree
“Closed rules” deny minority party to suggest amendments	Often used	Require 3/5 vote
Committee Membership	Controlled by majority party	Require proportionate membership of top 2 parties
Passing the budget	Not done; relying on continuing resolutions	Stop Congressional pay if budget is overdue
Annual fiscal report	None	Televised update by Comptroller General to joint session of Congress.  Exec & Leg branches must sign.
Earmarks (open allocation of	Allow with:	Same?
funds to identified projects)	-Transparency (who requested and who gets the money)
	-Identify self/family interests
	-Create a max # of earmarks
	-Limit types of recipients
“Regular order”
--Deadlines	Ignored	Met for regular appropriation bills
--Drafting legislation	Majority party behind closed doors	In Congressional committees
--Conference committees	Stacked by leadership	Balanced
--Unauthorized programs	Exist	Phase out
Discharge petition forces vote if majority of members agree	Roll call	Make anonymous
Congressional work week	Uncontrolled	5 days when in session
Monthly meetings of President with Congress	No official meetings	Televised monthly 90-minute Q&A, alternately House & Senate with President
THESE ARE NOT IN “NO LABELS” LIST BUT I’VE HEARD PEOPLE SUGGEST THEM
Deferring to Executive Branch to determine details of bills	No one knows what a bill will do when it is voted upon	Bills can ask Exec Branch to define, but then it comes back to Congress to vote on
The President should be able to demand a vote on a bill
If 1 house passes a bill, the other must address it promptly.
Presidential nominees should be voted on in timely fashion

*The ‘No Labels’ proposal says “or when serious ethical allegations have been lodged against the speaker”.  I’m not sure why that is necessary (it should result in a full-party caucus agreeing) or how it is defined.