Voters Can Pressure Lawmakers to Fix Congress Now

How to make the Grand Bargain possible

The Grand Bargain is Uniquely Designed to Create a Thriving Future for All

Virtually every American has seven aspirations that are crucial to them and mutually crucial to American society.

Greater economic opportunity and growth
Schools that enable kids to reach their potential
Effective and affordable healthcare
Curbing the national debt
Reliable, clean, and affordable energy
Fairer, simpler tax code
Congress organized to resolve our differences

We built this Grand Bargain Launchpad so that every voter can demand Congress move for the enactment of reforms organized around all seven aspirations.

If you want to fix Congress the way we outline below,
If you want to advance these seven aspirations,

You need to check out the Launchpad after you read this page.

Three Reforms that Will Transform Congress into a Problem Solving Institution

The first thing that has to happen, and it can happen almost immediately, as soon as enough Americans tell incumbents:

You had better do this, or you won't win another election.

Eliminate the theatrics of congressional committees. Here is how.

New procedure needed for federal government to function

To draft any major piece of legislation, each chamber needs to form a consensus-building task force:

Each faction of lawmakers would pick a negotiator

Negotiators would explore options, until vast majority see evolving agreement as best way to meet voters’ competing demands

This new procedure would enable the federal government to function because it would give lawmakers a practical way to work out competing demands, build broad agreement, and move legislation forward instead of letting conflict allow deadlock.

Then, to break the two-party monopoly, which exists by design to keep incumbents in their jobs, Congress can create a problem solving instition with one piece of legislation.

To Get Our Democracy to Function

The Constitution, Article I, lets Congress change the “manner” of congressional elections “at any time.” GB proposes:

REQUIRE EACH STATE TO:

Hold “jungle” congressional primaries.

If candidates across the spectrum can compete on a level playing field, then candidates with broader public appeal have a real path forward — and that forces others to reach beyond their base as well.

That makes factional politics less sufficient, and broader appeal more politically valuable.

Use an objectively neutral formula to redraw its congressional districts

This would make it harder for either party to protect its own candidates through map-drawing.

When lawmakers can no longer rely on safer, engineered seats, more of them have to compete for real public support. That raises the political cost of simply feeding the base and makes broad appeal more valuable.

Why These Reforms are Necessary

Congress is not Organized to Resolve our Differences and Solve Critical Problems.

Lawmakers keep winning without producing results

Over 90% of incumbents keep getting reelected by blaming the other party, offering soundbites, and catering to key supporters

Most voters are sidelined & extreme voices are protected

State election laws, districts, and primaries sideline 70% of voters and third-party candidates.

Congress is structured for deadlock, not delivery

Each party’s factions are busy trying to silence one another, which fuels divisiveness and dysfunction

So We Included These Reforms

For the Grand Bargain

To create the political conditions in which the Grand Bargain can move from public support to actual law.

For Democracy

To create a Congress that is more representative, accountable and capable of negotiating to meet the aspirations of the American people.

Pressure both political parties to meet your aspirations for a better life using the

Grand Bargain Launchpad

In 10 minutes, you can:

Evaluate each reform: Critical to Me & Others - Good Idea - Not Sure - Dislike It - Hate It
Decide: Is the total package good enough for me to want Congress to make it “a priority”
If Yes, send the Launchpad to everyone you know
Then press two buttons to email your congressperson & senators:

“Make these 39 reforms a priority, or we will elect someone who will.”

CLICK HERE TO ACTIVATE THE GRAND BARGAIN LAUNCHPAD