We at DownsizeDC.org like to complain when Congress is in session. And then we complain when Congress is not in session. And it's not just us. The American people are very unhappy with Congress's performance. Congress must be very frustrated with the constant complaining.

But the complaints are valid. The bills Congress passes make government too big and too expensive. As government grows, the social sphere of private initiative and personal liberty shrinks. To grow government is to stifle human progress. So yes, we complain when Congress is in session. We are disgusted with stupid and unnecessary laws. We are angered that Congress wastes our tax dollars on counter-productive programs and pork-barrel projects.

Yet we also complain when Congress takes time off, as the Senate did last week. One would think the longer Congress is on vacation, the fewer bills they will pass. But that's not the case. The bills will still be passed, but they won't be given the attention they are due. Instead of carefully considering bills that affect our lives, liberty, and property, Congress often lets them sail through unread, undebated, and often "without objection." This isn't serving the people, this is a mockery of representative democracy.

But there is a way Congress can please us, and that is to pass the Read the Bills Act.

The Read the Bills Act requires each bill to be read in its entirety before a quorum in each chamber of Congress. It also requires members of Congress who vote for a bill to affirm they have read it (or heard it read) and understand it. Each bill will also be posted on the Internet for seven days before it comes to a final vote, giving time for the people to read it themselves and give Congress their feedback. We believe that if bills are exposed to the light of day, fewer bad bills will be passed.

Furthermore, the time it takes to publicly read the bills will force Congress to prioritize. Only the most urgent and necessary bills will be passed. The pace of government growth will slow down. The Read the Bills Act, then, would be a victory for human progress and liberty.

At the same time, Congress will have to pay more attention to the bills that do get passed. Members couldn't rely on staffers to tell them what's in a bill, they would have to know it for themselves. So even though they will pass fewer bills, ironically, Congress will also probably take fewer days off.

We encourage you to tell your Representatives and Senators that there is one simple thing they can do to make Congress function better and increase its approval ratings. Tell them there is one thing they can do to slow down government growth and increase human liberty. Tell them to introduce the Read the Bills Act.

We also invite you to help spread the word about the Read the Bills Act by adding your website or blog to the Read the Bills Act Coalition. Joining is quick and easy, and in return your site will be added to Downsize DC's blogroll. More information is at our website.

While the Senate took last week off, the House met for a couple of days, and managed to pass 13 bills totaling 164 pages. If you would like to find out more, the bills are listed at the bottom of the blog version of this Dispatch.

Thank-you for being a DC Downsizer.