No Labels Hosts Nationwide Town Hall Call of 200,000 Participants and Members of Congress

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonight, over 200,000 citizens from across the country joined several members of Congress on a No Labels Nationwide Town Hall Teleconference to discuss the urgent need for the Make Congress Work! action plan. During the call, a survey of over 1,300 citizens revealed that 63% of respondents would be more likely to vote for a Congressional candidate who supports the action plan. Another 91% said they supported the specific "No Budget No Pay" which would suspend congressional pay if spending bills were not passed on time.

Leading the discussion on the congressional reform proposals were Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Representative Robert Dold (R-IL) and Representative Tim Griffin (R-AR) along with Ron Shaich, No Labels co-founder and Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Panera Bread, and Kiki McLean, No Labels co-founder and former adviser to Vice President Al Gore.

The nationwide call builds on the momentum of No Labels' successful campaign for bipartisan seating at the State of the Union, with 196 members agreeing to cross the aisle and sit with a member of the opposite party. Bipartisan seating is just one of the 12 proposals in the No Labels Make Congress Work! action plan.

"When you talk about commonsense ideas, I know that you'll find a lot of Democrats, Republicans and Independents who have so much in common - and No Labels is bringing us together," said Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV). "With the challenges our country is facing, we in Congress need a renewed sense of urgency that we have to get to work for the citizens of this great nation. I truly believe that if we worked for the next generation as hard people in Washington work for the next election, our country would be in great shape."

"Moving our country forward in a bipartisan effort is the essence behind the No Labels movement," said Congressman Robert Dold (R-IL). "One of the proposals calls for a transparent and accurate report of the federal budget. Rather than budgeting on false numbers we should have a straight forward picture of what our nation is facing and what we need to do to get our nation out of debt and back on track. Hardworking American families are tightening their belts and so should the federal government."

For a full list of members who plan to sit with members of the opposite party at tomorrow night's State of the Union, please visit: http://www.nolabels.org/blog/sotu-whos-who.

No Labels is a group of Republicans, Democrats and Independents who want our government to work again. Our dozen proposals to make Congress work mostly don't require new laws or new spending, and don't favor any party or particular cause. These are simple, straightforward proposals to break gridlock, promote constructive discussion and reduce polarization in Congress. They can mostly be adopted all at once when the next Congress convenes in January 2013.

For more information on the Make Congress Work! action plan or to arrange an interview with a No Labels co-founder, please contact Sarah Feldman at [email protected] or (202) 588-1990. To learn more about No Labels, please visit www.NoLabels.org.

Contact: Sarah Feldman at 202-588-1990 or [email protected]

SOURCE No Labels