In a divided and bitterly fought election year, there was one issue that had a 100% pass rate across the country on November 8th, 2016: term limits.
Over 40 different ballot measures across the country had a 100 percent pass rate for term limits. These votes were spread across the nation from California and Texas to New York. Hawaii even got in on the action.
These term limits ballot amendments covered school boards, mayors, city and county boards. Citizens also defeated initiatives that tried to weaken their current term limits.
Philip Blumel, president of U.S. Term Limits, said “the American people are tired of career politicians forgetting who they are supposed to be serving. This outstanding result for term limits is a real victory for the people”.
The 100 percent pass rate was unprecedented. In 2014 the pass rate was 97 percent, so bipartisan support for term limits is not unusual. Each referendum for term limits averaged 74 percent of the vote with a mean of 75.5 percent.
The support for term limits ranged from 88 percent in Crestwood, IL to 57 percent in Honolulu. The Honolulu vote successfully fought off a bill that would have weakened local term limits.
Americans continue to show a preference for citizen legislators over careerist politicians. These results demonstrate a growing belief that elected officials have lost touch with the people.
“It is no surprise, after this historic year for term limits, that action is already underway to slap term limits on Congress,” said Blumel.
TERM LIMITS FACTS
-Gallup polling shows that 75 percent of Americans back congressional term limits, including 82 percent of Republicans, 65 percent of Democrats and 79 percent of independents.
-The 1995 SCOTUS case U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton decided congressional term limits could only come by constitutional amendment.
-Citizens can bypass Congress to propose the amendment by passing resolutions through 34 state legislatures. This process creates an amendment-proposing convention of states. U.S. Term Limits introduced the Term Limits Convention strategy in 2016 to do just that, and has already passed in the Florida Legislature.
-Despite oft-cited myths, lobbyists and special interests are the primary opponents of term limits, with a long history of bankrolling campaigns to prevent, weaken or abolish term limits.
Jack Abramoff explains why lobbyists hate term limits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSFqaulSSyU
Campaign Finance Data Shows Lobbyists Oppose Term Limits: https://www.termlimits.org/myth-busting-101-lobbyists-love-term-limits/
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
4 comments:
There are already Term Limits. They are called elections. Most terms are limited to 4 year terms. At the end of 4 years you HAVE to get re-elected to serve again. If the people don't want you they won't re-elect you.
These people crying "Term Limits" are pissed because Democrats keep getting elected and controlling cities, counties and states. Well if the roles were flipped it wouldn't be an issue. When they start seeing good Republicans kicked out of office because of THEIR "Term Limits" they pushed for and replaced by Democrats they will be bitching about that. Now that Republicans are finally winning elections they are going to ruin it for us. You idiots can't leave well enough alone.
I have mixed feelings about term limits, the thing that bothers me is that every cycle a signifant portion of congress are effectivly lame ducks and don't have to answer for their votes in the house or senate.
5:05 still can't sleep since Nov 9th??
If term limits are a BAD idea, why did we change the constitution to limit the POTUS to 2 terms and not congress?? Anyone...anyone?? Because congress makes the laws. They will not vote to limit their lifelong -and what some seem to think, their Gid-given right- power. The role of a politician is to get elected and re-elected. The problem with having no term-limits is that politicians can use their current notoriety and legislative powers to keep creating giveaway programs to keep people voting for them. You don't need to be a rocket-scientest to figure it out. So, incumbents ALWAYS have the advantage. Period! Unless they do something obviously aggregious. And, when democrats are in bed with MSM, they have even a bigger advantage.
It should not be a lifelong career. They all use their power, get sucked into the swamp, and become "corrupted" by the swamp. Republicans, too.
Example: military spending. The government often funds things the military doesn't want. Would that EVER happen outside of government ?
It's all done to get constituents voting for them.
If at some point in thier career, they realize they're NOT running for re-election, they will vote for what is good for US - NOT THEM!
Here's how you fix it:
The current congress passes term limits, but current members are grandfathered. They can continue thier terms, but when they leave, new members are subject to term-limits. Otherwise, it will never come before committee, let alone the floor for a vote.
This is the ONLY way Trump can make good on his promise to drain the swamp - do it through attrition .
Senators are maxed at 10 years, House at 8. No exceptions. There...problem solved
(Someone please get this idea to Kelly Ann Conway. She's the brains of the Trump team)
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