Series 2558: Constituent Correspondence, 2000-2003
35928
From: In The News <inthenews@csg.org>
BC: Governor Musgrove
Created: 3/1/2002 3:20 PM
Subject: CSG's Trends Forecast Report
Message:
Term Limits Not Needed
According to Randall Gnant, President of the Arizona Senate, applying term
limits in Arizona was not necessary since almost a third of all legislative seats
turned over every two years. He believes term limits have led to a decline in
civility in the legislative process, a decline in institutional memory and an
erosion of representative government, increased power to the un-elected bureaucracy
and the rise of free agency among members.
He further states that while there has always been substantial turnover
in members and leadership every two years in Arizona, Arizona still had several
members who, prior to term limits, had spent lengthy careers in public service.
Gnant feels that while cynics would say that such long-term service by a handful
of members is harmful, the exact opposite is true. Such service helps provide
institutional memory and knowledge that is valuable in the legislative process.
For example, like many states, Arizona is experiencing its first economic slowdown
since the early 1990s. According to Gnant, there are only eight Senators who
have been through similar economic times and have experience in balancing a budget
with slowing revenues. There is not a single member of the Arizona House of
Representatives that has voted on a budget that does not foresee increasing revenues
and large budget surpluses.
The full article, "Term Limits Not Necessary," appears in the Fall 2001 issue
of
Spectrum: The Journal of State Government.
To purchase or subscribe to Spectrum, call (859) 244-8220,
or subscribe online by clicking here http://www.statesnews.org/Marketing/Spectrum_sub.htm.
Reprint permissions may be obtained by contacting Susan Haney at (859) 244-8235.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consequences of Term Limits
Shane Broadway, Arkansas' Speaker of the House, states that term limit laws
in Arkansas have been neither the panacea proclaimed by supporters, nor have
they wrought the destruction predicted by naysayers. Term limits have opened
the door for younger, fresher faces with, hopefully, some new ideas.
Broadway reflects on the consequences of implementing term limits in Arkansas.
A foreseen consequence of term limits has been House members seeking Senate seats
as they are vacated, and term-limited constitutional officers running for another
constitutional office.
An unforeseen effect of term limits has been felt in redistricting plans
this year, as the state Board of Apportionment attempts to redraw district lines
based on the 2000 Census. The process has opened new districts and created vacant
seats where none before existed. It also has led to House members, knowing their
time is limited in the House, to protect or influence the boundaries of their
Senate seats for a possible future campaign. Current senators have been known
to do the same for a future House race.
The full article, "Gradual Transformation Under Term Limits," appears in the
Fall 2001 issue of
Spectrum: The Journal of State Government.
To purchase or subscribe to Spectrum, call (859) 244-8220,
or subscribe online by clicking here http://www.statesnews.org/Marketing/Spectrum_sub.htm.
Reprint permissions may be obtained by contacting Susan Haney at (859) 244-8235.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAPITOL Commitment
California enacted term limit legislation in 1990, making it one of the
nations leaders on the issue. The state is taking a leading role again by taking
a proactive approach to dealing with the ripple effects of term limits. To assist
freshman legislators in carrying out their new responsibilities, California created
the California Assembly Program for Innovative Training and Orientation for the
Legislature (CAPITOL) Institute, a comprehensive training program for new members,
covering everything from writing legislation to ethics.
According to Robert M. Hertzberg, California's Speaker of the Assembly,
lawmakers knowing their time to contribute is short approach their work with
a sense of urgency seldom seen before limits were imposed. And in this fast-moving
era of the New Economy, a government that can keep pace is needed.
In short, Hertzberg believes term limits are neither the cure-all promised
by its supporters nor the calamity feared by its critics. California's leaders,
at least, have come to see them instead as a challenge to reshape our institutions
and as an opportunity to revitalize our work on the publics behalf.
The full article, "Term Limits and the CAPITOL Institute," appears in the Fall
2001 issue of
Spectrum: The Journal of State Government.
To purchase or subscribe to Spectrum, call (859) 244-8220,
or subscribe online by clicking here http://www.statesnews.org/Marketing/Spectrum_sub.htm.
Reprint permissions may be obtained by contacting Susan Haney at (859) 244-8235.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diminished Returns of Term Limits
Michael Saxl, Maine's Speaker of the House, asks "Are term limits really
better?" He cites loss of institutional memory, diminished knowledge of the
process, empowered un-elected officials, and a co-equal branch of government
which is unable to assert its proper role of checks and balances as detrimental
side-effects of term limits. He believes these unintended effects of term limits
undermine democracy and disable our process and that, surely, there is a better
way to infuse the legislative process with new blood and fresh ideas without
eroding its foundation and power.
Saxl also believes that term limits leads to distrust in the lawmaking process.
Term-limited legislators introduce legislation that has been introduced and voted
down many times, and in one case a legislator introduced legislation that was
already law and then argued that it should be passed again. Although it sounds
absurd, Saxl argues that stories like this are common in term-limited legislatures.
The full article, "Term Limits and Diminished Returns," appears in the Fall 2001
issue of
Spectrum: The Journal of State Government.
To purchase or subscribe to Spectrum, call (859) 244-8220,
or subscribe online by clicking here http://www.statesnews.org/Marketing/Spectrum_sub.htm.
Reprint permissions may be obtained by contacting Susan Haney at (859) 244-8235.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Challenges of Term Limits
While fresh blood invigorates the political system, Rick Johnson, Michigan
Speaker of the House, feels term limits do have downsides. Just as some lawmakers
are reaching their full potential, they must leave their posts because of term
limits. This has led many in Michigan to question the value of term limits and
the need to extend them.
Johnson recognizes the positive outcomes of term limits, however. He states,
"Even under term limits, my colleagues are dedicated public servants. A legislator's
work cannot be measured solely by the hours they vote on the floor. Responsible
lawmakers sponsor local meetings, conduct district office hours and attend dozens
of events in their area every week. Throughout the summer months, even though
session had adjourned, my caucus convened hearings in every corner of Michigan
on health care, land use, tax simplification and declining school enrollments.
They answer constituent calls and work to solve problems throughout the year.
The workload doesn't change under term limits, just the amount of time you have
to finish it."
The full article, "Challenges of Term Limits," appears in the Fall 2001 issue
of
Spectrum: The Journal of State Government.
To purchase or subscribe to Spectrum, call (859) 244-8220,
or subscribe online by clicking here http://www.statesnews.org/Marketing/Spectrum_sub.htm.
Reprint permissions may be obtained by contacting Susan Haney at (859) 244-8235.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Term Limits Cause Disruptions in the Legislature
Larry Adair, Oklahoma's Speaker of the House, believes that term limits may
result in more disruptions and confusion in terms of legislative organization.
A new period of two-party competition arrived in Oklahoma under term limits,
and Oklahoma, like many states, now finds itself in a changed partisan environment.
In the past, the Democratic party generally controlled both chambers, and the
leadership of both chambers was essentially in place well in advance of the convening
of the legislature. Adair believes that term limits are likely to make the organization
of each legislature that much more difficult.
Grassroots efforts to repeal or modify legislative term limits in Oklahoma
are currently underway. Local government leaders are beginning to consider their
own initiative drive out of concern that legislative term limits may have a negative
influence on local government and their communities. The fact that repeal or
modification of term limits is being raised at this time validates my belief
that voters failed here and in many other states to realize that at the time
they voted for legislative term limits, that it would some day result in their
legislator in whom they have placed their trust and support would some day be
forced out of office.
The full article, "Term Limits and Disruptions in the Legislature," appears in
the Fall 2001 issue of
Spectrum: The Journal of State Government.
To purchase or subscribe to Spectrum, call (859) 244-8220,
or subscribe online by clicking here http://www.statesnews.org/Marketing/Spectrum_sub.htm.
Reprint permissions may be obtained by contacting Susan Haney at (859) 244-8235.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fall 2001 issue of Spectrum: The Journal of State Government includes a special
section on counterterrorism. The issue of legislative term limits is also explored
within the fall issue.
Recently, The Council of State Governments launched a national mission to help
state leaders better prepare for the future by identifying emerging trends and
issues that might have significant impact on state priorities and policymaking.
This new CSG's Trends Forecast Report is an effort to provide foresight for state
officials across the nation. The information in this monthly report is condensed
from CSG's quarterly journal, Spectrum: The Journal of State Government. For
more information on the contents of this report or Spectrum, please contact CSG,
PO Box 11910, Lexington, KY 40578-1910; (859) 244-8220; or alindon@csg.org.
If you would like to subscribe to Spectrum, click here http://www.statesnews.org/Marketing/Spectrum_sub.htm.
The Council of State Governments: Preparing states for tomorrow, today.
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