Comments on: 2 Johns, and The Case for Term Limits

By: Something New Every Day » Shocker: Another Long Serving Congressman Investigated By FBI

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:41:50 +0000

[...] few days ago I wrote about the two longest serving congressmen, which turned into a discussion about term [...]

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:24:56 +0000

That seems too strict to me. I just don't think you get enough institutional knowledge with an arrangement like that. I think what would happen is a very powerful (even more powerful than today) class of "shadow" congressmen, in the form of advisers and lobbyists, would develop. And those people aren't accountable to anyone.

We have term limits in AZ, and we've had a series of really good (and I mean that sincerely) legislators who have to retire because they have reached their limit. Our limit is 4 consecutive 2 year terms (8 years total). But you can move from House to Senate, then the limits reset.

The odd side effect of that is you end up with legislative leadership (House Speaker, etc.) being someone who really doesn't have that much experience.

So, term limits yes. But a little more loose.

Of course, I am willing to admit my opinions on this topic are nothing more than opinions, and are based on no first hand knowledge and very little research. So I am persuadable on this one.

By: Matt Gallagher

Matt Gallagher — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:15:18 +0000

I’ve been jumping up and down about term limits since 1994, but when the vote was defeated by one in 95 no one’s talked about them. Not even talk radio. It’s really bullshit. It would fix so much of this stuff.

And I’d be stricter about the whole thing. 3 terms as rep, 2 as senator. Then that’s it.