Congressional Term Limits

[Nelson Walker]

Wake up America!...before we are ruled by a permanently tenured Congress

PROPOSED
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR
CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS

(and the many reasons why it is needed)

Special Wording (note first 14 words): Excepting current incumbents of both houses indefinitely, as long as they are reelected successively, members of the Senate shall serve a maximum of twelve years (two terms), and members of the House shall serve a maximum of six years (three terms). Fractional terms not included herein.

REASONS IN FAVOR OF TERM LIMITS:
1. Builds ‘citizen’ Congress vs career politicians.
2. Breaks ties to special interests, lobbyists.
3. Destroys seniority/enhances meritocracy.
4. Improves timeliness of Congress’s thinking.
5. Eliminates power of ‘old bulls’ caucus.
6. Introduces fresh thinking, new ideas.
7. Improves tendency to vote on principle.
8. Reduces power of staff, bureaucracy.
9. Increases competition among candidates.
10. Acts as a natural campaign finance reform.
11. Improves the quality of legislation.
12. Probably tends to smaller government.
13. Overwhelming public favor vs political opposition.
14. Returns incumbent reelection to 50% vs 90% now.

REASONS OPPOSED TO TERM LIMITS:
1. Eliminates the good along with the bad.(Long tenures spoils the “good”)
2. Reduces the freedom of voters to choose.(Long tenures is NOT choosing)
3. Increases the power of staff, bureaucracy.(Citizen reps will control this)
4. Loss of knowledge and experience.(Outsider experience is just as important)


I would appreciate responses, ideas, suggestions.
[e-mail]

[nels96]

Well, it has been over a month now, and no one has remarked on this subject. I know there are many out there who would like to see Congress be term limited, but think that it will never happen because Congress won't let it happen. On the other hand, there are some guys like me who think that this is only a challenge that needs to be addressed, in order to make it happen.

That's why I suggest a wording for the amendment which removes any objection that any Congress member could have: All current members are exempted from the amendment.

Let's get some commentary going!