Expecting to See Term Limits on the Ballot

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will not be on the ballot in 2010, but the issue that many New Yorkers lambasted him over in the 2009 election very likely will be: term limits.

“We need as a commission to be heard this November,” Matthew Goldstein, the chairman of the New York City Charter Revision Commission, said on Monday night, during a hearing at Brooklyn Borough Hall.

Asked afterward to elaborate, Mr. Goldstein, who is the chancellor of the City University of New York, said, “I haven’t heard any commissioner opine that we ought to pass in November about term limits.”

Term Limits Debate Could Turn On Details

The Charter Revision Commission's Tuesday night "issue forum" on term limits was billed as an opportunity for commission members to hear from experts about the complex pros and cons of restricting elected officials' tenure. That it was.

But after eight public sessions, it was also the first time the commissioners discussed their own views. And—despite criticism that the panel is but a rubber stamp for a mayoral agenda—those views were far from uniform.

Tuesday's hearing was the first of five issues forums that the commission is holding to explore policy areas where they might suggest charter changes. Hearings on land use, government structure, public integrity and voter participation are scheduled for June.

The term limits session pitted a term limits advocate, Gregory Carl Schmid of the organization U.S. Term Limits, against two academics who were, to say the least, skeptical of term limits: NYU's Patrick Egan and Richard Niemi of the University of Rochester

Term limits guarantee shake-up in 2011 Legislature

LAS VEGAS — Term limits are forcing 17 state lawmakers from their posts this year, guaranteeing a new look for the Nevada Legislature in 2011.

But some are hoping to switch seats, meaning November's election could give some familiar players chances in different spots if they pass the primaries next month.

That could be easier said than done, this election season.

Term Limit Debate Sparked By Souder Scandal

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - Congressman Souder's sudden resignation after sixteen years and eight terms in Congress has sparked a centuries old debate. Should there be Congressional term limits? Currently the House of Representatives has unlimited two year terms, and the Senate has unlimited six year terms. If you're part of the majority of Americans who favor Congressional term limits, it may be harder to than you think to make limits a reality. Multimedia

Back in 1787, the Framers didn't include term limit requirements for U.S. Senators or Representatives in the Constitution. What it does include are requirements that the member of Congress be 25, a resident of the state they are representing, and an American citizen for at least nine years.

Continue Reading at Indiana News Center

Thanks to the Tea Partiers, Term Limits Have Arrived At Last

While voters have previously been wooed by earmarks, assuming that money funneled to their district came from somewhere and someone else, they are waking up. The nation’s fiscal health is failing, and voters are consequently upending many previously sacrosanct notions. Among those previously taboo topics, for example, is cutting spending on public schools. Governor Chris Christie is daring to take on the militant teachers unions of New Jersey, cheered on by the hard-pressed taxpayers in that most high-taxed of all states. People – especially out of work people – are no longer willing to support the endless raises, bloated administrative budgets and insane work rules demanded by a union that arguably does not deliver a good product. People want a new deal.

Senator Jim DeMint from South Carolina has introduced a constitutional amendment to establish term limits on those serving in Congress. He notes that over the past two decades politicians have been reelected 90% of the time. “Americans know that real change in Washington will never happen until we end the era of permanent politicians” says DeMint. He is completely right. In poll after poll, a large majority of Americans say they support term limits. The good news is that we may not have to wait for DeMint’s long-shot bill to pass; the Tea Partiers may impose term limits all by themselves.

Continue Reading at FoxNews.com

Start taking back power by putting term limits in place

When Thomas Paine wrote "These are the times that try men's souls," he could have put today's date on it. This time is what I consider one of the blackest days in America's history.

For more than 100 years, a group of men called progressives have been plotting to overthrow American's way of life. What would our Founding Fathers say?

In olden days, politicians served to protect America. After one or two terms, they would return to their original occupation. Government wasn't meant to be a lifetime job. They did their best for America with little compensation, then passed the mantle.

Continue Reading at The Spectrum website

Lamontagne calls for congressional term limits

PORTSMOUTH — Fighting for freedom and liberty, limited government and responsible spending are top priorities for U.S. Senate candidate Ovide Lamontagne.

"I think our country is heading in exactly the wrong direction," said Lamontagne, of Manchester, who visited the Seacoast Media Group offices this past Thursday. He was in the area to meet with a University of New Hampshire student Republican group and to attend a Senate debate held by the 912 Project in Rochester.

The Republican says leaders in Washington are taking too many liberties and operating the country with deficit spending when they should be working from a zero-based budget approach. Reforming Congress by structured change — for instance, term limits of two terms in the Senate and six terms in the House — is another goal of Lamontagne's. He also wants to foster job creation, lower the tax burden on businesses and increase national security — including border security.

Continue Reading at Sea Coast Online

One term only for our politicians

The present political situation reminds me of my father's pet theories about politicians. He was a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, not that he was happy with the party. He disliked the Democrats and the Republicans, but he felt the Republicans did less damage to the country. I am not sure that is true, today. It seems that both parties are interested only in getting re-elected.

There is absolutely no evidence that Democrats and Republicans are really interested in John Q. Public: bridges to nowhere, bankrupt Social Security (which is nothing more than a Ponzi scheme), health care that a huge percentage of citizens did not want, and on and on.

I served in two wars: World War II and Korea. With 12 years of service, I truly love this country, and dislike the road our country is on, now. But if one looks at the avenues open to the citizens of the U.S.A., there is really only one. The politicians don't listen to us.

So let's get rid of incumbent Democrats, Republicans, Senators, Representatives, and their hanger's on, and go for term limits. Let Senators, Congressmen and women alike serve only one term. A senator serving one term will not have enough time to get comfortable and Congressmen and women serving only one two-year term won't be as interesting to the influence peddlers.

And perhaps we could convince these people to reduce the deficits. If we take no action, we risk losing one wonderful country.

Frank Schive

Roseburg