House to consider longer term limits
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State Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing, introduced a plan Wednesday to extend lawmaker term limits, according to a statement.
Meadows wants to amend the state constitution to extend term limits to 12 years in both the Michigan House and Senate, and also lengthen terms from two to four years in the House and from four to six years in the Senate.
“At a time when our state faces its greatest challenge, more than a third of our lawmakers are brand new — learning on the job how to deal with an almost $2 billion budget deficit and our unemployment crisis,” he said in a statement.
The plan also would put the nonpartisan Legislative Services Bureau in charge of redistricting the state following the 2010 Census, which would eliminate political gerrymandering in the process, according to the statement.
The plan also would require attorney general and secretary of state candidates to be nominated by residents in a primary election. Currently attorney general and secretary of state candidates are chosen at partisan conventions.
The proposal is part of a plan to reform state government. Meadows also recently introduced a plan to lower the sales tax, expand the sales tax to some services and cut businesses taxes.
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MaximumBob
(03/08/10 2:14pm)Report
“At a time when our state faces its greatest challenge, more than a third of our lawmakers are brand new…”
Because the incumbants have done such a great job.
Professionals built the Titanic. Amatuers built the Ark.
Just sayin’.
SteveL
(03/11/10 10:42pm)Report
No way should legislators decide how long they will serve. If it’s one thing that this naton needs as well as the state of Michigan is term limits. The career politicians are destroying this country. They have already driven michigan into the ditch. If you can’t get things in order with the time you now have there is no way in the world we want you bums there for longer periods of time. Watch what goes on people because these politicos are only looking out for themselves.
OldTimer
(03/13/10 12:53am)Report
With professional lobbyists and professional bureaucrats, of course part-time, amateur legislators will keep them under tight control. Hah.
Consider places like Nevada, where the assembly meets only every second year, and then for only 120 days maximum. Five sixths of the time, they are constitutionally banned from meeting. Guess who runs the store in between? Guess who benefits?