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* AP…

A group of freshmen Republican legislators is pushing for term limits, saying gridlock in the Illinois Legislature is a sign the status quo isn’t working.

The lawmakers held a news conference Wednesday to rail on the “entrenched leadership” in Springfield.

* But…

None of the 11 lawmakers at the news conference said they’re voluntarily limiting their own time in office.

On the one hand, that’s kinda funny.

On the other hand, it’s not really hypocritical. We often see the same sort of illogical barbs aimed at those who want to see a tax increase: If you’re so concerned, how about you voluntarily send the state more money than you owe?

And, in reality, a bunch of minority party lawmakers have little to nothing to do with “entrenched” Springfield leadership. That press conference was really about the House Speaker, not rank and file members.

* I’m not a big fan of term limits, but I don’t think they would be the end of the world, either, as long as people realize that the governor would likely wind up with a whole lot more power than the office currently has. The legislative leadership has strengthened their somewhat weak constitutional position with impressive political and organizing skills (which will eventually deteriorate with turnover), creative rule-making and executive rule oversight (which hasn’t really been challenged).

I’d much rather see remap reform, but that’s not nearly as sexy in the waning days of a bitter spring legislative session.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:31 pm

Comments

Seems reasonable. Obviously the current legislature isn’t functioning.

Comment by Tone Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:34 pm
Term limits will only increase the power of career staff and make lobbyists more influential then ever. Just look to Michigan. Term-limits there haven’t helped. I would argue it hurt their state more than anything. I would support a term-limit on leadership, however.

Comment by Nick Naylor Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:36 pm
=I’d much rather see remap reform=

I could truck with a remap, independently drawn every five years instead of ten.

Comment by Nick Naylor Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:38 pm
I agree with you 100%. The reason the legislative process is broken is because we have gerrymandered legislative districts where Members don’t really run for re-election. The goal of term limits is to ensure legislators are more responsive to the citizens, the true way to do that is have real elections.

If we think people will always be re-elected until they reach a term limit, then why bother having elections every two years at all?

Comment by Just Me Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:40 pm
We already have a mechanism in place for term limits–elections.

Everyone knows a seasoned legislator can get more done for his/her district than a newb.

Comment by Politix Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:41 pm
=None of the 11 lawmakers at the news conference said they’re voluntarily limiting their own time in office.=

I suppose it’s like introducing a bill that says “all legislators have to be right-handed” and not volunteering to cut off your left arm to prove your point.

Comment by Nick Naylor Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:42 pm
I think that Christine Radogno has been a good lawmaker and a strong leader.

Look around and tell me who you think could take her place. Murphy? Brady?

No, thank you very much newbies. But I prefer Radogno stay for as long as her members like.

Comment by Juvenal Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:45 pm
==Everyone knows a seasoned legislator can get more done for his/her district than a newb.==

The flip side to that argument is: With term limits, legislators become less entrenched, seniority turns over rather quick, and new legislators, who are generally more representative of the immediate mindset of their constituents, potentially have more power.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:46 pm
Even if $6 billion in cuts was “leverage”, how many sacred cows do you think Dems would give up for ONE year’s budget deal?

I mean its silly enough to think that a reform agenda like this should be inextricably linked to a budget vote. But even if it could be linked Rauner is asking them to sell their political souls for one fiscal year.

Again, its what we deserve when we put a political neophyte into the mansion.

Comment by Abe the Babe Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:47 pm
Didn’t these same legislators and the forces they represent squawk when the lame duck legislature passed a tax increase? With term limits there will be a lot more lame duckers.Maybe that’s a good thing. It won’t be so difficult to get the increased revenue the state needs. Doubt that’s what they are looking for.

Comment by Truthteller Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:53 pm
Remap reform lacks the same logic. Why would Illinois dems agree to it when the 30-some GOP dominated states across the country aren’t even talking about it. Remap reform at the federal level, I’m with you 100%…

Comment by chi Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:59 pm
=== Why would Illinois dems agree to it when the 30-some GOP dominated states across the country aren’t even talking about it===

Bruce Rauner’s reelection.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:00 pm
Who were the other 10?

Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:05 pm
==New legislators are generally more representative of the immediate mindset of their constituents==

How do you figure that? You’re there if your constituents put you there.

Who are these “entrenched” legislators, really? The only people I see talking about term limits are those who can’t beat MJM. I think it’s OK to expect a certain level of commitment to the job. Bruce has said he doesnt care if he ever gets re-elected. He’s cool with being a one-term governor. That, to me, says he’s not all that committed to serving. He doesn’t see being Governor of a state as an Honor. It’s something he wanted to do and he had the ego, money and power to do it.

Comment by Politix Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:19 pm
Freshmen Mushrooms of the minority party holding a prsser;

Meh.

I’m sure it makes a nice press pop.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:22 pm
I agree with these young Republican politicans. The quicker we term limit the Coach, Radgno, Ryder and Durkin the sooner Illinois will recover. All Coach wants to do anymore is play cards in his office. He should retire, get off the government dole and gamble at home like everyone else.

Comment by Don't bet against Illinois Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:24 pm
==- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 1:46 pm:==

Your hypothetical argument is antithetical to research. See Chris Mooney in the IGPA magazine in December 2007, Jennie Bowser, and Gary Moncrief, among others. Most often there is a free for all when a term-out legislator is up and a seat is open and very little competition afterward.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:29 pm
True term limit believers just like Cong. Shimkus and many others who don’t want to practice what they preach.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:30 pm
==afterward==

That’s the key word. The “afterward” period of little competition when there are term limits to the “afterward” period of little competition when you have a legislator in office for 4 decades.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:37 pm
The voters should decide their local state rep’s term limit.

Comment by Mama Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:40 pm
They can do like John Shimkus said he would do in his contract with America pledge and voluntarily leave office after so many terms. Oh, wait….

Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:43 pm
The Governor wants voters to be “empowered” to decide everything at the local level except who represents them in Springfield.

Comment by Old Shepherd Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:45 pm
==The Governor wants voters to be “empowered” to decide everything at the local level except who represents them in Springfield.==

If the voters don’t want term limits, they won’t approve an amendment. So let the voters say so.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:49 pm
Norseman and Cheswick beat me to the punch. Yet thanks to the way he has once again been gerrymandered he will be there another 10 years at least.

Comment by illini Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:49 pm
@illini - agree!

Comment by Cheswick Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:51 pm
Remapping would be a better reform than term limits, but it would probably leave Madigan in power. Hence, this.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:22 pm
I think it is crazy that the Representative have to run every 2 years. Their election should be increased to every 4 years. The Senators, the Governor & the President should run every 6 years instead of every 4 years.

Comment by Mama Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:22 pm
Where are the Gubernatorial term-limits proposed?

Comment by David Starrett Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:41 pm
in the states where i have worked (eg, california) where term limits exist, either the legislative staffs or the lobbyist hold the real power and institutional knowledge in the state. i don’t see anything beneficial about unelected people holding the real power in the legislature…

Comment by bored now Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 3:47 pm
==- Anonymous - Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 2:37 pm:==

There are elections every 2 years for House. Maybe you have missed them. No legislator is guaranteed their term.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 4:00 pm
Freshman antics sent from Bruce to Mike

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 6:44 pm
Term limits are coming. There is a republican tsunami building for the next election cycle in Illinois.

Comment by Truthteller Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 7:43 pm
It is crazy that the Representative have to run every 2 years!

Comment by Mama Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 8:48 pm
Dear Precinct Captain, I have never missed an election.

Comment by Mama Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 8:50 pm
@truthteller

Midterms are very different than presidentials. Your psumani is a figment of your imagination. Good luck with that. Even in a smaller, much older, much more conservative electorate that happens in a midterm, only one democratic legislator lost his seat and that was after 3 brutal elections where he barely hung on.

Comment by sideline Wednesday, May 20, 15 @ 10:07 pm
What they really meant to say: “Terms limits for thee, not for me.”

Comment by Lynn S. Thursday, May 21, 15 @ 12:14 am