Term Limits


You need look no further than Idaho to see just what politicians will do to hold on to political power. Take a look at the timeline of their term limits law.

In 1994, Idaho voters instituted term limits through a voter referendum. The measure passed with 59% of the vote.

Stunned, lawmakers put the measure on the ballot again in 1998. Despite a brutal campaign of political rhetoric and lies, the Idaho voters reaffirmed the measure with 54% of the vote, in favor of term limits.

Not to be dissuaded, lawmakers sued to overturn the term limits in 1999, on the grounds that term limits unconsitutionally denied voters the right to suffrage. The Legislature won their lawsuit, and term limits were struck down.

The decision was appealed to the Idaho Supreme Court, which ruled that the term limits law was indeed constitutional, and term limits were upheld.

Just days after the Idaho Supreme Court affirmed the term limits referendum, the Legislature drafted a bill to override the term limits. Naturally it passed, and term limits were repealed.

Enter the Governor. The Governor sided with the will of the people, and vetoed the legislation. Term limits were upheld.

Within 36 hours, the Legislature overrode the Governor's veto. Term limits were repealed.

Down but not out, the citizens of Idaho have put a referendum on the 2002 ballot to restore term limits AGAIN.

However adding insult to the Idaho voters, the legislature used taxpayer dollars to fund a misinformation campaign, and thanks to confusing wording on the ballot referendum (a "no" vote meant "yes"), term limits were defeated at the ballot box.

Best of Ravenwood's Universe, originally posted 10/19/2002.


Category:  Best of Ravenwood
Comments (6)      top   link me

Comments

What? No pay raise with that job security? We wonder if the Citizens of Idaho will pay attention to who voted what next election.

Posted by: Civis Proeliator at January 18, 2006 9:29 AM

Why did they even put people in office who would vote on term limits?


I know that you may be stuck with someone after 2 or 4 years, but they had since 1994 to pass the bill.


Oh well, they just need to keep trying, they'll pass it some day.

Posted by: Rhett at January 18, 2006 10:37 AM

Thank you for the excellent resource material. Term limits are key to any real plan for gov reform.

P.S. Those bastards!

Posted by: karey at January 18, 2006 11:12 PM

Idaho, at least they're conservative (State Senate: Republicans: 28, Democrats: 7 State House: Republicans: 57 Democrats: 13 ) ...

Posted by: -keith in mtn. view at January 19, 2006 11:15 AM

Sounds like conserving your worthless job to me.

Ravenwood,
You just need a program to automatically repost from the "Best Of". Many, sadly like me, wouldn't notice you were on vacation.

Posted by: FishOrMan at January 19, 2006 3:09 PM

Term limits for kennedys

Posted by: sandpiper at January 21, 2006 10:03 AM

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