Term Limits IV: Return of the Killer Lawmakers


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 Naturally it passed, and term limits were repealed.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 Term limits were repealed.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 is the fact that opposition to the referendum comes from taxpayer funded sources. As if it isn't bad enough lawmakers are turning a deaf ear to the will of Idaho voters, now they are using their own tax money to campaign against them.



Comments (4)      top   link me

Comments

You write as if turning a deaf ear to the people and spending taxpayer dollars for their own designs is unusual for politicians. I thought it was pretty much par for the course anymore.

Posted by: Acidman at October 19, 2002 6:28 PM

I'd be one pissed Idahoan and I'd be voting the entire group out on their asses. Get the people in there who understand that what the people want....the people will fight to get!

Posted by: Da Goddess at October 19, 2002 8:59 PM

Have the politicians forgotten that Moscow, Idaho is in the U.S.? Or, are they still laboring under the illusion that it's part of the former USSR?

Posted by: Da Goddess at October 19, 2002 9:00 PM

Yeah Acidman, we have known that for some time. However, believe it or not, there are plenty of naive people out there that still think that politicians are out there doing their best to make our lives better and improve society.

They're called liberals.

Posted by: Ravenwood at October 20, 2002 12:36 PM

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