New term-limits initiative qualifies for ballot, Opponents complain process was tainted

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 9/4/7 | John Wildermuth

[SmithL]

San Francisco -- A new Democrat-backed term limits initiative qualified for the February ballot Tuesday by a scant 957-signature margin, and opponents are complaining that political pressure pushed the measure over the top.

The measure only received enough valid signatures to qualify after four counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Riverside and San Bernardino - revised their counts Friday and added 5,490 signatures to the "certified and final" totals they had submitted earlier in August.

"It is uncommon for us to receive revised figures in the signature count for an initiative," said Nicole Winger, a spokesman for Secretary of State Debra Bowen.

The initiative, put together by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, would cut the amount of time state legislators can spend in office from the current 14 years down to 12 years, but would allow them to serve it all in either the Assembly or state Senate, if they wish. If passed in February, it will allow Núñez, state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, and a number of other legislators to run for re-election to their current jobs in June, instead of being forced out by the old term limit rules.

"The process has clearly been tainted, political pressure applied and the result speaks for itself," said Kevin Spillane, a GOP consultant running the effort against the term limit revision. "It's interesting that (Perata's) political power base includes two of the four counties that revised their numbers."

Both Perata and Núñez quickly denied that they had pressured anyone over term limits.

"Senator Perata has not made one single phone call to anyone about the term limits initiative and has nothing to do with the initiative whatsoever," said Alicia Tross, a spokeswoman for the senator.

The complaints are little more than sour grapes, initiative backers said.

[SmithL]

peRATa Ping

[JSDude1]

Term limits are a baaad idea; you get rid of some really great people; we already have ‘term limits’ with voters voting people out!! I know what you all will say, but with term limits in place (Nationally you would have lost winners like Sens. Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond: Which blocked much baaad legislation with their time in the Senate: Senator ‘No’..remember.

Also with term limits you get rid of some in the older generation that may not have been as ‘tainted’ by progressivism/government schools (edumicachun).. Whereas your newer generation has been much more manipulated by years of government education/propoganda by the media/mass media and pop. culture!!

[goldstategop]

This initiative needs to be exposed and defeated... its a sham that would give politicians 12 years in each house and a quarter century in office! If passed, it would mean the end of term limits in California. A petition is now being circulated to put the California Republican Party on record against it.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[weegee]

So it is term limits that EXTEND the terms that some Democrats currently in office can serve. Right.

Vote No for Yes y Si por No.

[WOSG]

Term limits are a good idea by defeating the career politicians. There are plenty of different offices and the good ones can bounce around, while the bad ones end up like the kid who loses at musical chairs.

Have no fear, we are better off with term limits.

[Doc91678]

Yep!!!
Like Kennedy, Reid, Pelosi, and all those 3 term plus Senators and Congress persons that don’t deserve to be there. Democrat or Republican two terms and your finished. Just like the President.

[goldstategop]

We need to make voters aware current law does NOT have a 14 year limit. Rather - it limits Assembly members to 3 terms and Senators to two terms. 6 years in the lower house and 8 years in the upper. The proposed initiative would change that by allowing legislators to serve a total of 12 years in either house or a total of 24 years combined - if they ran for the other house when their total time there expired. What that actually means is Assembly members would get to serve 3 more terms and Senators would get to serve 1 extra term. And they think the people of California are too stupid to realize what they're doing is getting rid of term limits through a legal legdermain. We need to point out that 12 years is 6 more years than Assembly members now serve and 4 more years than Senators are allowed to serve. The Democrats nor the media won't educate the voters about this. We need to make it clear this is an attempt by Fabian Nunez and Don Perata to extend their time in office.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[JSDude1]

get rid of pols like Jesse Helms, Thurmond, Coburn, Sessions, Pence, etc..

I really want to do this (plus if you may or may not realize depending on how closely you follow the legislative branch, but it seems some in the new generation of rats is WORSE than the older generation: take Robert Byrd: Sure he’s communist socialist big spender (and that’s an understatment!), but at least he throws around a socially conservative vote now and again (against abortion or for traditional marriage, or even against Illigal Immigration..)!

[Doc91678]

I wouldn’t go as far as to call Robert Byrd a Communist. However, term limits would pare down some of the corruption that is going on in the house of legislature. It would keep most of them honest because they’re not going to be there long.

[JSDude1]

You’re right about Byrd (one of the stupid things I always happen to say; but you know what I mean, I was making a point).

It wouldn’t keep them honest; that makes no sense, it would rather just make them squeeze in as much corruption (bribery) as possilbe in the little time they have bec they know they only have limited time to advance their careers/fortunes!