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Senator introduces Constitutional amendment requiring term limits
The Hill ^ | 11-10-09 | Jordan Fabian

Posted on 11/10/2009 12:40:25 PM PST by Justaham

A Republican senator on Tuesday introduced a Constitutional amendment that would mandate term limits for all federal lawmakers.

Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) amendment would limit House members to three terms and senators to two terms. Every lawmaker then could serve no longer than six years in Congress. DeMint said term limits are a reaction to the influence of special interest groups on Capitol Hill, corruption, high federal deficits, and a Democratic agenda he says will increase the size of government.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: termlimits
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1 posted on 11/10/2009 12:40:25 PM PST by Justaham
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To: Justaham

Of course, the corrupt ones will not vote for this, but it was a good idea.


2 posted on 11/10/2009 12:42:45 PM PST by McKayopectate
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To: Justaham

Good for him. I like it. Now for the next Constitutional Ammendment....

No bill can be more than 50 pages long in 10 font and must not contain any funding not directly related to the bill. Each and every bill must be read allowed before votes for closure and final votes 48 hours prior to the votes in both houses.


3 posted on 11/10/2009 12:43:24 PM PST by Tenacious 1 (Government For the People - an obviously concealed oxymoron)
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why not just vote them out? why bother with amending the constitution?


4 posted on 11/10/2009 12:43:35 PM PST by raygunfan
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To: Justaham

Are there not term limits for members of the California Assembly?

If so, it sure hasn’t worked there.

Actually, the only difference between CA and the USA is that America can print money.

Ugh.


5 posted on 11/10/2009 12:43:55 PM PST by RexBeach
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To: Justaham
And how would career aides, bureaucrats and lobbyists be controlled? This would give more power to the unelected mass of people that control how laws are written and how they are passed.
6 posted on 11/10/2009 12:44:09 PM PST by Anitius Severinus Boethius
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To: Justaham

Instead of Term limits I think they need to have it where each subsequent election a politician has to get more than 50% of the vote in order to get into the next term.

Term 1. over 50% of the vote.

Term 2. over 55% of the vote.

Term 3. over 60% of the vote.

Term 4. over 65% of the vote.

Have it capped at 80%.

If they fail to make the percentage vote, but they still have over 50% a run off is done with the top to contenders for that ticket.

Make them have to perform to keep their jobs. Or something like that.


7 posted on 11/10/2009 12:45:05 PM PST by GraceG
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To: Justaham

Complete nonsense.

The House is fine, you can replace them every two years.

It’s the royalty in the Senate. The 17th amendment is the devil. Get rid of it and let the ‘State’ elect their senators instead of the mob rule we currently have.


8 posted on 11/10/2009 12:45:53 PM PST by BGHater ("real price of every thing ... is the toil and trouble of acquiring it")
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To: McKayopectate

“the corrupt ones will not vote for this”

We just need to employ the RAT-TACTIC of shoving repeatedly until passed.


9 posted on 11/10/2009 12:45:53 PM PST by Birdsbane ("Onward through the fog!" ... Oat Willie)
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To: raygunfan

Because it is almost an impossibility to defeat an incumbent, who has a built in funding base by lobbyists and special interests.

Term limits work well for Presidents and governors.

Congressmen and Senators are no different.


10 posted on 11/10/2009 12:46:05 PM PST by exit82 (Democrats are the enemy of freedom. Sarah Palin is our Esther.)
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To: Justaham

Term limits is the only salvation for our Republic.


11 posted on 11/10/2009 12:46:27 PM PST by Ben Mugged (Unions are the storm troopers of socialism.)
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To: Justaham

Have we ever gotten a list of all the representatives who swore themselves to term limits, and what the follow-through on that was? I remember there was a whole campaign built around it in the ‘90s, but can’t remember what happened to it.

Was it decided that term limits were a good or bad thing by those arguing for them at the time?

I know Bloomberg certainly decided they were a bad thing, when it came time for him to run for a third term this past fall.


12 posted on 11/10/2009 12:46:27 PM PST by worst-case scenario (Striving to reach the light)
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To: raygunfan
why not just vote them out? why bother with amending the constitution?

Because you have over 60 million ACORN voters who voted for a kenyan born marxist, and they are not going to vote out those that are promising handouts of MINE and YOUR tax dollars.

13 posted on 11/10/2009 12:47:02 PM PST by The Sons of Liberty (FUBO - When 0bama Fails, Freedom Prevails!)
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To: raygunfan

How do you “vote out” Barney Frank?

Or any of these gerrymandered “black seats”?


14 posted on 11/10/2009 12:48:27 PM PST by MrB (The difference between a humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: Justaham

More than any other reform, this is THE item that will begin to correct the problems of our country!!!

FR needs to get behind this big time.


15 posted on 11/10/2009 12:48:35 PM PST by Laserman
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To: raygunfan
why not just vote them out? why bother with amending the constitution?

Actually there is a reason. Incumbents are hard to beat especially in dark blue or dark red areas. Once a name is established, constituents seem to fear "losing" an election to the other side. They become programmed. Look at Pennsylvania, New Orleans, San Francisco.

The voters that are upset with their representation are not upset enough for say, Massachussets to lose a (D) representation, so they just keep voting for the (D).

16 posted on 11/10/2009 12:49:23 PM PST by Tenacious 1 (Government For the People - an obviously concealed oxymoron)
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To: GraceG

Case against such an idea: Ted Kennedy. Got comfortably huge margins every time he stood for re-election.


17 posted on 11/10/2009 12:49:58 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: Justaham
Statement:"Senator introduces Constitutional amendment requiring term limits."

Response: God bless him this senator is trying. However, it will not work as it will not cure the rot eating our legislatures. Indeed, such an amendment would probably increase the corruption as the short termers will move more rapidly to obtain their bribes and the fruits thereof. We are to far along the road to destruction to expect normal political interventions to work.

19 posted on 11/10/2009 12:50:27 PM PST by AEMILIUS PAULUS (It is a shame that when these people give a riot)
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To: Ben Mugged

10th amendment sovereignty would be a salvation for the Republic.


20 posted on 11/10/2009 12:50:41 PM PST by MrB (The difference between a humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: Justaham
Term limits will do nothing.

The only thing that will work is to force the federal government to repeal everything that violates the enumerated powers of the US Constitution.

21 posted on 11/10/2009 12:50:57 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Ask not what the Kennedys can do for you, but what you can do for the Kennedys.)
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To: Justaham

How about two terms: “One in Congress and one in prison.”


22 posted on 11/10/2009 12:51:49 PM PST by mosaicwolf (Strength and Honor)
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To: exit82

Because it is almost an impossibility to defeat an incumbent, who has a built in funding base by lobbyists and special interests.

Term limits work well for Presidents and governors.

Congressmen and Senators are no different.


i agree. Once entrenched it’s almost impossible to vote them out.


23 posted on 11/10/2009 12:52:30 PM PST by ET(end tyranny)
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To: BGHater; All
The House is fine, you can replace them every two years.

It’s the royalty in the Senate. The 17th amendment is the devil. Get rid of it and let the ‘State’ elect their senators instead of the mob rule we currently have.

Well Said!

'Nuff Said!

24 posted on 11/10/2009 12:52:47 PM PST by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own risk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: All
YES!... I SUPPORT IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY!

3 Terms for congress and 2 for senator....hmmmm, let me think.... yes I like it... I LIKE IT A LOT! :)

25 posted on 11/10/2009 12:54:22 PM PST by ElPatriota (The SILENCE of the Catholic Church on the war (...Actually I heard something lately) ** DEAFENING **)
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To: raygunfan

“why not just vote them out? why bother with amending the constitution?”

***

Because people won’t. Look at John Murtha...everyone around these parts knows he’s the south end of a horse travelling north. But he is re-elected every time. Sometimes it’s because a certain area leans toward one party over another (around here Dems have at least a 2-1 majority). Sometimes, it’s because people are either too stupid or too lazy or something to at least give the opponent a chance. It’s like “we know Murtha is a POS, but we know him and we don’t know the chalenger.” Dumbarse logic, but that’s often the way it is. Hard to change the diehards.


26 posted on 11/10/2009 12:54:22 PM PST by fatnotlazy
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To: Justaham

What a great story!
What a great dream!

Only wish it would happen!


27 posted on 11/10/2009 12:55:10 PM PST by Calif4Palin (Proud Moosehead....)
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To: BGHater

Spot on. The only hitch is the unelected staff. They have much more power than people realize and need to be culled.


28 posted on 11/10/2009 12:55:40 PM PST by paddles
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To: Justaham

Cut off their life time perks as well.


29 posted on 11/10/2009 12:55:56 PM PST by drypowder
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To: Justaham

I’m not betting that this gets done in my lifetime but it’s great to see someone try!


30 posted on 11/10/2009 12:59:05 PM PST by Sunshine Sister
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To: GraceG

Instead of Term limits I think they need to have it where each subsequent election a politician has to get more than 50% of the vote in order to get into the next term.

Term 1. over 50% of the vote.

Term 2. over 55% of the vote.

Term 3. over 60% of the vote.

Be careful what you wish for. This sounds too much like that Instant Run-Off Voting that the far-Left is in love with, and which stands to destroy the value of one-man-one-vote.


31 posted on 11/10/2009 1:00:19 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Justaham
Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) amendment would limit House members to three terms and senators to two terms.

Two term limit. One term in Congress, and one term in prison.

32 posted on 11/10/2009 1:00:24 PM PST by Ditto (Directions for Clean Government: If they are in, vote them out. Rinse and repeat.)
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To: Justaham

Need to have “term limits” of ALL Federal Employee pukes too.


33 posted on 11/10/2009 1:02:47 PM PST by US Navy Vet
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To: Justaham
Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) amendment would limit House members to three terms and senators to two terms. Every lawmaker then could serve no longer than six years in Congress.

So 2(terms) x 6(years in a Senate term) = 6?

34 posted on 11/10/2009 1:04:18 PM PST by tnlibertarian
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To: Justaham

Here’s an idea: repeal the 17th amendment and let state legislatures appoint Senators.


35 posted on 11/10/2009 1:06:36 PM PST by CharacterCounts (November 4, 2008 - the day America drank the Kool-Aid)
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To: tnlibertarian

to = two??


36 posted on 11/10/2009 1:07:31 PM PST by BGHater ("real price of every thing ... is the toil and trouble of acquiring it")
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To: BGHater; Impy
>> It’s the royalty in the Senate. The 17th amendment is the devil. <<

I think you have it backwards. Right now, WE THE PEOPLE can throw the bums out of the Senate. Take away that right from the people and give it government bueruecrats, and you'd have a U.S. Senate with European-style royalty that serve for life.

Look no further than the current Senators who got their job through state government appointment -- Senators Lisa Murkowski, Michael Bennet, Ted Kaufman, George LeMieux, Roland Burris, Paul Kirk, Robert Menendez, and Kirsten Gillibrand. Couple of real gems there, eh? Seems pretty clear to me that when we leave it up to politicians to pick other politicians, they award the job to petty party hacks that have geased the most palms, rather than pick the "best qualified" person to serve the state. Indeed, one of the driving factors in the passing the 17th amendment was the The Chicago Tribune published the admission by Illinois Assemblyman Charles A. White that Billy Lorimer paid $1,000 for his appointment to the U.S. Senate. He only served in the Senate until July 13, 1912, when, after a Senate investigation and acrimonious debate, the Senate adopted a resolution declaring "that corrupt methods and practices were employed in his election, and that the election, therefore, was invalid."

If appointed U.S. Senators is such a great idea, how come its advocates can't point to a single nation that employs such a system and produces a positive result from it? Look anywhere in the world like the U.K., Canada, or Germany, and you'll find the "appointed upper house" is renowned for cronyism and smoke-filled room back door politics, and people have been trying to get rid of it for years but the government elites like their cushy jobs and and won't let them. Just like the liberals claim socialized medicine will solve all our problems put can't seem to locate a single country with a successful government-run health care system.

In both cases, that should cause its supporters to rethink their basic premise that big government can do a better job making decisions than the people. Sadly, it doesn't.

37 posted on 11/10/2009 1:09:34 PM PST by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: raygunfan

I think that Senator DeMint recognizes the growing impossibility of voting out people that have built an entitlement base through corruption. I like the idea of term limits and would like to know how long they have to be out before running again.


38 posted on 11/10/2009 1:11:50 PM PST by Big_Harry ( Thank God I am an "Infidel"!)
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To: exit82
Because it is almost an impossibility to defeat an incumbent, who has a built in funding base by lobbyists and special interests.

Here's an idea: Take political contributions at 50% paid by the recipient and 50% paid by the donor. Exempt the first $100.00 per voter. Use the money to pay for health care.

39 posted on 11/10/2009 1:12:25 PM PST by CharacterCounts (November 4, 2008 - the day America drank the Kool-Aid)
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To: raygunfan
"why not just vote them out? why bother with amending the constitution?"

Because "just vote them out" hasn't worked. Term limits are a great idea, and should be implemented for all elective offices at all levels of government.

40 posted on 11/10/2009 1:18:12 PM PST by Wonder Warthog ( The Hog of Steel)
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To: Justaham
Just sent him a note thanking him for this action and encouraging him to look into repealing the 17th to “restore the People (House) vs. State (Senate) balance of power
41 posted on 11/10/2009 1:19:59 PM PST by 5thGenTexan
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To: Tenacious 1

WAIT isn’t that what we were promised by the botoxed one?


42 posted on 11/10/2009 1:20:11 PM PST by mcshot (It's WE THE PEOPLE!. Don't like our Constitution then get OUT on the 0 boat.)
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To: raygunfan

Exactly - no fuss, no muss - plus it saves time and energy from the very common dithering about.


43 posted on 11/10/2009 1:20:19 PM PST by jamaksin
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To: raygunfan

Hasn’t worked so far and with ACORN pushing known names and the “D” party the fraud will continue.


44 posted on 11/10/2009 1:22:13 PM PST by mcshot (It's WE THE PEOPLE!. Don't like our Constitution then get OUT on the 0 boat.)
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To: BillyBoy

As of right now, the ‘State’ has no power in DC. There is no sate power, we have elected officials who represent the mobs of their States. Change it, the Founding Fathers had the right idea. I do not know the current State General assembly breakdown, but it would be interesting if it would be better than the 60/40 we currently have.


45 posted on 11/10/2009 1:22:17 PM PST by BGHater ("real price of every thing ... is the toil and trouble of acquiring it")
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To: Fiddlstix
1791 original constitution = Al Gore would be vice President under Bush from 2001-2005, followed by John Kerry as vice President under Bush from 2005-2009. They run the country whenever Bush is incapactated.

Post-1808 constitution = Dick Cheney is Vice President from 2001-2009.

Shall we go back to the original system the "founders" envisioned? We could have "Vice President John McCain" right now. Or do you think maybe the founders are not infallible and sometimes the constitution gets amendment for good reason?

46 posted on 11/10/2009 1:22:58 PM PST by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: Fiddlstix
1791 constitution = Al Gore would be vice President under Bush from 2001-2005, followed by John Kerry as vice President under Bush from 2005-2009. They run the country whenever Bush is incapactated.

Post-1808 amended constitution = Dick Cheney is Vice President from 2001-2009.

Shall we go back to the original system the "founders" set up? We could have "Vice President John McCain" right now. Or do you think maybe the founders are NOT infallible and sometimes the constitution gets amendment for good reason?

47 posted on 11/10/2009 1:24:09 PM PST by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: Justaham

The Congress will be full of people you never heard of. Just like Kalifornia.


48 posted on 11/10/2009 1:24:43 PM PST by Mike Darancette (Obama: Grasping at Straw Men _ Not a Public Option It's a government mandate.)
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To: BGHater
>> As of right now, the ‘State’ has no power in DC <<

News to me. I live in Obama's home state and it seems to me he takes orders from the Chicago machine on a regular basis.

49 posted on 11/10/2009 1:25:34 PM PST by BillyBoy (Impeach Obama? Yes We Can!)
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To: raygunfan
why not just vote them out? why bother with amending the constitution?

How many congressional districts do you vote in?

50 posted on 11/10/2009 1:28:36 PM PST by lonestar (Obama and his czars have turned Bush's "mess" into a national crisis!)
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