Term limits to make more cuts in 2008
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Author : Erin Boeckman
Date : 10/17/2007
Senior Staff Writer
(OK) Oklahoma legislators bidding adieu to the Legislature in 2008 will join other lawmakers leaving state capitols that have term limits, the effects of which are still under debate.
Thirteen Oklahoma representatives and senators will hit the boundaries of their term limits in 2008. During the last election cycle in 2006, 24 legislators - 15 House members and nine senators - left their offices due to term limits. Oklahoma was one of the first states to implement legislative term limits. While some states have joined in the move to limit the time legislators can spend in office, whether term limits deliver on the promises made by proponents has prompted some states to reconsider the issue.
Oklahoma voters approved term limits in 1990. As stated in State Question 632, the law prohibits a legislator from serving more than 12 years in the House of Representatives or the Senate. Colorado and California voters passed similar initiatives the same year. Although 15 states currently have term limits in law, at one time 21 states had term limits. Some states introduced legislation to do away with term limits, and court challenges were waged against term limits in other states. Proponents of term limits listed advantages such as the increased likelihood of more people getting involved in the political process, decreased dependency of legislators on special interests and a balance of power between senior and freshman lawmakers, according to a report by the Oklahoma Policy Research Center. On the other hand, opponents of term limits argued that the restraints limit voter options, increase the ability of seasoned lobbyists to influence unseasoned legislators and prevent representatives from gaining sufficient experience to make good public policy.
Because of the critical role legislatures play in shaping state budgets and policies, three organizations initiated a three-year analysis of nine states that enacted term limits. The National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments and the State Legislative Leaders' Foundation published its findings in a report in 2006. While the method of term limit implementation may vary from state to state, the summary of the joint research project concluded that many of the impacts on the legislative institution are negative.
The NCSL, CSG and SLLF summary report commented on the effect of term limits on areas such as diversity in representation, leadership positions and legislative staff. One obvious effect was an increase in turnover. In 2006, 268 legislators were termed out, including 26 key leaders and 109 standing committee chairs, according to NCSL's report. However, while some proponents of term limits had pledged more diversity in legislatures, the report found that by and large, that has not happened. With a few exceptions, the numbers of female and minority legislators have not changed, according to the joint report.
The most notable changes occurred in legislative leadership, according to the report. With a limited amount of time, leaders rose to the top more quickly, stayed for a briefer period and wielded less influence than in the past. This also had an effect on committees, where high turnover in leadership and membership resulted in weaker, less collegial legislative committees, according to the report. Conversely, the importance and, in some cases, the influence of legislative staff grew. Legislators relied more than ever on staff, according to the report.
Upon leaving the Oklahoma Legislature, two former lawmakers had different opinions about the effect of term limits in the state. Former Rep. Odilia Dank, R-Oklahoma City, said term limits contributed to the two-party system because they are each watchdogs of the other. Dank, whose husband David replaced her when she hit her term limit in 2006, also noted that a mixture of experience among legislators resulted in moderation and balance.
In contrast, Sen. Bernest Cain, D-Oklahoma City, noted that new legislators' lack of experience and background on the issues being dealt with in the Legislature had an effect on their success. Many of the newcomers are caring and want to accomplish a great deal, but their lack of knowledge of the process decreases their effectiveness, Cain said after the conclusion of his last legislative session. Inexperience could also lead new legislators to be more susceptible to influence from special interests, he added.
While Oklahoma has not taken the route of other states in doing away with term limits, legislation has been proposed that would affect the time policymakers can spend in office. In 2006, former Sen. Robert Kerr, D-Altus, now deceased, proposed a constitutional amendment to do away with legislative term limits. The bill did not receive a committee hearing. Also in 2006, Rep. Dale DePue, R-Edmond, proposed a constitutional amendment to extend the terms of House members from two to four years. This measure also did not receive a committee hearing. Finally, in 2007 Rep. Trebor Worthen, R-Oklahoma City, proposed HJR 1037 to extend term limits to other offices. The legislation proposed a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of office of the lieutenant governor, state auditor and inspector, attorney general, state treasurer, labor commissioner, insurance commissioner, corporation commissioner and superintendent of public instruction to two. Worthen introduced similar legislation in 2006 that did not receive a committee hearing. HJR 1037 did not receive a committee hearing during the 2007 session, so it carries over to 2008. Extending term limits to statewide offices is also the subject of an initiative petition that has been filed.
Thirteen Oklahoma lawmakers will feel the effects of term limits in 2008. They are scheduled to make their departure from the Legislature in 2008. The House members leaving after the 2008 session are Reps. James Covey, D-Custer City; David Braddock, D-Altus; Terry Ingmire, R-Stillwater; Darrell Gilbert, D-Tulsa; Al Lindley, D-Oklahoma City; Ray McCarter, D-Marlow; and Dale Turner, D-Holdenville. Senators leaving are Sens. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward; Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City; Mary Easley, D-Tulsa; Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater; Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo; and James Williamson, R-Tulsa.
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