Free Republic

After once calling an effort to revise his city's term limits law “disgusting,” Michael Bloomberg, the liberal mayor of New York City, has decided to gut the law so he can seek a third term in office. This nasty little tyrant who wants to control nearly every aspect of New Yorkers' lives is reportedly ignoring the advice of his three top aides at City Hall. Bloomberg plans to change the law through city council, rather than by going to the voters who put the law in place by referendum in the 1990s. Guys like Bloomberg are why term limits were...

We need a Constitutional Amendment for Term Limits ASAP. As I understand it, there are two methods to amend the Constitution: (From http://www.usconstitution.net/constam.html) The first method is for a bill to pass both houses of the legislature, by a two-thirds majority in each. Once the bill has passed both houses, it goes on to the states. This is the route taken by all current amendments. Because of some long outstanding amendments, such as the 27th, Congress will normally put a time limit (typically seven years) for the bill to be approved as an amendment (for example, see the 21st and...

A defensive Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel cited “cultural and language barriers” as reasons for failing to report $75,000 in rental income on a Dominican Republic beach house. Rangel gave the explanation at a Capitol Hill news conference, The New York Times reports, where he answered charges by saying, “I personally feel I have done nothing morally wrong.” The congressman then seemed to backpedal and claimed that he had been unaware of the income, and thus the taxes, because he had trouble getting detailed financial statements from the property’s managers in the Dominican Republic, according to the Times report. “Every time...

A decade after communities around the country adopted term limits to force entrenched politicians from office, at least two dozen local governments are suffering from a case of buyer’s remorse, with legislative bodies from New York City to Tacoma, Wash., trying to overturn or tweak the laws. The campaigns against term limits, should they succeed, would drastically change the process by which millions of Americans elect a variety of their leaders — and how much power those leaders can amass once in office. The elected leaders, some of whom supported term limits when they were imposed, argue that the limits...

The state Supreme Court on Friday handed down a ruling on state term limits which won't please everyone, but which avoided the major dangers and -- finally, after 12 years -- lets Nevadans know where they stand. What was needed was a firm, clear ruling. Never say "never" when it comes to attorneys filing more appeals, but Friday's decision (however belated) appears to get the job done. The greatest danger was that some on the court might seek to reverse an earlier ruling which held -- despite the court-ordered division of the 1994 term limits question into two parts in...

Well, well, well. About those leased cars that congressionals push off onto us taxpayers -- I've been doing a little looking up and found some very interesting tidbits. For instance, Jesse Jackson, Jr. leases (at taxpayers expense) a Ford Expedition for $1,161 a month. Bobby Rush likes his Lincoln Navigator that costs $746 a month. And John Shimkus has a Jeep Commander that costs $627/month. But then there's Dan Lipinski (D-Ill). Lipinski pays for his own vehicle. He says charging taxpayers raises too many questions. You can see more on the list. Not all the congressionals fleece us taxpayers by...

Presidents are term limited, so they can only do so much damage to the country. What I am very concerned about is our crummy Congress, which gets worse every year, and needs to be term limited. But Congress has a LOCK on never letting us get term limits on them. So I suggest the only way to do it, is to NEVER REELECT any incumbent! In the meantime, we can try to use the presidential race to give us a boost. Such as the following: McCain is a maverick. He likes to make waves. And he specializes in townhall meetings....

(06-06) 15:49 PDT CARSON CITY, CA (AP) -- The state Supreme Court on Friday got a second petition dealing with Nevada's term-limits requirement, this one from a Clark County Commission candidate trying to force a longtime incumbent commissioner off the ballot. Steve Sisolak, represented by attorney Dominic Gentile, asked the high court to block Bruce Woodbury, who has been on the commission since 1981, from seeking re-election this year. Gentile argued that Nevadans gave final approval to term limits in 1996, limiting most officials to 12 years in office, and Woodbury can't run for another term because he's completing his...

The Senate began what is expected to be a weeklong, contentious debate Monday over legislation to combat global warming by mandatory reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.Senators voted 74-14 to proceed to the bill, but immediately it became clear Republican opponents were not going to make it easy. A request by Democrats to begin considering substantive changes in the bill was blocked by GOP opponents until Wednesday at the earliest. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada promised a thorough debate that will probably last through the week, if not longer. He said it's clear that "global warming...

It’s no secret that elected officials are prone to viewing the world through the distorted prism of their own indispensability. In fact, an old Washington, D.C. proverb maintains that “every Congressman looks in the mirror and sees a Senator – and every Senator looks in the mirror and sees a President.” Appropriately dubbed the “mirror syndrome,” this tendency of politicians to regard themselves as transcendent figures doesn’t stop at the banks of the Potomac. Sadly, it extends to state capitals and seats of local government all across our nation. In last month’s New York Times, for example, a Nebraska State...

A REVOLUTION TO TAKE BACK THE US CONGRESS by Nelson Lee Walker of tenurecorrupts.com I am proposing that we create a popular, bloodless, political revolution in our country. I believe that it is very necessary, very possible, and very doable. The object of this revolution is the destruction of the professional political class which currently dominates and corrupts the US Congress. I am convinced, as are many, many voters, that the bulk of our country’s political problems arises out of this ‘permanent’ Congressional political class, and their devotion to party power and to the financial special interests keeping them in...

A REVOLUTION TO TAKE BACK THE US CONGRESS by tenurecorrupts.com I am proposing that we create a popular, bloodless, political revolution in our country. I believe that it is very necessary, very possible, and very doable. The object of this revolution is the destruction of the professional political class which currently dominates and corrupts the US Congress. I am convinced, as are many, many voters, that the bulk of our country's political problems arises out of this 'permanent' Congressional political class, and their devotion to party power and to the financial special interests keeping them in power. There is a...

The Capitol was in a celebratory mood Thursday as Karen Bass was ratified as the next speaker of the state Assembly and the first African American woman to hold such a position in California and national history. It is, after all, generally considered to be California's second most powerful political position, albeit not as potent as it was before term limits, and Democrats were happy that they didn't suffer the embarrassment of a prolonged battle royal for the speakership. Bass should savor the moment while she can because it won't last very long – she'll be forced out of the...

>Nebraska State Senator DiAnna Schimek's 20-year legislative career is nearly over. She feels victimized, no doubt, by the voter-enacted term limits that make this her final year in power. Still, Senator Schimek hopes to go out with her boots on, firing one final shotgun blast to maim or kill the initiative process she has long abhorred. You see, it was only through the voter initiative that Nebraskans passed term limits . . . three times. Yup. It took three petition drives and three votes of the people. Of course, term limits passed overwhelmingly each time. But a charmed third initiative...

A state senator from Sacramento received a nod from his Democratic colleagues Thursday to replace Senate President Don Perata of Oakland when the East Bay legislator is forced out by term limits at the end of the year. Senate Democrats, who hold the majority in the upper house, met Thursday morning and agreed to get behind Sen. Darrell Steinberg to succeed Perata. But the caucus will not vote until Aug. 21, a week before the legislative session is scheduled to end. "At the right time, after Sen. Perata's term ends, I will be ready to go," Steinberg said at a...

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez took responsibility for the failure of the term limits initiative on Tuesday's ballot and for not pairing it with redistricting reform. The defeat of Proposition 93 has set in motion the process to change leadership in both houses of the Legislature. Democrats plan to vote March 11 for a new speaker, although Democrats agreed that Nunez will stay on until the end of the legislative session in August. Proposition 93 would have shaved two years off the maximum amount of time most lawmakers could serve. But it also would have given dozens of lawmakers a chance...

Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year, and being it's the Year of the Rat, it seems appropriate to reflect on Proposition 93. Of course it would be more appropriate were it the Year of the Skunk. Those of you who recall Tuesday's election will remember Prop. 93 was the ploy by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata and other termed-out legislators to hold on to their jobs a while longer by changing the rules. The pitch was that the actual total number of years a California legislator may serve would have...

Sacramento -- California voters' rejection of a ballot initiative that would have allowed state lawmakers facing term limits to keep their jobs longer is expected to create more challenges for the Legislature, which already faces the huge problem of solving the state's looming $14.5 billion budget deficit. Among the 34 lawmakers who will be looking for new jobs at the end of this year are three of the Legislature's four leaders: Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, and Senate Minority leader Dick Ackerman, R-Irvine.With those legislators becoming lame ducks, there probably will be...

An initiative to alter legislative terms while giving lame duck incumbents a reprieve headed down to defeat as the statewide count continued to grow Wednesday morning. As of 7 a.m., with about 95 percent of precincts reporting, Proposition 93 was trailing by six percentage points – 53 percent to 47 percent. Both sides remained cautiously optimistic late Tuesday night. "I'm hopeful, but I've never been willing to declare victory," said Kevin Spillane, spokesman for No on 93. Spillane attributed the tight vote, in part, to confusion by voters over whether Proposition 93 would tighten or loosen term limits. Opponents claim...

Republicans repudiated the officials directly involved in the year-long political upheaval in Knox County on Tuesday, turning out all but two of those who had opposition in the county primary. Democrats got in on the rebellion, too, with Amy Henley-Vandergriff thumping George Stooksbury, despite running a shoestring campaign against a seasoned politico in the county clerk's race. Stooksbury has been running the clerk's office since October. Foster Arnett Jr. attributed his runaway victory over Commission Chairman Scott "Scoobie" Moore and two other opponents in the GOP county clerk's race to anger over the status quo. "I knocked on 2,250 doors...

Next Tuesday may or may not be super, but it will definitely be important. Not only will Super Tuesday likely offer a decisive advantage to one of the candidates vying for both parties’ presidential nomination, it may also tip the balance on a key issue, one hated by politicians as much as it is loved by citizens: term limits. On Tuesday, in addition to the presidential primary, California voters will cast ballots for or against Proposition 93. Pollsters with California’s Field Poll explained recently, “as voter awareness of the initiative has increased, there has been a decided decline in Yes-side...

Perata, Núñez are biggest legislative contributors to term limits measure. Incumbent Democratic lawmakers have donated or raised nearly $1.4 million for the Proposition 93 campaign, fueling accusations that the measure to alter term limits is a power grab.Fourteen Democratic Assembly members and three senators contributed money in their own name, while numerous others gave to special committees used by colleagues to solicit funds for the effort, records show.The two largest legislative contributors are Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, $350,000, and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, $300,000. The measure would give them an extra four years and six years in office,...

Proposition 93's fate may depend on whether voters perceive it as an increase or decrease in the length of time lawmakers are allowed to serve in the Capitol. Depending on the circumstances, it would do both, cutting term limits in some cases while increasing them in others. The Feb. 5 ballot measure would cut two years off the maximum time future lawmakers and most current legislators could serve, dropping it from 14 years to 12. But it would let them spend all 12 years in one house of the Legislature. The measure also includes a transition phase that would permit...

For weeks, Democratic legislators had been crossing their fingers, figuratively at least, and hoping that Republican voters could be induced into voting for Proposition 93, a measure to modify legislative term limits and extend the careers of termed-out lawmakers. They were pleased, therefore, when Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did a 180-degree political pirouette and endorsed the measure, saying he had developed a good working relationship with Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata and wanted them to stick around. Schwarzenegger's endorsement, however, may turn out to have been the kiss of death for Proposition 93. Two...

A new campaign advertisement cites emergency response to last year's devastating Southern California wildfires as a reason to alter lawmakers' terms by approving Proposition 93.The 30-second TV spot features Tim Heard, an emergency medical technician from TLC Ambulance and Medical Transport, with offices in Rocklin and Sacramento.The following is a text of the ad, and an analysis by Jim Sanders of The Bee Capitol Bureau:•TIM HEARD: When fire hit Southern California, our state legislators didn't make the mistakes made with Katrina.They learned from experience, and helped us get the job done. That's why we support Prop. 93, because when lives...

Sacramento -- California voters launched a national movement nearly 20 years ago when they approved a ballot measure to limit state legislators' time in office to 14 years, split between the state Senate and Assembly. The Legislature's current leadership, spearheaded by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, is asking voters to mark their ballots for the Feb. 5 primary in favor of another term limits measure, Proposition 93, which would trim lawmakers' terms by two years but allow all of that time to be spent in the same chamber. Proponents of the measure, including Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, say it...

SACRAMENTO -- Softening his past opposition to changes to California's term-limits law, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is endorsing a Feb. 5 ballot measure that would allow many sitting lawmakers to run for office again this year rather than be forced to leave the Legislature. Schwarzenegger, who as a candidate in 2003 supported California's existing term-limits law as a shield against "special interests" obtaining too much power, reversed himself in an essay released Monday that said the original law "went too far." "Under the current system, our elected officials are not given the time they need to reach their full potential as...

In a surprising move, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed Proposition 93 on Monday despite earlier statements that he would not support a change in legislators' term limits unless it was linked to a redistricting measure. "Proposition 93 is good public policy, irrespective of redistricting, and on its own it will go a long way toward improving the quality of state government in California," Schwarzenegger said in an op-ed piece scheduled to be published Tuesday in the Los Angeles Times. Proposition 93 opponents accused the Republican governor of caving in to pressure from Democratic legislative leaders as part of a backroom deal...

SACRAMENTO -- Softening his past opposition to changes to California's term-limits law, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has decided to endorse a February ballot measure that would allow many sitting lawmakers to run for office again this year rather than be forced to leave the Legislature, said people close to the governor and the campaign. Schwarzenegger's backing is a boost for the Proposition 93 campaign and its chief proponent, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles), who will be forced out of his seat after this year unless the term-limits law is changed. Nunez endeared himself to Schwarzenegger by pushing the governor's health...

(excerpted) Voter beware: Thanks to what the attorney general's office euphemistically calls a "transition period," Proposition 93 allows the clock to start anew for some 42 Sacramento incumbents. So while the AG's ballot summary says the measure "reduces the amount of time a person may serve in the state legislature from 14 years to 12 years," it actually would allow some lawmakers to serve as long as 16 years. In case you haven't guessed it, that means Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, who were term-limited out at the end of this year, would be...

As a political villain, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez is a pallid substitute for his flamboyant predecessor Willie Brown, self-proclaimed "ayatollah of the Assembly" who was the original poster child for California's term limits law. ...But in their search for a bad guy, the opponents of Proposition 93, which would make the law a little more flexible, have no choice. Núñez is the best they've got. Let's be fair. Proposition 93, which is on the February ballot, is a slippery piece of work. It offers present office holders, Núñez among them, a chance for more years in the house in which...

The Patriot Post Founders' Quote Daily "If we resort for a criterion to the different principles on which different forms of government are established, we may define a republic to be, or at least may bestow that name on, a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure for a limited period, or during good behavior." -- James Madison (Federalist No. 39) Reference: Madison, Federalist No. 39 (241)

In last week's column I highlighted comments made to the Financial Times of London by U.S. Comptroller General David Walker in which he compared the current political, social, and economic situation in the United States to that of the Roman Empire shortly before its collapse. I heard from a number of readers in response to the column… Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians. While a couple of folks used the opportunity to plug a particular presidential candidate or legislative issue, almost all were in agreement that things in our nation must change drastically and quickly. Despite a booming economy, low unemployment, and...

Mrs Hillary Clinton, Senator from New York State, is one of the leading contenders for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the USA in 2008. But a question arises, as she is the wife of a former two-term President, whether her candidacy is legally allowed under the US Constitution and American law. America’s first President, George Washington, held office for two consecutive four-year terms and declined to run for a third term in 1796. From that time onwards to Franklin D. Roosevelt, it became a constitutional custom in the USA that no President would serve for more than two...

Libertarian group uses nonprofit status to avoid revealing source of $1.5 million spent to preserve state's term limits -- SACRAMENTO -- Just a few days after Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner's widely heralded takeover of the No on Proposition 93 campaign, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization quietly chipped in $1.5 million to the cause. The group, U.S. Term Limits, spends considerable effort and money across the country trying to fend off attempts to weaken term limits laws, such as Prop. 93 -- which will appear on the February ballot -- in California. And the group tries to do so while steering clear...

ut every one of these principles is under attack in the form of Proposition 93, an initiative on the Feb. 5 statewide ballot. Prop. 93 is one of the most deceptive and dishonest measures that Californians have been asked to vote on in many years. It's a sham proposal to weaken term-limits, masquerading as an effort to "reform" and strengthen them. Put simply, Prop. 93 is a trick. It is intentionally designed to fool the people into thinking they are voting to reduce terms for state legislators when, in fact, it contains a special loophole to give 42 termed-out incumbent...

<p>Put simply, Prop. 93 is a trick. It is intentionally designed to fool the people into thinking they are voting to reduce terms for state legislators when, in fact, it contains a special loophole to give 42 termed-out incumbent politicians more time in office. In fact, it will dramatically increase terms for 80 percent of California's legislators. Prop. 93 doubles the number of years a politician can serve in the Assembly from six to 12 years and increases Senate terms by 50 percent – from a total of eight years to 12 years.</p>

Proposition 93 would reduce the total years someone could be a legislator from 14 to 12, but allow all to be served in one house. Currently, lawmakers are permitted just three two-year terms in the Assembly and two four-year stints in the Senate. There's an unfortunate self-serving provision, however, in Proposition 93, which purports to be a "citizens' initiative" but actually is sponsored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles) and backed by Senate leader Don Perata (D-Oakland). That sweetheart deal would allow current lawmakers to serve 12 years in their present house, no matter how many they already had...

WASHINGTON – It looks like Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., is going to get his wish – $2 million in taxpayer funding for a library commemorating his 37 years in the House of Representatives. The Charles B. Rangel Center for Public service will serve as a repository for his "papers," and the congressman will have his own office in the Harlem complex. The facility has already attracted some $25 million in funding from private sources. Rangel suggests the project will someday be "as important as the Carter and Clinton libraries." That's just one of hundreds of so-called "earmarks," pet projects of...

As a general rule, political officeholders want their voters to be happy because satisfaction with the economic and social status quo translates into approval of those in office. Cranky voters, on the other hand, are likely to take out that anger, even if misplaced, on Election Day; it's one of the risks that those who pursue political careers must accept. Californians are increasingly gloomy, a new statewide poll finds, and axiomatically, they may be inclined to punish politicians, given the chance. Ironically, however, their only looming opportunity to do so will be a measure on the Feb. 5 presidential primary...

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...

A low percentage of qualified signatures in Los Angeles County is threatening to derail a lawmaker-driven initiative that would change term limits and extend the tenure of Democratic leaders. Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder Conny McCormack on Thursday said the percentage of signatures verified for the "Limits on Legislators' Terms in Office" constitutional amendment hovered at 63.85 percent in a random-sample count of the state's most populous county. Initiative backers needed at least 66 percent verification from all outstanding signatures Thursday afternoon in order to meet a Sept. 27 deadline to qualify for the February primary. And because Los Angeles accounted...

The U.S. Congress is doing a real crappy job of serving the citizens of this country. According to Real Clear Politics, the latest poll average puts the job approval rating of Congress at just 24.7 percent. Americans are obviously not happy with the current performance of our so-called leaders in Washington, D.C. Among other things, the left is upset with the Democrats for failing to end the war in Iraq. Liberals actually believed last year's campaign promises and have been once again duped by those who simply tell them what they want to hear in order to get elected or...

Supporters of a proposed ballot initiative to alter California's legislative term limits announced Monday that they are submitting about 1.1 million voter signatures - 400,000 more than necessary - to qualify for the Feb. 5 ballot. Launched by Gale Kaufman and Matthew Dowd, political strategists for Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, respectively, the initiative campaign needs 694,354 valid voter signatures. Kaufman announced Monday that the initiative petitions are being submitted to elections officials for certification. "Representing the people of California is honorable work," Núñez said in a written statement. "This initiative with its bipartisan coalition of supporters...

The budget impasse in Sacramento is unwelcome news for the soon-to-be-termed-out legislators who hope to persuade voters next year to let them keep their jobs a little longer. It also is a problem for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who wants to enact major health care reform this year. His situation is particularly delicate, since the budget is languishing because he cannot persuade the members of his own party to vote for it. Perhaps more than anything except a badly handled disaster, late budgets have the potential to drag down approval ratings. They make leaders look ineffective at the main task they...

When Democratic leaders -- especially Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez -- launched their drive to modify legislative term limits, they painted big targets on the backs of their well- tailored suits. A fundamental political tenet is that when someone really wants something, he or she cedes leverage to others, and Núñez really wants to change term limits because otherwise he and Senate leader Don Perata, among others, would be forced to give up their seats next year. Thus, the squeeze is on. An obvious example is Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's unsubtle threat to oppose the measure changing term limits unless Democrats place...

IMHO, we need a Constitutional amendment limiting the total service in each House to twelve years. A person may serve twelve years in each House. (Let it take effect after an appropriate delay to make it more appealing to incumbents.) The cloture vote on the Kennedy-McCain immigration bill is the latest example of how our unresponsive and arrogant the members of Congress have become with respect to the wishes of the people. It's not the end of the matter. There's supposed to be another cloture vote on Thursday. The vote for final Senate bill is yet to come. What the...

SACRAMENTO -- In the heat of Central Valley, with midday temperatures over 100 degrees, Democratic legislators are preparing to test their working partnership with Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in the ultimate crucible by asking voters to relax the limits on their time in office. They hope that by joining forces with the governor on a wide range of big issues, they will gain enough credit that their constituents will let them stay in office beyond the strict time imposed by a 1990 term-limits initiative. But before they take the new limits to the polls in an initiative planned for next...

Something strange and unexplainable happens when a conservative goes to Washington. Instead of continuing to fight the good fight, they become the enemy. Like the victims of the Stockholm Syndrome who begin to identify with their captors and oppressors, elected conservatives begin to believe that government is the solution, not the problem. The believe that the country is there to serve them and their grandiose schemes, not the other way around, and begin to act as though all monies, except what they permit you to keep, belongs to the government. They become intoxicated with the dreams of the presidency and...

NASHVILLE — The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission decided this morning to refer the possible decertification of former Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison until August. In doing so, the commission rejected a request from Knoxville attorney Herbert S. Moncier that the panel act immediately and block Hutchison’s pension benefits scheduled to begin July 1. Hutchison, now a chief deputy in the sheriff’s office, was convicted of criminal contempt in an open records case. Moncier, who arrived at least a half hour late to this morning’s hearing, told the panel it had acted contrary to the instructions of Davidson County...