Dan Walters: Democrats squeezed on term limits

Sacramento Bee ^ | 6/29/7 | Dan Walters

[SmithL]

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 redistricting reform on the same Feb. 5 ballot.

A business-labor-political coalition is seeking signatures on an initiative that would allow Núñez and other lawmakers facing term limits to spend as long as 12 years in one legislative house, modifying the current limit of six years in the Assembly and eight in the Senate. With Schwarzenegger's popularity roughly twice as high as the Legislature's in recent polls and with term limit change drawing lukewarm support from voters, the prevailing political wisdom is that Schwarzenegger's opposition could be fatal.

Schwarzenegger, however, is not alone in squeezing Núñez, et al. An even more blatant threat came from the Professional Peace Officers Association, an umbrella group for rank-and-file police who bitterly oppose a bill that would allow public access to police disciplinary proceedings.

The measure, Senate Bill 1019 by Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, cleared the Senate but was stalled in the Assembly after John R. Stites, president of the police association, sent messages to legislators that were the bill to be passed, the union would oppose the term limit modification and added ominously, "Ensure that it be understood that this will only be the beginning."

[Right Cal Gal]

Considering that we all still remember why term limits were a good idea in the first place (can you say Willie Brown?), good luck geting this past the California voters. Especially since the recent behavior of the career Congress critters in Washington have so glaringly demonstrated why term limits may not be a bad idea after all....

[Carry_Okie]

Considering that we all still remember why term limits were a good idea in the first place (can you say Willie Brown?),

Oh yes, things are so much better now...

...now that we have a set of clueless shills for we-don't-know-who that don't have to worry about getting re-elected.

Great idea.

[goldstategop]

Term limits... the Democrats' move is self-serving. Voters would have to be given a very good reason to modify them and so far they haven't see one.

"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

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Considering that we all still remember why term limits were a good idea in the first place (can you say Willie Brown?), good luck geting this past the California voters. “

Forget Kalifornia. We should make this a national referendum.