Posted on 01/31/2002 10:31:18 AM PST by KQQL
Congressman Tom Tancredo said Wednesday he no longer believes in term limits and may not honor his campaign pledge to bow out after three terms.
The statement shocked term limit supporters who expected the Republican to abide by his promise to not seek a fourth term. It is the third time a Colorado congressman has waffled on term limits.
"It takes me by surprise because Tom Tancredo is a person of integrity," said former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong, a staunch supporter of term limits. "It is inconceivable to me based on knowing Tom for many years that he would do anything other than keep his word."
In 1998, Tancredo won the seat in Congress representing the metro area's southwest suburbs by promising to seek only three terms. That would mean this year's election would be his last.
Wednesday, he backed away from the pledge.
"Today, I don't believe in term limits," Tancredo said. "I don't think they work. I wouldn't encourage any candidate to commit to term limits."
Tancredo said in the statement that he has not decided whether to break his pledge and seek a fourth term in 2004.
nis Polhill, co-author of a Colorado congressional term limit initiative that was later thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court, said he was "shocked" by Tancredo's change of heart.
But like Armstrong, he believes Tancredo ultimately will keep his word.
"He has to decide which side of the integrity fence to be on," Polhill said.
So far, Colorado's congressional delegation has split on keeping term limit promises.
Last year, Republican Rep. Bob Schaffer, after some initial waffling, honored his campaign promise not to seek a fourth term this year. But in 1998, Republican Scott McInnis backed away from a pledge to serve only four terms.
part of a redistricting map a judge settled on last week, Tancredo's seat was made relatively safe with an overwhelming number of registered Republicans.
Despite that, Armstrong said he expects Tancredo to step down after his third term.
"There is an old saying that a deal is a deal, a promise a promise," Armstrong said. "If he decides he is going to break a promise that he made to the voters of the district, that will be on his conscience."
FMCDH
We must get term limits on the books. Most politicians get reelected without a genuine party challenge in regions carved geologically to remove party competition and incumbents have name recognition that sets up a nearly impossible challenge for new-comers to overcome.
Back in 1996, Congressman Lamar Smith of Texas had changed the law to require them to go to their native country and apply, as well as get a police report from their home country and a physical exam. He didn't think we were being fair to those entering the country legally.
245(i)did not require them to go home, get the police report or get a physical, or have a financial sponsor to keep them off the welfare rolls.
Compare that to someone applying outside the US for legal entry to the US. They must get the police report to show they are not wanted for a crime or have a history of criminal activity, and a physical exam to show they do not have a communicable disease (many have active TB) or a major health problem that would be a burden on the US. Also they must have a financial sponsor to prevent them from going on welfare, get food stamps, etc.
(I know as my grandson recently married a Canadian girl. INS didn't want her to be an indigent but did not grant her permission to work until she submitted another application and more fees! They also insisted she had to be here several months before she could apply for the work permit! Incedentally the paperwork was the same.(police report, physical, financial sponsor.) We think INS just does that to get more money and keep another employee busy. They could have granted her the work permit at the same time she got permission to enter, even if she paid a separate fee for the work permit.)
So we need Tancredo in Congress. He really cares about cleaning up this whole immigration mess!
I don't care HOW much he means to Congress. He is NOT indispensible.
Don't commit-- just quit.
FMCDH
What you said too.
FMCDH
Thanks...sometimes I get weary....BTW, you hear the CPAC live broadcast on FR radio?.....awesome!
FMCDH
Obviously not. He's just another cheap politician, out to steal our money and acquire more power.
Vote Libertarian.
Tancred0 was elected in 1998, so he has till 2004 ... before he breaks his pledge...
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