Term Limits for Congress

#76
#76
Haven't read through all the posts, but just simply want to add than I am in favor! BCSsucks hit the nail on the head! If the frakking president can only serve so long, why should the body of Congress be exempt?
 
#77
#77
Haven't read through all the posts, but just simply want to add than I am in favor! BCSsucks hit the nail on the head! If the frakking president can only serve so long, why should the body of Congress be exempt?
because they don't have executive style, or singular decision authority, power.
 
#79
#79
Well, didn't get anywhere last year, let's see them leave it in committee once again.

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/385534-trump-endorses-congressional-term-limits

President Trump signaled support on Monday for congressional term limits, saying he discussed the issue with a group of first-term lawmakers.

“I recently had a terrific meeting with a bipartisan group of freshman lawmakers who feel very strongly in favor of Congressional term limits,” Trump tweeted. “I gave them my full support and endorsement for their efforts.”

Monday is not the first time Trump has voiced support for congressional term limits. While some conservative lawmakers back the idea, the proposal has not gained traction with GOP leaders.

“I would say we have term limits now. They’re called elections. And it will not be on the agenda in the Senate,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said during a press conference shortly after the 2016 election.

And of course, WaPo already thinks it can't be done. (they are probably right)

President Trump wants term limits for Congress. They're still not going to happen. - The Washington Post
 
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#80
#80
would love to see it happen. Would also love for this to be a bi-partisan push. as there will be bipartisan push back. which always goes to show, for me, that they are all one party.
 
#81
#81
For or against them? Why/why not?

How would you structure the terms? How many years? How many terms?

Any differences btwn Senate and House?

Discuss.

That's a complicated question.

What if you are a good person, who's really working, debating and fighting to make a difference for your constituents? What if a major majority of your constituents support you. What if you have a stellar track record?

Sometimes things take many many years to push through, and all your hard work and effort is lost, along with the constituents you were fighting for if term limit hits.

And of course, there's the other side of the coin where you become an establishment swamp rat and forget you work for your constituents back home, not the Swamp establishment.

So, it's an interesting debate...maybe you have to win a certain high level % of votes to remain.
 
#82
#82
That's a complicated question.

What if you are a good person, who's really working, debating and fighting to make a difference for your constituents? What if a major majority of your constituents support you. What if you have a stellar track record?

Sometimes things take many many years to push through, and all your hard work and effort is lost, along with the constituents you were fighting for if term limit hits.

And of course, there's the other side of the coin where you become an establishment swamp rat and forget you work for your constituents back home, not the Swamp establishment.

So, it's an interesting debate...maybe you have to win a certain high level % of votes to remain.

maybe an increasing percentage? like 5% more each time?
 
#83
#83
would love to see it happen. Would also love for this to be a bi-partisan push. as there will be bipartisan push back. which always goes to show, for me, that they are all one party.

It's never happening but in lieu of term limits I'd rather see session, pay, benefit and retirement limits.

Reduce being in session to no more than 90 days per year. January through March.
Reduce the salary to $45,000 with a per diem.
Eliminate the pension and lifetime healthcare.
Only benefits available to congress are those of regular federal employees.
Must abide by laws, no exceptions for congress.
Basically make the job attractive to those who want to serve, not enrich themselves.
 
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#85
#85
It's never happening but in lieu of term limits I'd rather see session, pay, benefit and retirement limits.

Reduce being in session to no more than 90 days per year. January through March.
Reduce the salary to $45,000 with a per diem.
Eliminate the pension and lifetime healthcare.
Only benefits available to congress are those of regular federal employees.
Must abide by laws, no exceptions for congress.
Basically make the job attractive to those who want to serve, not enrich themselves.

Humm. Interesting ideas. Certainly a valid topic to address asap, because it will take a while to iron itself out.
 
#88
#88
The problem lies within the electorate and term limits would do nothing to fix that.

I agree. But I would support a ban on serving consecutive terms. It forces these guys to sit out one election cycle. Might not change anything, though.
 
#89
#89
I agree. But I would support a ban on serving consecutive terms. It forces these guys to sit out one election cycle. Might not change anything, though.

I have a feeling the unelected staffers would just become more of a factor.
 
#90
#90
Why would they vote to give up their meal tickets? Term limits need to happen but won't as long as the inmates run the asylum.
 
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#91
#91
That's a complicated question.

What if you are a good person, who's really working, debating and fighting to make a difference for your constituents? What if a major majority of your constituents support you. What if you have a stellar track record?

Sometimes things take many many years to push through, and all your hard work and effort is lost, along with the constituents you were fighting for if term limit hits.

And of course, there's the other side of the coin where you become an establishment swamp rat and forget you work for your constituents back home, not the Swamp establishment.

So, it's an interesting debate...maybe you have to win a certain high level % of votes to remain.
They all get a lobotomy after a year or so.
 
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#92
#92
It's never happening but in lieu of term limits I'd rather see session, pay, benefit and retirement limits.

Reduce being in session to no more than 90 days per year. January through March.
Reduce the salary to $45,000 with a per diem.
Eliminate the pension and lifetime healthcare.
Only benefits available to congress are those of regular federal employees.
Must abide by laws, no exceptions for congress.
Basically make the job attractive to those who want to serve, not enrich themselves.
I would rather take $200 million and build a state of the art technological dormitory that they have to live in the entire time they are in DC. Make it comfortable, but take away their Georgetown brownstones. Curfews and locked doors will require them to be in every night. Prison you say? **** em. They are there to work.

Actually I agree with everything you say except the 90 day thing. They should be required to stay until they pass/turn down the legislation they are there for
 
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#93
#93
It's never happening but in lieu of term limits I'd rather see session, pay, benefit and retirement limits.

Reduce being in session to no more than 90 days per year. January through March.
Reduce the salary to $45,000 with a per diem.
Eliminate the pension and lifetime healthcare.
Only benefits available to congress are those of regular federal employees.
Must abide by laws, no exceptions for congress.
Basically make the job attractive to those who want to serve, not enrich themselves.

I am not a government minimalist so I actually want them to do their job. like they can't leave if there is a bill to address. if the budget isn't done they are locked inside the Capitol. if there is a problem that needs to be addressed, they have to do it. its a job, that effects the whole country. they shouldn't be able to just leave with stuff undone.
 
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#94
#94
It is definitely a "buzz phrase"........Rick Scott is running on it down here in FL......

I am for it....with term limits, they will push/work harder to get things through instead of delaying because they know that it will help keep them in office as they "try" to get things done...... 8 years is plenty
 
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#95
#95
It is definitely a "buzz phrase"........Rick Scott is running on it down here in FL......

I am for it....with term limits, they will push/work harder to get things through instead of delaying because they know that it will help keep them in office as they "try" to get things done...... 8 years is plenty

I've seen a couple of versions of Scotts ads ( I like the one with the whiteboard the besst). They're very convincing until you remember that there's no chance in hell of accomplishing this.

He could bring it up in committee and get laughed out of the room. He'd shrug and quickly become a swamp thing.
 
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#96
#96
I am not a government minimalist so I actually want them to do their job. like they can't leave if there is a bill to address. if the budget isn't done they are locked inside the Capitol. if there is a problem that needs to be addressed, they have to do it. its a job, that effects the whole country. they shouldn't be able to just leave with stuff undone.

Fine, all pay and per diem stops after 90 days. You'd be surprised how much would get done.
 
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#97
#97
Fine, all pay and per diem stops after 90 days. You'd be surprised how much would get done.

fine with that. they are paid too much to do too little. if anything they need to be held to a higher judiciary standard than the rest of us. see if they keep passing laws. Like seriously assign a staff member who is their Mueller. their one job is to get their elected official arrested or busted.
 
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#99
#99
either that or make them wear body cameras w/ sound at all times. and they have to justify turning it off.
 
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There is evidence to suggest that term limits don't do anything to reduce the influence of special interests (they looked at internal state politics where there were term limits).

US News: Term Limits Don't Work

Yep. I'm actually for term limits even though they wouldn't solve the problem.

Enacting term limits is like having a yard full of really tall weeds, but just taking your lawn mower out there and mowing the weeds every so often. It doesn't solve your problem.

We are in a catch 22 with government because the way to solve the problem is to elect people that will take various pieces/activities of the government, shut them down, and then reduce revenues (i.e., cut taxes) by the amount that the shuttered programs were using. The problem is that only people who want to be politicians run for the job, and nobody who wants the job is going to vote to remove their own power. The politicians who would do the best job are folks who want nothing to do with it.
 

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