While guns, refugees and tax cuts will grab a disproportionate amount of attention in the upcoming legislative session, here’s hoping that the issue of term limits is properly aired. Two lawmakers, a Republican and a Democrat, have proposed a bill that would extend Florida’s eight-year term limits on legislators to 12 years.
It should pass. To clarify: It likely won’t this time, but it should–on merit.
For many voters, a gut reaction to the bill sponsored by Sen. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, and Rep. Mark Pafford, D-West Palm Beach, would probably be disbelief. After all, the 1992 amendment creating those eight-year term limits–which was upheld by the Florida Supreme Court in 1995– was approved by an overwhelming 76.8 percent of voters.
And no wonder.
Who wouldn’t want “citizen” legislators instead of self-serving careerists from the rising political class? Who wouldn’t want a regular transfusion of new blood flowing into Tallahassee? Who wouldn’t want rascals thrown out? Eight is enough.
The reality, however, is this. Eight, quite arguably, isn’t enough for some–those doing the job. The process should be case by case and decided by, well, voters–not across-the-board, calendar-determined mandates. There are better ways of advancing an anti-incumbent agenda.
Twelve years is better than eight, but it’s not better than having voters determine limits at the ballot box.
Some recent history.
In 2000, when the Sunshine State term limits kicked in, the result was the highest number of freshman legislators since Florida’s first legislative session back in 1845. Those with institutional history and expertise were replaced by rookies trying not to hit the ground stumbling while canvassing the arena for future leadership roles. It created voids of policymaking experience and gave unadulterated ambition a bad name.
Since then, dozens of House and Senate members leave annually because of term limits. And what timing: Just as they gain seniority and issue-competence, it’s time to move on. And guess what complementary line of work beckons?
It’s all part of the law of unintended consequences. Legislator limits, for example, create a more powerful governor, legislative staffers and lobbyists. Surely, empowering unelected staffers and lobbyists could not have been a priority. Surely.
And aforementioned leadership races, notably for House speaker and Senate president, are sometimes completed before members have passed their first bill. First things first: Line up those pledges. “Flori-duh,” indeed.
The responsibility should be on voters. The onus is on them to be informed and involved. They should make the ultimate call on individual candidates.
As for the power of incumbency? The only way the rascals–even with name recognition and organizational advantages–stay in office is if the electorate fails to note whether the case for re-election has ever been made. Do they, for example, act the fool over Medicaid expansion money and redistricting? Do they have Marion Hammer on speed dial? Do they think Cuba belongs in a Cold War cocoon?
Let’s face it. The only way this element could stay in office is if virtually nobody but loyalists and vested interests votes. The only way the rascals can win is if this work in progress called American democracy devolves further into a lazy mockcracy.
No, you don’t cure what ails Tallahassee by pushing term limits from eight to 12 years. This should be seen as an intermediate step toward meaningful, participatory democracy where voters actually determine term limits.