Missouri House panel endorses changes to term limits

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | 1:55 p.m. CDT

JEFFERSON CITY — A Missouri House committee has endorsed a proposed ballot measure allowing lawmakers to serve 16 years in either the House or the Senate.

Currently, lawmakers are limited to about eight years in each chamber, for a total of about 16 years. Voters approved those term limits by a 2-1 margin in 1992.

The newly proposed constitutional amendment would keep that 16-year total but allow lawmakers to spend the whole time in one chamber.

Supporters cite a lack of institutional knowledge in the Legislature. They say a House member can take several years to get up to speed, only to leave the chamber a couple of years later.

Critics say the legislation would go against the wishes of voters.

The House Elections Committee endorsed the proposal 9-1 on Tuesday.

 

»Contact an editor with corrections or additional information

Comments

Leave a comment

Speak up and join the conversation! You can comment below. (Click here to register.) Please be civil and refrain from profanities and name-calling; in other words, don't say anything you wouldn't otherwise say in public. If you see something objectionable, please tell us which comment and why it should be removed. When you post, please use your actual name. Read the full comment policy here.

You must be logged in to comment.

Forget your password?

Don't have an account? Register here.

advertisements