Democrats Kill Term Limits Bill; Brogdon, Sweeden Exchange Words Over Action
Democrats on the Senate Rules Committee killed legislation Wednesday that would have sent term limits for statewide officials to a vote of the people and two senators exchanged words over the action.
SJR 33 by Senator Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, would have put a 12 year term limit on Oklahoma's statewide elected officials except the governor if approved by voters.
Governors are already limited to 2 terms (8 years) of service, and state legislators are already limited to 12 years of service.
"Senate Democrats killed the chance for the people to vote to apply the same term limits on statewide officials that currently exist for state legislators," Brogdon said.
"Term limits have brought fresh ideas to the state legislature, and I believe term limits would have a similarly positive effect on statewide offices," he stated. "The Democrats' blatantly partisan attempt to protect career politicians is very disappointing." Democrat Joe Sweeden responded that, “If Senator Brogdon were truly serious about term limits for statewide elected officials, he would trust Oklahomans to begin their own initiative petition process, rather than use government to interfere with the decisions made by Oklahomans every four years at the ballot box. Unlike Senator Brogdon and the Republican members of the Senate Rules committee who voted for the bill today, we don’t believe it is government’s responsibility to take the rights away of Oklahomans to make their own decision when they exercise their right to vote. We didn’t see a big push for term limits on statewide elected officials when Republicans held key statewide offices and I think everyone can see his bill for exactly what it is: sour grapes over a 2006 election year gone bad for Republicans across the nation and what is shaping up to be a momentous election year for Democrats in 2008.”
SJR 33 by Senator Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, would have put a 12 year term limit on Oklahoma's statewide elected officials except the governor if approved by voters.
Governors are already limited to 2 terms (8 years) of service, and state legislators are already limited to 12 years of service.
"Senate Democrats killed the chance for the people to vote to apply the same term limits on statewide officials that currently exist for state legislators," Brogdon said.
"Term limits have brought fresh ideas to the state legislature, and I believe term limits would have a similarly positive effect on statewide offices," he stated. "The Democrats' blatantly partisan attempt to protect career politicians is very disappointing." Democrat Joe Sweeden responded that, “If Senator Brogdon were truly serious about term limits for statewide elected officials, he would trust Oklahomans to begin their own initiative petition process, rather than use government to interfere with the decisions made by Oklahomans every four years at the ballot box. Unlike Senator Brogdon and the Republican members of the Senate Rules committee who voted for the bill today, we don’t believe it is government’s responsibility to take the rights away of Oklahomans to make their own decision when they exercise their right to vote. We didn’t see a big push for term limits on statewide elected officials when Republicans held key statewide offices and I think everyone can see his bill for exactly what it is: sour grapes over a 2006 election year gone bad for Republicans across the nation and what is shaping up to be a momentous election year for Democrats in 2008.”
Labels: Joe Sweeden, Randy Brogdon, Term Limits
posted by Mike McCarville @ 3:06 PM
