OFRG Criticizes Edmondson On Term Limits

Oklahomans For Responsible Government said today that Attorney General Drew Edmondson has included "biased and misleading" language in State Question 747 and despite calls for the language to be removed, it will remain.

OFRG pointed out earlier this month that Edmondson was changing the proposed language for the ballot measure to impose term limits on statewide elected officials.

Specifically, Edmondson's version included the following sentences:

It limits the ability of voters to re-elect statewide elected officers. It limits the number of years a person may serve in each statewide elected office.

Now, OFRG said, despite calls for the elimination of the first sentence which is "biased and misleading, the final language has been submitted."

The only change was combining the two sentences into one: It limits the ability of voters to re-elect statewide elected officers by limiting how many years those officers can serve.

OFRG believes term limits will pass despite the "political retaliation" by Edmondson.

Its spokesman said, "Voters overwhelmingly supported legislative term limits in 1990 and polls indicate it’s a winning issue for statewide elected officials, too. It’s just a shame that the attorney general, who personally lobbied against such a measure last year, would again try to interject politics in an attempt to defeat the ballot measure by confusing voters."

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OFRG Salutes Statewide Term Limits Measure

Oklahomans for Responsible Government today praised the House of Representatives for joining the Senate in passing Senate Joint Resolution 12 which will allow voters to decide if statewide elected officials should be limited to two terms in office.

“This is such an important measure that will change the way state government operates,” said Brian Downs (pictured), OFRG Executive Director. “Oklahomans overwhelmingly supported legislative term limits and I’m confident that voters will be in favor of term limits for statewide elected officials, too.”

That confidence is bolstered by the 67% vote that legislative term limits received in 1990 and recent polls which have shown 70% support or more for statewide officers to be term limited.

“OFRG has worked very hard for the past two sessions to try to get term limits passed,” said Downs. “It feels good to see that hard work pay off in the form of a ballot measure that gives voters an opportunity they’ve been asking for.”

SJR 12 does not require the governor’s signature, so it will go directly to the Secretary of State’s Office for inclusion on the 2010 ballot.

“We have seen how term limits have brought new ideas into the legislature over the past decade,” said Downs. “This should continue that trend and put a stop to the recent problems Oklahoma has had with our state-wide elected officials."

SJR 12 was authored by Sen. Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso) and carried in the House by Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie). OFRG commends both legislators as well as those that voted in favor of SJR 12 for allowing the people of Oklahoma to decide if they want this important tool of government.

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Term Limits Measure Clears State House

Statewide office holders would be term limited if a resolution passed by the House today becomes law.

The change, which would place term limits on most statewide office holders similar to those on legislators, would have to be approved by a vote of the people if passed by the Legislature.

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Statewide Term Limits Moves To House Floor

Most statewide office holders would be limited to a maximum of eight years in office if legislation passed by a House committee today becomes law. The measure now advances to the House floor.

The change would have to be approved by a vote of the people if passed by the Legislature.

Currently, state lawmakers are limited to 12 years in office, and the governor is restricted to serving two consecutive, four year terms.

Joint Resolution 1022, by Rep. Jason Murphey, would instead limit the governor to serve no more than eight cumulative years in office.

That same eight total years rule would also apply to the lieutenant governor, auditor and inspector, attorney general, treasurer, commissioner of labor, superintendent of public Iinstruction and insurance commissioner, all of whom serve 4-year terms.

The resolution also would limit anyone from serving on the Corporation Commission for more than 12 years.

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Senate Rules Committee OKs Term Limits

The Senate Rules Committee has approved Senate Joint Resolution 12 which calls for a constitutional amendment that would limit the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, state auditor and inspector, attorney general, state treasurer, land commissioners and superintendent of education to two four-year terms.

The resolution passed 10-5. The measure now moves to the full Senate for action.

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Senate Ties On Term Limits Measure

The Senate tied 23-23 when voting on whether to accept House amendments to the statewide term limits bill on Monday and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, a Democrat, declined to vote because the state Constitution prevents her from voting on an issue that would directly affect her office.

The lieutenant governor can vote to break ties in the Senate, which is currently split between 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans.

Senators Nancy Riley, D-Sand Springs, and Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, did not vote on whether or not to accept House amendments.

Senator Harry Coates, R-Seminole, voted against accepting House amendments. Coates had previously voted for the measure and declined to comment on his vote Monday. Republican Senator Randy Brogdon, author of the measure, said he was "totally shocked" with Coates' vote.

Senate Democrat leaders refused a request to help bring compromise language the bill, Brogdon said.

“Senate Democrat leaders have refused to help us bring the bill out of a conference committee with the changes that were suggested by the Attorney General. So instead of sending this bill to conference, we plan to push ahead for a Senate vote on the bill as it is written. We’re not going to allow the Senate Democrat leadership to quietly kill this issue in a conference committee. There will be a vote,” said Brogdon, R-Owasso, before the vote occurred.

“The intent of the current language is that the term limits apply prospectively, not retroactively. We have made a good faith effort to help reassure the attorney general and others that the term limits won’t be retroactive by agreeing to incorporate General Edmondson’s legislative language in our proposal. So it is very disappointing that Senate Democrat leaders aren’t interested in working with us to make that happen,” Brogdon said.

"All along we have said the intent of this bill is not for it to apply to any seated statewide office holder retroactively, and that is still the case," said Rep. Trebor Worthen, R-Oklahoma City. "We made a good faith effort to work with the attorney general to allay his concerns with the bill, but the Senate Democrats have made it clear they are not willing to continue to work on the language in conference. The people of Oklahoma deserve to have a voice on this issue, so we will move forward with a vote on the bill in its current form."

Brogdon said he is hopeful a majority of senators will support the SB 1987. Seven Democrat senators voted for the term limits bill in March.

“Term limits are good public policy, so I remain hopeful a majority of senators will agree to send this to a vote of the people. It’s hard to envision seven senators flip-flopping just to help the Democrat leadership kill term limits on a partisan, party-line vote,” Brogdon said.

Senator Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, was the Senate author of SB 1987, but has transferred the bill to Brogdon. It was Brogdon who authored an amendment to the bill on the Senate floor in March to include the term limits referendum. Worthen is the House author of SB 1987.

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ORG Robocalls Target 7 Senate Districts

The Tulsa World reports today that constituents of seven Democratic state senators are getting automated calls to ask them to encourage their senators to support a term-limits bill.

The group Oklahomans for Responsible Government is paying for the calls, aimed at the districts of Sens. Tom Adelson and Mary Easley of Tulsa; Nancy Riley of Sand Springs; Johnnie Crutchfield of Ardmore; Susan Paddack of Ada; and Constance Johnson and Debbe Leftwich of Oklahoma City, said Aaron Cooper, a spokesman for the group.

The measure would limit statewide elected officials, with the exception of the governor, to 12 years in office. It would limit the governor to eight years. Lawmakers already are required to leave office after 12 years.

Read the World's story at www.tulsaworld.com.

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Brogdon Hopes Term Limits Clears Panel

Senator Randy Brogdon said today he's hopeful his term limits referendum bill will clear a joint conference committee.

The comment came after Brogdon announced that Attorney General Drew Edmondson’s office has agreed to compromise legislative language on a term limits referendum. The language ensures that the proposed 12-year term limits for statewide elected officials would not apply retroactively.

“General Edmondson made some suggested changes to the bill’s language. I merged his language with my amended language, and I heard back from his office this morning that he has no additional changes,” said Brogdon, R-Owasso.

“It looks like we will be good to go with these changes if we can get an agreement with Senate Democrats to send the bill to conference committee, make the changes, and bring the bill back to the Senate floor for a vote,” Brogdon said.

“I am confident that the Democrat senators who voted for this term limits bill earlier in the session will appreciate the good faith efforts we have made to ensure that the term limits are not retroactive,” he said.

Brogdon offered the term limits amendment that was attached to SB 1987. If passed by the Legislature, the term limits proposal will go to a vote of the people.

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Statewide Term Limits Measure Passes House

Statewide office holders would be limited to a maximum of 12 years in office if legislation passed out of the House today becomes law.

The change would also have to be approved by a vote of the people this fall.

Currently, state lawmakers are limited to 12 years in office, and the governor is limited to two, four year terms.

Senate Bill 1987, by Rep. Trebor Worthen, would add all statewide elected officials like the lieutenant governor and the attorney general to the state’s term limits law. The governor would remain limited to eight years in office.

“The people of Oklahoma have shown they support term limits as a way to bring fresh ideas into the legislative process,” said Worthen, R-Oklahoma City. “I am confident that if given the chance, they would expand the term limits law to statewide elected officials to ensure they stay accountable to the voters.”

The resolution would appear on the ballot in November, and if approved, would then apply to officeholders first elected in the 2010 election.

The bill passed the House today with a vote of 56-44 and will now return to the Senate for final consideration. The measure does not require the governor’s signature.

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Statewide Term Limits Passes House Panel

Statewide office holders would join state lawmakers with a maximum of 12 years in office if legislation passed out of House committee today becomes law and is approved by the people of Oklahoma.

Currently, state lawmakers are limited to 12 years in office, and the governor is limited to two, four year terms. Senate Bill 1987, by Rep. Trebor Worthen, would add all statewide elected officials like the lieutenant governor and the state treasurer to the state’s term limits law.

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