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Why the California League of Conservation Voters Supports Prop 93—Term Limits Reform
By Susan Smartt
Executive Director of the California League of Conservation Voters
The California League of Conservation Voters protects our state’s environment by educating our legislators about how to protect, preserve and enhance California’s natural wonders.
California has benefited from CLCV’s commitment to ensure that the environment a priority among lawmakers. Many legislators have fought hard to address important needs like global warming, water conservation and air quality.
However, the current system of legislative term limits act as a high barrier to effective governing – that is why CLCV supports Proposition 93, the Term Limits and Legislative Reform Act.
Right now, legislators can serve three terms of two years each in the Assembly and two terms of four years each in the state Senate for a total of 14 years. This discourages long-term thinking to tackle California's biggest environmental challenges, like the implementation of Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act.
The flaw in the current system of term limits is that it keeps legislators from gaining enough experience to be truly effective. It also hinders proper oversight of the implementation of complex, important legislation. We can clearly do better with a reformed system of term limits.
Proposition 93, the Term Limits and Legislative Reform Act is a modest, balanced reform that sticks to the core principles of term limits. It provides a clear time horizon for legislators to gain the experience they need to be effective and maintains a healthy turnover.
That turnover keeps ideas fresh and allows California to maintain its reputation as an innovator on environmental conservation issues.
Proposition 93 would reduce the total amount of time a legislator can serve in the Legislature from 14 to 12 years and allow a legislator to serve all 12 years in either the Assembly, the Senate or a combination of the two.
The 12-year limit in Proposition 93 would allow a legislator the time to gain experience to be effective and provide reliable oversight.
Also, by allowing legislators to serve their entire tenure in either the Assembly or Senate, Proposition 93 would drastically reduce the amount of political jockeying that dominates Sacramento, as legislators would not be consumed with moving up the political ladder. Overall, that will make our system far more stable and effective.
Proposition 93 is right for California and right for our environment.
The California League of Conservation Voters works to elect the best environmental leaders, keep them accountable, and implement strong environmental laws in California. Candidates know that their endorsement is one of the premier environmental endorsements in the state, because their endorsement process is so rigorous. (CLCV routinely elects over 90% of the candidates it endorses.) When CLCV advocates for strong environmental laws, legislators and public officials take note of more than three decades of success and the more than 20,000 CLCV members who stand behind their work.
Comments
Vote NO on 93 and throw the bums out!
Allowing the existing "politicians" to stay where they are for the next twelve years and not count how many prior years is wrong.
Term limits is working perfect as it is written Vote NO.
Posted by: Jeff at January 18, 2008 02:37 PM
You're absolutely wrong, Jeff. Unlike Prop. 140, which created term limits in 1990, the clock DOES NOT start over with Prop. 93.
There is a transition period for current lawmakers under Proposition 93. To be consistent with the Constitution, existing lawmakers may serve a total of 12 years in the house they are in, not 12 years more.
So that means 24 Assembly members who would be termed out at the end of 2008 could serve another six years. Ten Senators who would be termed out this year could serve another four years.
There’s too much turnover in Sacramento, depriving us of experienced legislators who have the know-how to be effective. Just when they hit their stride, their final term is in sight. This is no way to run the eighth largest economy in the world that 37 million people call home.
Posted by: Richard at January 18, 2008 09:20 PM
The San Jose Mercury News also is opposed to Prop. 93. The Sacramento Bee is also urging its readers to reject Proposition 93.
The Tracy Press urges a "no" vote on Prop. 93, calling it "an ugly attempt at term limits 'reform'" The San Francisco Chronicle urges a "no" vote on Prop. 93, saying it is "the people in power taking care of themselves".
Posted by: Jeff at January 18, 2008 09:54 PM
I'll take the word of groups like CA Common Cause, CA Professional Firefighers, CA League of Conservation Voters, Older Women's League, United Farm Workers of America and the dozens of other organizations and public officials (both Democrat and Republican) that support Prop. 93 over a editorial board any day.
Prop. 93 is about keeping our experienced legislators in office for longer, while still allowing for a regular infusion of fresh ideas when they’re termed or voted out.
Governor Schwarzenegger gets it: "Proposition 93 is good public policy irrespective of redistricting..."
Posted by: Richard at January 18, 2008 10:37 PM
I'll take the word of groups like CA Common Cause, CA Professional Firefighers, CA League of Conservation Voters, Older Women's League, United Farm Workers of America and the dozens of other organizations and public officials (both Democrat and Republican) that support Prop. 93 over a editorial board any day.
Prop. 93 is about keeping our experienced legislators in office for longer, while still allowing for a regular infusion of fresh ideas when they’re termed or voted out.
Governor Schwarzenegger gets it: "Proposition 93 is good public policy irrespective of redistricting..."
Posted by: Richard at January 18, 2008 10:38 PM
Yes, 93 goes down in flames! Good job CA voters not getting fooled. Don't drink the Kool Aid that
CA Common Cause, CA Professional Firefighers, CA League of Conservation Voters, Older Women's League, United Farm Workers of America and the dozens of other organizations and public officials want you to. GREAT JOB!
Posted by: Jeff at February 22, 2008 05:31 PM
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