GOP senators propose congressional term limits

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced two sweeping legislative proposals Tuesday to implement a slew of reforms in Washington, including implementing congressional term limits.

The "Make Washington Work" plan intends to reform "the dysfunctional and tired ways of thinking in Washington" with three constitutional amendments and one bill. Among other things, the proposals would institute congressional term limits, an idea that has grown in prominence and support in recent years.

"I've been a member of the United States Senate for four months, and it's as dysfunctional as you think it is - government needs to be completely reinvented. If you were going to create a federal government system today, it sure wouldn't be what we have now," Scott said in a statement.

"That career politicians' gravy train needs to come to an end. It's clear that now more than ever it will be an uphill climb, but I'm committed to fighting for the people of Florida. I won't back down."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gop-senators-propose-congressional-term-limits/ar-AABnwPU?li=BBnb7Kz

I don't think Mitch McConnell will allow it.

[malaise]

1. Rick Scott stole Bill Nelson's seat

Fuck him

[Sunsky]

20. +1000 nt

[octoberlib]

2. It's not really the term limits that are the problem. It's the lobbying and dark money.

I bet his bill doesn't address any of that.

[MBS]

21. YES, exactly. A congress made up ONLY of inexperienced lawmakers

with no institutional memory and inadequate expertise would, if anything, be even more dependent on, or vulnerable to, the "help" of lobbyists in learning about issues and deciding their votes.

[The Genealogist]

3. Mitch may be grandfathered

Per the article, so he may be fine with it. Noting that they want to make it harder to pass tax bills. Quelled surprise. Bet their 2/3 plan for tax bills won't apply to tax cuts for their rich puppet masters.

[Bok_Tukalo]

4. Term Limits is just the sweetener

The real deal is a Constitutionally codified super-majority requirement for tax increases (but not decreases, apparently).

[yonder]

5. Good eye, BT. Considering the source of this effort, I say nada. Skeletor is drooling.

[Caliman73]

9. They want to be like California with Prop 13.

Limits on property tax for the elderly...yay, but also a super majority to pass tax increases. That is how the Republicans kept the ratchet up on California for decades, until they were voted out.

[former9thward]

11. Prop 13 is still law in CA.

Democrats won't touch it.

[Caliman73]

16. Of course not. Property tax issues are toxic in California.

That wasn't the point. The point is that the Republicans are trying to slip a poison pill into seemingly popular legislation. They are sneaky bastards.

Prop 13 was supported in California because property taxes were raised seemingly arbitrarily. The problem was the legislation also included the requirement of a 2/3rds majority to raise any revenue. Keep Prop 13, repeal the super majority poison pill.

[jmowreader]

6. This means Scott and Braun are planning on leaving the Senate after this term, correct?

Oh...I see...this is actually a plan to get all the Democrats out of Congress. Gotcha.

The solution to all our problems might lie in Scott's home state...I figure we can go down to Florida, pick up about twenty truckloads of live alligators, and distribute them as necessary...one truckload to the White House, one to the NRA, one to the Heritage Foundation, one to Grover Norquist's den of iniquity, two or three to the RNC and the rest we'll scatter around in Republican congress-critters' offices. Fortunately, most Republicans are ambulatory enough to get out of the building afore they get eaten. (Okay, I'll admit it: a few of 'em are going to have to go out through the window. And channeling one of the Republicans' favorite books, the people will all marvel at the extra work for the window company...not caring, of course, that what is unseen are all the Republicans who have nowhere to go because their offices are full of alligators.) We'd have to feed them of course, but bags of alligator food are reasonably priced and the cost is minimal compared to the cost of leaving Trump in office.

[RockRaven]

7. Term limits make it EASIER to buy political influence, because the people in office lack experience

and are more dependent upon staff/consultants (who rotate in and out of the government/businesses affected by the legislation) and more easily swayed by lobbyists.

As a person who has lived through the imposition of term limits in CA's state legislature, and seen those limits revised because of how terrible the result was (the revision was not enough, btw, it should be scrapped entirely), my assessment is that special interests have MORE influence today than they did before the term limits. But that is actually what these GOP hacks are after -- making sure the government can be easily bought by the rich, regardless of which party is in power.

[struggle4progress]

12. +

[meadowlander]

19. +1000. In what other job is "too much experience" considered disqualifying?

[Caliman73]

8. They always avoid the real problem. Money in politics.

If you don't address the bribery, legal and otherwise, you will never fix anything. Term limits always seem to come up when people talk about "reform". While there may be some merit to limits, the real problem, the problem that dwarfs everything else in our political system, is money in politics.

"Career politician" that is bullshit, especially absent money in politics. The problem isn't that a politician is liked by the constituents and voted into office because they serve the district, or state. The problem is when that "career politician" has been bankrolled by major donors and has a clear and unfair advantage against their opponent.

There should be no money in politics. Campaigns should be technical and boring with speeches about policy issues and debates. Not the spectacle the we call "debates" right now, but real debates about the issues and policies that are important.

Term limits do nothing but force decent politicians out of office even though they are chosen by the people. Meanwhile the lobbyists remain to spread their money around and buy politicians.

[former9thward]

13. "Campaigns should be technical and boring "

Oh, really great to get voter participation. I am very happy I don't live in your world...

[Caliman73]

17. Sure. Let's make it like a reality show. That'll get voters out.

You live in my world. We all live in the same world where people need to be entertained to get them to perform a civic duty. That is how we got Donald Trump as president.

I would rather live in a world where people discuss policies and how they will affect people's lives for the better and discuss other not so beneficial results as well, like a grown up.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Those are truly shit ideas

Term limits of 12 years stops expertise being built up in Congress. 2/3rds in both houses to raise taxes would give Republicans a permanent veto on any tax rises. Line item authority means the President becomes in effective charge of legislation.

Designed to give Republicans veto power, and increase the power of the presidency - which the imbalanced Electoral College gives a Republican advantage to.

[Nuggets]

14. We have term limits already

called elections.

[Blue_true]

15. We have term limits, they are called elections.

If that skeletor asshole didn't have to cheat to win elections he would understand that. Government is having trouble functions because if the actions of the party that he is a proud member of.

[Progressive Jones]

18. We already have term limits. It's called elections. nt