Bill seeks term limits for legislators

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

A first-term lawmaker wants voters to decide whether term limits should be in place for state legislators.

Del. James J. King (R-Anne Arundel) admits the bill's prospects are bleak at best, since it must go through a House of Delegates committee comprised of many of the chamber's most veteran members.

And he acknowledges it's not making him the most popular guy around his colleagues.

But King, a restaurant owner away from the State House, said it's something that ought to be considered in light of the increasing number of career politicians in Annapolis.

Term limits are in place for most public offices in Maryland — governor, mayor, county executive, county council — "so one person can't run it like a monarchy," he said.

King believes it makes sense for state delegates and senators to also be subject to term limits.

He thinks it would increase civic activism and persuade more people who wouldn't normally run for office to do so.

He puts little stock in arguments that term limits would diminish governmental bodies' institutional knowledge, pointing to local offices that have more frequent turnover due to term limits and still manage well. It would also take power away from lobbyists who establish cozy relationships with long-serving lawmakers, he said.

Some critics say artificial term limits are in place every four years when lawmakers face re-election, but King said that's not enough.

"I don't think it makes the system perfect," he said. "I don't know that there is a perfect system."

The bill is currently before the House Rules & Executive Nominations Committee. Among its members are the chamber's six standing committee chairs, all of whom are in at least their fourth term of office.

The proposal is a constitutional amendment, which would require the approval of three-fifths the membership of both chambers. The question would then be put on the ballot for voters.