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Proposed law would enact term limits
Voters previously approved legislation similar to Measure 45 in 1992, but the Oregon Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional in 2002
by Calvin Hall | News Reporter
Oregonians will have a second chance to decide how long politicians can serve in the Oregon Legislature come November because of a measure aimed at restoring a law overturned four years ago.
Measure 45 amends the Oregon Constitution to limit state legislators to only six years of service as a representative, eight years as a senator and a total of 14 years in the Legislature. The measure would apply to current incumbents by counting their previous service in the Legislature.
The current state law does not limit length of service in the Legislature as a representative or a senator.
Oregon voters approved a term limits bill in 1992 by more than one million votes, but the Oregon Supreme Court overturned the law in 2002.
State legislatures in 15 states already have term limits, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Campaign spokesman Paul Farago and Lynn Lundquist, president of the Oregon Business Association and former Republican representative to the Oregon House of Representatives, debated the merits of the measure at a City Club of Eugene debate Friday.
Farago said the measure puts a check on unlimited government power by allowing new people to run for the Legislature. Term limits would make Oregon politics more "functional, more representative and more interesting for people to participate in," he said.
Farago said the intent isn't to get rid of career politicians but to level the playing field against them by allowing all Oregonians to serve.
"Give the voters a chance and we will see that Oregonians can step up to the plate and serve in the Legislature, just like these career politicians are able to do," Farago said.
Lundquist said few legislators serve more than three terms in the Legislature, but term limits take away a voter's right to choose the best candidate by forcing experienced legislators to leave office even if they are still effective and knowledgeable.
The principle won't work in business when the success of a company depends on its knowledge base, and it won't work in politics, he said.
Measure 45 amends the Oregon Constitution to limit state legislators to only six years of service as a representative, eight years as a senator and a total of 14 years in the Legislature. The measure would apply to current incumbents by counting their previous service in the Legislature.
The current state law does not limit length of service in the Legislature as a representative or a senator.
Oregon voters approved a term limits bill in 1992 by more than one million votes, but the Oregon Supreme Court overturned the law in 2002.
State legislatures in 15 states already have term limits, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Campaign spokesman Paul Farago and Lynn Lundquist, president of the Oregon Business Association and former Republican representative to the Oregon House of Representatives, debated the merits of the measure at a City Club of Eugene debate Friday.
Farago said the measure puts a check on unlimited government power by allowing new people to run for the Legislature. Term limits would make Oregon politics more "functional, more representative and more interesting for people to participate in," he said.
Farago said the intent isn't to get rid of career politicians but to level the playing field against them by allowing all Oregonians to serve.
"Give the voters a chance and we will see that Oregonians can step up to the plate and serve in the Legislature, just like these career politicians are able to do," Farago said.
Lundquist said few legislators serve more than three terms in the Legislature, but term limits take away a voter's right to choose the best candidate by forcing experienced legislators to leave office even if they are still effective and knowledgeable.
The principle won't work in business when the success of a company depends on its knowledge base, and it won't work in politics, he said.
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