OTHER COMMENTARY : A Sentence to Back Benches

I opposed Proposition 140 and supported the reasonable term limits of Proposition 131. However, I believe that 140’s term limits will bring some benefits.

Incumbent legislators will start searching for new offices, so 1994’s races for statewide office should be far more interesting. Congressional seats will be made more competitive in next year’s reapportionment. Local offices in the larger jurisdictions will attract legislators whose terms are up.

Sadly, term limits will mean that some of our best legislators will be forced to move up or out. But limits will also bring new people and ideas into the system, just as the change in governors will energize the executive branch.

Watch for the “misery loves company” bill. If term limits are upheld by the courts, the Legislature will extend them to as many offices as possible.

In the ideal world--competitive elections, a responsive legislative process and fair reapportionment--we would not need term limits. But today’s political world is less than ideal. I predict that term limits will sweep the country, but only in states that have the initiative process. Any thoughts of a national process are now dashed, because the first national initiative to pass would limit congressional terms.