Issue Position: Term Limits

Issue Position

"Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide." -- John Adams

John Adams was not alone amongst his contemporaries who knew and successfully predicted the outcome of a social democracy, in which mob or majority rule could replace the rule of law. The founders envisioned citizen legislators, or representatives elected under the framework of a Constitutional Republic. Not career graft men, personally benefiting from the force of political-government--and ultimately the plunder of the very people they represent. As such, I am a firm believer in term limits for our legislative branch of state government. In 2010, as a state delegate from Hancock County, I introduced a term limits bill which would limit all legislators in the House of Delegates and State Senate to a total of 8 years. For passage, the issue needs to continually be brought into the public arena.

Some states have enacted term limits for their legislators with great success--seeing overall budgets and taxes brought under control. Over their years in office, many legislators become corrupted with the "game" in Charleston, and become obsessed with power and title. Many of our state delegates and state senators have served in government for years upon years, developing close ties with lobbyists and bureaucrats in the different state departments. In many cases, these relationships cloud and distort their judgment--and the people whom they represent are often times forgotten. In return for passing a regulation or voting in favor of a bill to benefit certain lobbyists, connected businesses, or bureaucratic agencies, career politicians are often rewarded with high-paying jobs or massive amounts of campaign contributions. These relationships between career politician, bureaucrat, and lobbyist are developed over years, sometimes decades. In order to reduce the burden on our economy from our state government's massive budget, it is crucial to sever this link between politician, bureaucrat, and lobbyist. The term limits enacted must be LIFE TIME term limits, or in other words, once a legislator serves their term, they can no longer return to office. Now, the number of terms permitted to serve is rather arbitrary, but I see no reason why a state delegate or a state senator should have to serve more than 8 years, or 2 total terms for a state senator, and 4 terms total for a state delegate. Breaking this good-ole-boy bond is a solid way to regulate politicians, and hopefully, enforce prudent, long term decision making.

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