Copyright© 2007 by School Services of California, Inc.
Volume 20 For Publication Date: August 3, 2007 No. 17
By the Way . . .
Term Limit Initiative Signatures Submitted. Supporters of an
initiative to alter term limits for legislators have submitted more than 1.1
million signatures, 400,000 more than the number of signatures required,
for certification by the Secretary of State’s office for placement on the
February 5, 2008, state ballot.
The proposal would reduce the overall total number of years a legislator can serve to 12, but would allow those years to be served in either the Senate, the Assembly, or a combination of both houses. Current law limits legislative terms to six years in the Assembly and eight years in the Senate. For sitting legislators, the measure would provide at least one extra term by allowing them to serve a full 12 years in their current house, regardless of any time served in the other house.
The effort to modify term limits is supported by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata, who are termed out of their current seats in November 2008. If the measure is adopted by voters, each would be allowed one additional term of office in his respective house.
Earlier this year, a Field Poll indicated that 54% of voters are inclined to vote for the initiative. The Governor has publicly indicated he would be inclined to support modifying term limits only if a proposal to change how legislative boundaries are drawn is on the same ballot.