Wannabe Career Politicians in Florida: Raise my salary, extend my term in office now!
Every two years, during Congressional and Presidential election cycles, certain career political wannabees in the Florida legislature float a bill to raise their salaries and extend their term in office. Well, 2016 is no different.
Are these Florida legislators committing political suicide?
John Fund in his National Review column “The Return of Term Limits” writes:
A Gallup poll released last Friday found that a full 75 percent of Americans believe that corruption in government is widespread. That’s up by nine percentage points since 2009, when only 66 percent felt that way. So it’s no surprise that a populist revolt is in full swing.
Bernie Sanders, a socialist who rails against government ties with Wall Street, is leading front-runner Hillary Clinton in Iowa and New Hampshire. Three Republicans who have never held office — Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina, and Ben Carson — are way ahead of veteran GOP governors and senators in the race for the GOP nomination.
A recurring theme in the campaigns of several Republicans this year is support for term limits.
It is important to understand who is for eliminating term limits.
Those who reject any attempt to limit the terms of politicians include but are not limited to: career politicians, unions, Democrats, establishment Republicans (a.k.a. GOPe), lobbyists and incumbents.
Term limits exist in the Sunshine State because in 1992 Floridians voted, by an overwhelming 77%, to limit the terms of their legislators. Florida Term Limits reports:
A Quinnipiac University poll dated April 15, 2009, shows that across Florida, 79% of respondents opposed extending state legislative term limits from eight to 12 years. According to the executive summary, “Opposition is strong among all political groups and throughout the state.”
This is right in line with a 2010 poll that suggests that 78 percent of Americans support term limits on the U.S. Congress, including 84 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of Democrats and independents
Click here to see which states have voted to limit the terms of their state legislators.
Term limits do the following:
- Undermine the power of lobbyists, who depend on long term relationships with career politicians.
- Reduce the influence of money and special interests on politicians.
- Stop the professional politician. NOTE: Some politicians once term limited out of office seek another office to stay in the political game.
- Empower the people.
U.S. Term Limits president Philip Blumel notes, “Florida’s legislature is among the best because of term limits. Legislatures are like marriages, some are functional and some dysfunctional. Florida’s is a good, term limited, marriage.”
Many believe that Florida’s part time politicians at every level should be paid a part time salary. Many favor making the Florida House of Representatives terms 4 years, the same as the Florida Senate, School Boards, City/County Commissioners, Constitutional Officers and the Governor. This will help State Representatives focus on their legislative duties and be less concerned about raising money for the next election cycle.
I am being interviewed by ABC Channel 7 News today on these issues. I will post the video when it airs tonight.
UPDATE: Here is a link to the video report on extending term limits and salary increase on the Alan Kohn show on ABC Channel 7 News in Sarasota, Florida:
RELATED ARTICLES:
Florida legislators propose increasing term limits – Miami Herald
Lawmaker proposes big pay raise for Florida Legislature – Miami Herald
EDITORS NOTE: The featured image of the Florida State Capitol building in Tallahassee is by Scott McIntyre.
I think a better solution is to limit the power of the legislature. Let them stay in office as long as they want, but without the power to hand out political favors.
There are three forces that create and sustain the political elite class: 1. unlimited terms in office, 2. high salaries while in office and 3. the power of incumbency.
Term limits, low or no salaries destroy the possibility of a political elite class.