By Howard Fischer
CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES
January 26, 2001

PHOENIX - The House of Representatives voted yesterday to seek repeal of the constitutional amendment that limits members to eight years in office.

The action came without a peep of debate. Following a roll call vote early next week, the measure will go to the Senate, where it is likely to get a similar warm reception, putting the measure on the November 2002 ballot.

Most lawmakers, including those who owe their elections to vacancies created by the law, said yesterday that voters approved a bad idea in 1992.

Only Rep. Linda Binder, R-Havasu City, chided her colleagues. She said term limits promote fresh ideas.

"Quite frankly, the group that left due to term limits, I wasn't sorry to see most of them go," Binder said, calling them "grumpy old men and women."

Voters approved term limits by an unusual 3-1 ratio in 1992 in the middle of a nationwide movement against incumbency. The measure limits lawmakers to four consecutive two-year terms in the same body.

"I believe it has been an experiment that failed," said Rep. Robert Blendu, R-Litchfield Park, who is championing the change.

His measure struck a resonant note this year after nearly half of the House members were forced out in November's election.

Marian McClure, a Tucson Republican, who was able to seek one of two vacant House seats after the retirement of Bill McGibbon and Lou-Ann Preble, said she voted for term limits back in '92.

"It sounded like a really good idea," she said.

"Now that I'm elected, I find there's a lot of corporate memory that's gone," McClure said. "We're going to waste a lot of taxpayer money reinventing the wheel."

Former Attorney General Grant Woods, at the forefront of the 1992 fight, said any loss of experience is "greatly offset by being able to get rid of career politicians."

He said term limits ensure that lawmakers "go back out into the community and live under the laws they've passed."

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Tucson, said her constituents realize the law isn't the panacea it was advertised to be.

"People seem to now understand what the consequences are," she said, saying they are upset when they can't re-elect veteran lawmakers they like.

But Rep. John Loredo, D-Phoenix, said he's heard no outcry for change.

Loredo, who supports putting the issue back before voters, will be forced out of the House in 2004 unless the constitutional provision is repealed.

The sentiment to revisit term limits is shared across the courtyard.

Senate President Randall Gnant said limits just confer more power on lobbyists and government administrators.

"All these groups are here for the long haul." Gnant said.

Newly elected Sen. Tim Bee, R-Tucson, concurred with Gnant on that point but acknowledged that he wouldn't be a senator had his older brother, Keith, not been forced out after his own eight-year term.

© Arizona Daily Star