Advocacy Group Echoes Need for Congressional Term Limits

Rasmussen survey found 71 percent of likely U.S. voters favor term limits for Congress

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Our Generation, a free market advocacy group, echoed the mood of voters nationwide, which is that Congress needs term limits. According to Rasmussen Report's latest telephone survey released today, 71 percent of likely U.S. voters favor establishing term limits for all members of Congress, 14 percent oppose setting such limits, and 15 percent are undecided about them.  The results of this survey shows that Americans believe that term limits are needed as a check on the power of incumbency.  

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Our Generation is dedicated to promoting and educating the public about term limits.  On June 12, 2011, Our Generation released a study entitled "Term Limits: A Reform that Works," which examined the historical role of term limits and then looks at the state-level term limit movement, which occurred in the 1990s.  The findings show that the 15 states that have adopted and kept term limits are on balance more effective legislative bodies.  Among the findings are the following: term limits stimulate electoral competition; enable nontraditional candidates to run for office; weaken the leadership control and seniority systems in legislative bodies; and promote public policies compatible with limited government.

Congress would be wise to pass a constitutional amendment on term limits, but as Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports noted, "Voters recognize that expecting Members of Congress to place reasonable limits on themselves is like expecting toddlers to select a reasonable bedtime."

Both the House and Senate have pending legislation that would amend the United States Constitution and would apply term limits to all members of Congress.  S.J. Res. 11 and H.J. Res. 71, would limit U.S. Representatives to three terms and U.S. Senators to two terms in office.  Both of these proposals should be given serious consideration.  

"Elected officials have almost become a ruling class where rates of incumbency are astronomical, and politicians' primary focus has shifted from legislating to fund-raising and getting re-elected," said Our Generation's Executive Director MacMillin Slobodien.  "Term limits offer a check on the detrimental aspects of incumbency and require elected officials to focus on promises made to voters rather than promoting personal gains for re-election."

Our Generation, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization founded in 2009 to research, educate and promote long-term free market solutions to today's public policy concerns. www.ourgeneration.org.

Contact: MacMillin Slobodien
Phone: 732-689-4169

SOURCE Our Generation