In was really no surprise that long time California ‘insider’ Attorney General Jerry Brown, the former California Governor and Oakland Mayor used his office to pen an extremely biased Title and Summary for the Term Limits Weakening Measure that is being supported by termed-out legislative leaders Don Perata and Fabian Nunez.
U.S. Term Limits is used to having to battle entrenched incumbents, who have used every means at their disposal to not have their legislative careers cut short by term limits reforms. So it is with a strong record of standing up to these entrenched politicians that tomorrow representatives of U.S. Term Limits will hold a press conference (10 am, the Hyatt Hotel across from the State Capitol) to announce litigation to take Brown’s chosen, biased wording to court.
You have to wonder what Title and Summary Brown will put on two other ballot measures that may appear in February — one to end tax-free per diem payments for legislators, and the other to significant reign in the ability of legislators to accept gifts… I guess we’ll find out…
May 2nd, 2007 at 12:00 am
What grounds are they going to sue on? That it accurately reflects that term limits are going to be reduced from 14 to 12 years? That the previous term limit initiative also grandfathered incumbents.
This is just a PR stunt, and will be laughed out of court.
May 2nd, 2007 at 12:00 am
Anyone familiar with U.S. Term Limits knows they do not make empty gestures.
It sounds like SOMEBODY is getting a little nervous about it already!
May 3rd, 2007 at 12:00 am
This proposal does not “grandfather incumbents” — that would mean leaving the current rules in place for incumbents.
This one extends the time in office of incumbents beyond the current law — to 18 years in some cases.