01/26/1993 08:00 AM House STA

  HJR 4:  LIMITING TERMS OF LEGISLATURE                                        
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY read the title of HJR 4.  He noted HJR 4                      
  would allow for three terms in the House and two in the                      
  Senate.  He invited the sponsor, Representative Jim                          
  Nordlund, to testify.                                                        
                                                                               
  Number 499                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE JIM NORDLUND, PRIME SPONSOR of HJR 4, stated                  
  term limits were a campaign issue for him.  He believed                      
  there was a need for more responsive, effective and fair                     
  campaigning, and pointed out that HJR 4 did not limit                        
  consecutive service in that there was no limit of total time                 
  served and no lifetime ban.                                                  
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE NORDLUND stated the incumbent had a benefit                   
  of using public staff, money was easier to raise, and there                  
  was more name recognition.  There was just too much                          
  advantage over the general public, and the public desired a                  
  term limit.  He pointed out fourteen other states had a term                 
  limit.                                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 547                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN VEZEY asked Representative Nordlund how he decided                  
  on the three terms in the House and two in the Senate.                       
                                                                               
  Number 544                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE NORDLUND decided the first term was needed to                 
  learn the process, the second to continue what was started                   
  the first term, and a third to be in leadership.  There                      
  needed to be a balance with the experience in the executive                  
  branch to the experience in the legislative branch, he                       
  added.                                                                       
  Number 583                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE KOTT explained another difference in HJR 4                    
  compared to HJR 3, that being a legislator could go from the                 
  House to the Senate back to the House and then to the Senate                 
  indefinitely.                                                                
                                                                               
  Number 591                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE NORDLUND stated the legislator would still                    
  have to challenge the incumbent.