Is it time for term limits? My answer is a resounding yes! Governor Christie actually proposed term limits way back in June of 2012. Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, a Democrat representing Trenton, said “If you had a 10-year term limit at least every 10 years you’ll have fresh blood that’s guaranteed in the legislative process.”
Why don’t we have them if both the Governor and an Assemblyman both agree there should be some sort of term limits? The answer is very easy, no one else in the Legislature wants them because they would eventually be out of a very nice job with great benefits. Who in their right mind would vote against their own interests and vote for something that the voting public has been crying for.
Assemblyman Gusciora further said, “It is indeed difficult getting people who are already in the caucus to vote for it. That is always the challenge in elective office. People like to hold onto the power that they have.” You heard it right, the peoples wishes do not count when it conflicts with the legislators personal interests.
The only government office, at least on the state level, that has a term limit is the Governor. The term limit is two terms of four years each, a total of eight years. Matt Hale said, “If you’re essentially saying that I’m going to vote to vote myself out of office, that goes against everything politicians are trained to do from the time they get there. I certainly don’t think politicians are going to elect to un-elect themselves.” Hale is a political science professor at Seton Hall University.
Is Assemblyman Gusciora hitting his head against a wall without the benefit of even being paid attention to? The answer is a big fat yes! The only other politician that that seems to care is our Governor and with him paying more attention to running for President right now, nothing is going to happen.
We the voting public of New Jersey need to encourage Assemblyman Gusciora by sending him emails that tell him that we are behind him and support term limits. His email address is AsmGusciora@njleg.org. I highly recommend that you do email him and express your concerns about enacting term limits. If no one emails him, how will he know that you the voting public really do want term limits?
My own opinion is that term limits should be put in effect for all public office holders all the way down to the municipal level. There are too many office holders that simply ignore their constituents because they know that they can’t be voted out of office nor is there any time limit for how long they can be in office. I would accept the fact that if we got term limits for state senators and assembly people that this would be a great leap forward for this state.
That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike
