By Mike Moen
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Prairie News Service) – Pew Research Center polling shows 87% of Americans want members of Congress to have term limits.
While change has been viewed as a long shot, a leading advocate from Minnesota sees a path. Increased polarization in U.S. politics has fueled debates about term limits. Federal lawmakers could take action themselves to limit their terms in office but a more realistic and still difficult approach would be a constitutional convention, with uniform resolutions backed by at least 34 states.
Reed Olson, Minnesota state co-chair for U.S. Term Limits, a nonprofit organizing support among states, argued there is too much entrenched power in Washington, D.C.
“They’ve got ties to fundraisers, they’ve got ties to lobbyists, and less and less and less are they seen as representing their constituents,” Olson asserted.
So far, 12 state legislatures have adopted term limit resolutions. Minnesota has not but Olson feels the state an ideal candidate. He pointed out because Minnesota has mostly seen shared power at the State Capitol in recent years, lawmakers are forced to make tough decisions together. Researchers said despite public backing, term limits have consequences, including a loss of experienced leadership in Congress, and the prospect of giving lobbyists more power.
Olson acknowledged the argument about having too many inexperienced people pulling the levers in Congress is a common one but contended it does not hold as much weight as skeptics think. He pointed to Minnesota’s Tina Smith’s relatively short tenure in the U.S. Senate as an example.
“She’s a very effective Senator, so I think that kind of proves the point that you can be successful, you can be productive and not be in there for three decades,” Olson observed.
Smith, a Democrat who is not seeking reelection next year, has been lauded by policy groups for her bipartisan efforts and legislative achievements. The renewed push for term limits has the backing of some high-profile Republicans. But Olson noted as a Democrat, he feels there’s enough room in both major parties to see this through. Olson has served on the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners and is now seeking a legislative seat.
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