Oklahoma Term Limits Initiative (2010)

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The Oklahoma Term Limits Initiative ballot initiative, proposed as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment to the Oklahoma Constitution, will appear on the 2010 state ballot.

The initiative proposes a 8-year lifetime limit for the governor, lieutenant governor, state auditor and inspector, attorney general, state treasurer, labor commissioner, state schools superintendent and insurance commissioner. Currently, the governor cannot serve more 8 consecutive years, however he can seek election again after a 4-year period has passed. [1]

Background

Oklahoma is not new to term limits, in 1990 citizens approved a 12-year lifetime limit for the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In 2008, a state organization called the Oklahomans for Responsible Government attempted to put a term limits initiative on the ballot, however according to executive director Brian Downs, "We were unsuccessful last year because we had two competing measures that advocated for 8 and 12 year terms." [2]

Support

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed Senate Joint Resolution 12 in early 2009. The resolution allows for voters to decide if statewide elected officials should be limited to two terms in office. It was authored by Sen. Randy Brogdon and carried in the House by Rep. Jason Murphey. [3]

Oklahomans for Responsible Government, a strong proponent for term limits, argue that term limits have and will continue to bring new ideas to the state. Additionally the state organization stated that, if passed, the amendment will help "put a stop to the recent problems Oklahoma has had with our state-wide elected officials.” Downs added,“This is such an important measure that will change the way state government operates. Oklahomans overwhelmingly supported legislative term limits and I’m confident that voters will be in favor of term limits for statewide elected officials, too.” [2]

Ballot language

According to some, the current ballot language could mislead and confuse voters. The state question was reviewed by the attorney general’s office, who recommended the language be changed to include a statement that says the proposal "limits the ability of voters to re-elect statewide elected officers.”

This statement, said the Oklahomans for Responsible Government, should be removed. "It could be construed to mean that it doesn’t allow the re-election of any elected officials,” said Peter Rudy, communications director for the organization. In a May 5,2009 blog post, the organization wrote, "...this is the same [Attorney General] Drew Edmondson who personally lobbied lawmakers last year to not pass term limits. And now that he’s failed in that regard, he’s trying to submarine the ballot measure with confusing language." [4]

In 2008, Attorney General Drew Edmondson urged state lawmakers to reject a term-limits bill. Edmondson, a fourth-term Democrat at the time, argued that the bill would make the mandated 12-year limit on terms retroactive.[5] Additionally, Edmondson spoke out against term limits in the 2008 court case, Yes on Term Limits v. Savage.

However, in regards to the 2010 proposed ballot language, the attorney general's office argued otherwise. The proposed language, they said, meets strict requirements as set by law. The 10-day comment period for the ballot language ends May 12,2009. [6]

The ballot language reads as follows:[7]

This measure amends sections 4 and 23 of Articles 6 and section 15 of Article 9 of the State Constitution. It limits the ability of voters to re-elect statewide elected officers by limiting how many years those officers can serve. It limits the number of years a person may serve in each statewide elected office. Service as Governor is limited to eight years. Service as Lieutenant Governor is limited to eight years. Service as Attorney General is limited to eight years. Service as Treasurer is limited to eight years. Service as Commissioner of Labor is limited to eight years. Service as Auditor and Inspector is limited to eight years. Service as Superintendent of Public Instruction is limited to eight years. Service as a Corporation Commissioner is limited to twelve years.
Service for less than a full term would not count against the limit on service. Years of service need not be consecutive for the limits to apply.
Officers serving when this measure is passed can complete their terms. All such serving officers, except the Governor, can also serve an additional eight or twelve years.

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ News OK,"Oklahoma Capitol briefs: Term limit proposal heading to vote in Oklahoma Senate," April 15,2009
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 U.S. term limits,"U.S. Term Limits Praises Oklahoma Legislature & OFRG for Putting Term Limits Expansion on the Ballot," April 20,2009
  3. ↑ Tulsa World,"Term-limit measures approved by Legislature," March 11,2009
  4. ↑ Oklahomans for Responsible Government,"Playing politics with term limits?," May 5,2009
  5. ↑ Legal Newsline,"Edmondson opposes term-limits legislation," April 21,2009
  6. ↑ News OK,"Language for Oklahoma ballot questioned," May 6,2009
  7. ↑ Oklahoma Secretary of State, "Proposed State Questions"
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