Longer terms?

by: Jason Springer

Sun Feb 01, 2009 at 12:35:18 PM EST

Longer terms for our elected officials? That's the concept behind SC-126, which would move Senate elections from every three years to every five years and Assembly elections from every two years to every three years, then two years. Are you confused yet?

The legislation is sponsored by Senator Scutari. There are no co-sponsors and there is no Assembly version of the bill, yet it will be up for discussion in Scutari's Senate State Government committee on Monday. Scutari made his main arguments for the bill:

"I really think that if it's passed it will be good for everyone," said Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, the bill sponsor. "It will take more money out of contests ... it will give elected officials more time to tackle issues."

I don't see how it takes money out of contests. Officials will still raise money for their next election, regardless of when the vote is held. It seems to me you just change when the money comes in. I could however see the argument for saving money by holding less elections. The problem is, we'll still have county, local and school elections being held. Here's what would have to happen to make the change:

Changing the term structure would take a constitutional amendment, which would ultimately need voter approval. The measure will be considered in the Senate State Government Committee Monday, which is chaired by Scutari. If passed, it would need the approval of three-fifths of the Legislature before it would go to the voters. If approved, the change would take effect for legislators elected in the 2011 general election.

I don't know if now is the best time for this proposal and don't know that the bill will get any traction. It would also change the order of offices that are on the ballot together. The Assembly and Senate would be up together ever five years. The Governor, Senate and Assembly would be on the ballot together once every twenty years under the new plan. I put a chart below the fold.

If you're going to undertake an effort like this, why not make the body a full time legislature increasing salaries and banning outside employment? Otherwise, I don't see how you're not just reshuffling when the contributions come in and changing who's on the ballot together.

Jason Springer :: Longer terms?

Senate every 5	Governor every 4	Assembly every 3, 2
2016	2013	2014
2021	2017	2016
2026	2021	2019
2031	2025	2021
2036	2029	2024
2041	2033	2026
2046	2037	2029
2051	2041	2031
2056	2045	2034
2061	2049	2036
2066	2053	2039
2071	2057	2041
2076	2061	2044
2081	2065	2046
2086	2069	2049
2091	2073	2051
2096	2077	2054
2101	2081	2056
	2085	2059
	2089	2061
	2093	2064
	2097	2066
	2101	2069
		2071
		2074
		2076
		2079
		2081
		2084
		2086
		2089
		2091
		2094
		2096
		2098
		2101

Tags: NJ Legislature, assembly terms, senate terms, election, Senate, Assembly, Nicholas Scutari, (All Tags)

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Longer terms? | 4 comments

Scuttle Sctuari's Shamelessly Corrupt Power Grab (0.00 / 0)

This is like a bank that is being regularly robbed choosing to deal with the problem by keeping more loose cash on hand.

The very fact that the morally/ethically (if not technically/legally) corrupt de-facto crimials in charge of writing our laws have the chutzpah to think about extending their terms on the pretext that it would somehow save money on campaigns is an indication of just how effingly brazen these bastards have become. I'll be surprised if anyone (outside of the BCDO, lobbyists and similar such organizations) falls for this line of bullshit.

Speaking of "terms"; what we do need are more term limits and longer jail terms for the convicted public officials and those who bribe/buy them.

by: Nick Lento @ Sun Feb 01, 2009 at 18:33:23 PM UTC