Representative Gannon and Senator Stroebel testified in Madison today in support of Senate Joint Resolution 75, which would impose term limits on the State Legislature, Governor and Lt. Governor.
Senate Joint Resolution 75
February 4, 2016
Testimony from Rep. Gannon
Good morning and thank you Chair and members of the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection for allowing me the opportunity to speak to you today regarding Senate Joint Resolution 75, a bill which would impose term limits on the Governor, Lt. Governor, Senate members and Assembly members.
Term limits is an idea of which 75% of Americans support. They see legislators who have served for long periods of time as being controlled by lobbyists and special interest. Currently 15 States have term limits for their legislators and 37 states have term limits for their Governors. These limitations allow for new members to be elected to the government and to bring new and fresh ideas to the chambers.
The Wisconsin Legislature has changed how it runs itself over the past several decades. Between the years of 1963-1985 it averaged 29 new members per session, but between1985-2007 they averaged 19. In 1977 the average age of Senators was 43 and Representatives were 42, but in 2007 the averages jumped to 55 and 50. In 1961 the assembly met 185 days, the senate 184, but in 2005 the senate met 69 days and the assembly met 72 days; spending less time debating bills on the floor to move Wisconsin forward, spending that time getting reelected, among other things.
In the 1970’s the legislature averaged 2,273 bills introduced per session; since 1991 it has averaged 1,697 or 25% fewer. In the 2007 Session: Freshman avg. 5.9 bills, those in office 4 years avg. 8.9 bills, those in office 6 years avg. 10.6 bills, those in office 8 years avg. 13 bills, those in office 10 years avg. 7.6 bills, those in office 12 years avg. 9.7 bills (only a sample size of 3), those in office more than 12 years avg. 4.5 bills (20 members in this sample). This show that as legislators are here longer they become less productive than those who are here less than 10 -12 years and are unlikely to lose their seat to a challenger and legislators are aware of that fact.
Governor Walker called for 12 year limits on the US House and Senate; he “self imposes them” by only serving no more than 10 years in his previous elected positions. Jeb Bush said term limits in FL lead to a “significantly higher quality” legislature, as younger members and more women were elected, bringing more energy and viewpoints to the legislature. One of those young members was Marco Rubio, who also backs term limits. Since Florida members can only serve 8 years per house before they have to leave, it allowed young Rubio a chance to run for office before age 30. If not for term limits, he would have faced an incumbent with 15 or 25 years of service and would have likely lost that election as incumbents rarely lose their seats.
Term limits can allow new minds an opportunity to present fresh ideas to the Wisconsin Legislature and allow for a better Wisconsin. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to testify in support of this bill.
Senate Joint Resolution 75
February 4, 2016
Testimony from Rep. Gannon
Good morning and thank you Chair and members of the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection for allowing me the opportunity to speak to you today regarding Senate Joint Resolution 75, a bill which would impose term limits on the Governor, Lt. Governor, Senate members and Assembly members.
Term limits is an idea of which 75% of Americans support. They see legislators who have served for long periods of time as being controlled by lobbyists and special interest. Currently 15 States have term limits for their legislators and 37 states have term limits for their Governors. These limitations allow for new members to be elected to the government and to bring new and fresh ideas to the chambers.
The Wisconsin Legislature has changed how it runs itself over the past several decades. Between the years of 1963-1985 it averaged 29 new members per session, but between1985-2007 they averaged 19. In 1977 the average age of Senators was 43 and Representatives were 42, but in 2007 the averages jumped to 55 and 50. In 1961 the assembly met 185 days, the senate 184, but in 2005 the senate met 69 days and the assembly met 72 days; spending less time debating bills on the floor to move Wisconsin forward, spending that time getting reelected, among other things.
In the 1970’s the legislature averaged 2,273 bills introduced per session; since 1991 it has averaged 1,697 or 25% fewer. In the 2007 Session: Freshman avg. 5.9 bills, those in office 4 years avg. 8.9 bills, those in office 6 years avg. 10.6 bills, those in office 8 years avg. 13 bills, those in office 10 years avg. 7.6 bills, those in office 12 years avg. 9.7 bills (only a sample size of 3), those in office more than 12 years avg. 4.5 bills (20 members in this sample). This show that as legislators are here longer they become less productive than those who are here less than 10 -12 years and are unlikely to lose their seat to a challenger and legislators are aware of that fact.
Governor Walker called for 12 year limits on the US House and Senate; he “self imposes them” by only serving no more than 10 years in his previous elected positions. Jeb Bush said term limits in FL lead to a “significantly higher quality” legislature, as younger members and more women were elected, bringing more energy and viewpoints to the legislature. One of those young members was Marco Rubio, who also backs term limits. Since Florida members can only serve 8 years per house before they have to leave, it allowed young Rubio a chance to run for office before age 30. If not for term limits, he would have faced an incumbent with 15 or 25 years of service and would have likely lost that election as incumbents rarely lose their seats.
Term limits can allow new minds an opportunity to present fresh ideas to the Wisconsin Legislature and allow for a better Wisconsin. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to testify in support of this bill.
Senate Joint Resolution 75
February 4, 2016
Testimony from Rep. Gannon
Good morning and thank you Chair and members of the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection for allowing me the opportunity to speak to you today regarding Senate Joint Resolution 75, a bill which would impose term limits on the Governor, Lt. Governor, Senate members and Assembly members.
Term limits is an idea of which 75% of Americans support. They see legislators who have served for long periods of time as being controlled by lobbyists and special interest. Currently 15 States have term limits for their legislators and 37 states have term limits for their Governors. These limitations allow for new members to be elected to the government and to bring new and fresh ideas to the chambers.
The Wisconsin Legislature has changed how it runs itself over the past several decades. Between the years of 1963-1985 it averaged 29 new members per session, but between1985-2007 they averaged 19. In 1977 the average age of Senators was 43 and Representatives were 42, but in 2007 the averages jumped to 55 and 50. In 1961 the assembly met 185 days, the senate 184, but in 2005 the senate met 69 days and the assembly met 72 days; spending less time debating bills on the floor to move Wisconsin forward, spending that time getting reelected, among other things.
In the 1970’s the legislature averaged 2,273 bills introduced per session; since 1991 it has averaged 1,697 or 25% fewer. In the 2007 Session: Freshman avg. 5.9 bills, those in office 4 years avg. 8.9 bills, those in office 6 years avg. 10.6 bills, those in office 8 years avg. 13 bills, those in office 10 years avg. 7.6 bills, those in office 12 years avg. 9.7 bills (only a sample size of 3), those in office more than 12 years avg. 4.5 bills (20 members in this sample). This show that as legislators are here longer they become less productive than those who are here less than 10 -12 years and are unlikely to lose their seat to a challenger and legislators are aware of that fact.
Governor Walker called for 12 year limits on the US House and Senate; he “self imposes them” by only serving no more than 10 years in his previous elected positions. Jeb Bush said term limits in FL lead to a “significantly higher quality” legislature, as younger members and more women were elected, bringing more energy and viewpoints to the legislature. One of those young members was Marco Rubio, who also backs term limits. Since Florida members can only serve 8 years per house before they have to leave, it allowed young Rubio a chance to run for office before age 30. If not for term limits, he would have faced an incumbent with 15 or 25 years of service and would have likely lost that election as incumbents rarely lose their seats.
Term limits can allow new minds an opportunity to present fresh ideas to the Wisconsin Legislature and allow for a better Wisconsin. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to testify in support of this bill.