Term Limits for Congress

            The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns term limits for members of Congress. This topic has been making the rounds for several years; however, it has just talk to this point. Donald Trump campaigned on the promise that he would “drain the swamp” of elites in Washington, D.C. He has been doing well on keeping his promises, but lawmakers need to keep their campaign promises too. 

            Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Representative Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) introduced an amendment to the Constitution in January 2017. Their amendment would put term limits on members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, neither of which have any limits right now. The introduced amendment would limit Senators to “two six-year terms” and Representatives to “three two-year terms.” This means that Senators would serve a total of twelve years and Representatives would serve a total of six years. The longer time in the Senate would, supposedly, give more stability to the federal government.

            Last Thursday, February 23, 2017, Senator Cruz addressed the crowd at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). He said that lawmakers should be held to their campaign promises. “This election was the American people saying, `Enough already with the corruption in both parties, Democrats and Republicans who have been here too long.”       Senator Cruz suggested that the CPAC attendees should put some pressure on their representatives to “drain the swamp” by “paving the way for term limits for Congress.” He said, “Hold us accountable. There is an incredible power of the men and women in this room, the men and women of CPAC. The grassroots have the ability to get people’s attention to hold our elected officials accountable. … The message that I am conveying is `Let’s do what we promised.’ He continued, “Let’s deliver on the promises and if we do that, we’ll win at the ballot box and if we don’t, the people will hold us accountable for that, too.” You can listen to Senator Cruz here. 

            I believe that Senator Cruz and Representative DeSantis are very courageous but absolutely right. Their amendment, if it is passed by Congress and ratified by the States, could end the political careers of both men. I hate to lose men and women of the caliber of Senator Cruz, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Representative Trey Gowdy (R. South Carolina), and others like them from Congress. However, I believe that the best way to drain the swamp is term limits. There are too many members of Congress who have been there for thirty and forty years and no longer put the interests of America and Americans above their own corrupt desires. I believe that any Senator or Representatives who does not vote for term limits should be voted out of office at their next election. I would love to end the political career of our senior senator, Senator Liza Murkowski, one of the most liberal Republicans in the Senate!