Posted by Jon Fleischman at 12:00 am on May 17, 2007 Comments Off on Perata/Ashburn – Career politicians at any cost?
At the end of next year, both Senate President Pro-Tem Don
Perata, a liberal Democrat, and long-time legislator Roy Ashburn, a
conservative Republican, will reach the end of their time in the
State Legislature. Both will bump up against the
voter-approved legislative term-limits in our State
Constitution. This is as it should be. Term Limits
allow for more Californians to have an opportunity to be
citizen-legislators. As a matter of fact, were it not for
term-limits, it is likely that neither of these politicians would
be in Sacramento right now.
That said, it is with a skeptic’s eye that we read news that these
two termed-out legislators are pushing forward with a
‘comprehensive reform’ plan for next year’s ballot that, if put
before the voters as currently written, would allow Perata, Ashburn
and a host of other legislators who would be forced to retire to
instead serve longer in the State Legislature.
Of course, there has long been a discussion that Republican
legislators, most of whom support the current term limits, would be
willing to… Read More