Debate rages in the capitol (although with the slow-motion pace of the Legislature, this inferno is more like a can of Sterno) about reforming redistricting, with a little inducement of extending term limits.
But California voters have had this debate already – they passed term limits for Legislators (Prop 140 in 1990), and later passed term limits for Federal Reps as well (Prop 164 in 1992.)
After courts threw out Term Limits for Federal Office holders in 1995, US Term Limits and others sought and received promises from hundreds of US House members to abide by the three-term limit. Most Congressional reps simply broke their pledge.
But former Congressman Doug Ose (R- Sacramento) did something unprecedented – he kept his promise.
Ose’s seat was originally one of the few competitive CA Congressional seats, but after redistricting, it was solidly GOP – so Ose could have been Congressman for life. (Note: This is the district I live in, and I have done work for Ose in the past).
But he had promised to abide by voter-approved term-limits, serve six years and then return to the community, his family and his business.
Numerous local leaders implored Ose to run again, showing him gaggles of people who had broken the pledge and still been re-elected. There were no term-limit parades or editorials calling on him to abide by the term-limit pledge. Polling showed he would be easily re-elected.
But Ose said simply “I keep my promises.” I guess he’s just old-fashioned that way.
We could use a few more folks like Ose.
Perhaps current State legislators can take a page from Ose’s book – instead of spending $90 million bucks for an early primary that is unlikely to impact Presidential selection but may help Legislators sneak around term limits, keep the term-limit promise made to voters and save taxpayers a few bucks in the process.
January 31st, 2007 at 12:00 am
Perhaps if Doug Ose would have stayed around for more than three terms he would have been an effective Congressman. Instead he was a backbencher. The senior system works in Congress because Members acquire policy knowledge instead of relying on lobbyists and staff. Imagine a corporation forcing out its top level management after six years. It doesn’t happen for a reason.
January 31st, 2007 at 12:00 am
Well… first the obvious lefty mistake of equating government with business… Perhaps that’s why the Democrats are always pushing more government on to business…more regs, more social engineering, more, more, more.
Business is business and government is government, the less the later has to do with the former, the better things work.
Second, the concept that system works deserves at least a sympathy laugh. While I think you meant “Seniority” system, it’s up there with earmarks and pay-to-play as less-than-laudable traditions lionized by insiders.
February 1st, 2007 at 12:00 am
Steve – hate to break it to you, but you just don’t know what you’re talking about. I ran Doug’s first race and then was his spokesman on the hill during his first year in Congress. To say he did nothing shows you didn’t do your homework. First, Dem registration was 4 points higher when first won — that they put up a weak candidate in Sandy Dunn confirmed they knew this was going to be a lost cause for them. Second, he came home every weekend those first two years. I know this because I traveled cross country with him at least twice a month. Ask anyone in those nine counties – he was everywhere, and consistently delivered whatever was needed. He helped broker the deal on a critical flood control bill, was named Chair of a key subcommittee that held numerous oversight hearings into why your former boss couldn’t keep electricity going in CA among other issues, and worked with law enforcement to make sure money from the anti-meth task force was dedicated to the I-5 corridor. Clearly these are hardly the actions of a “back bencher” as you put it. Rather, that will be a more applicable term for your pal Jerry McNerney who is already being thrown to the wolves by his own party for not being liberal enough.
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:00 am
Put the Kool-Aid down and take a look at what legislation he passed (next to nothing) and what he did during the energy crisis (sided with Exxon). Any independent analyst will tell you Ose was a nice guy but had zero clout in Congress. In stark contrast, McNerney has key committee assignments and will have his name all over significant legislation.
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:00 am
Make that Enron, not Exxon. I confused my mega-energy corporate donors. Sorry.
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:00 am
Um, actually the only ones whose opinions matter would be his consituents who knew how effective he was and reelected him twice — the first time in the afore-mentioned democrat majority district before it was redrawn. Independent analyists don’t vote. And I think I’m a bit more familiar with his legislation, so please don’t try to pretend you’re some expert. Why are you holding such a grudge on Doug Ose, Steve? Could it be that you’re still a little sensitive about how he made Gray look so incompetent during the energy crisis? You need to move on. McNerney will be out in two years, but at least he’ll have done more while there than say, Joe Baca. Now there’s a fine example of congressional ineptitude.