JANUARY 7, 2011

Are Freshmen Lawmakers Bad for State Legislatures?

Governing magazine looks at the disadvantages to term limits, focusing on the constant turnover in state legislatures. Recognizing the inexperience of lawmakers, states like Michigan and California are setting up boot camps and mentoring programs to ensure it doesn't take years to understand the legislative process.

The inconveniences of term limits is a small price to pay for the absence of entrenched lawmakers that make careers out of political service and forge deep alliances with special interest groups—preventing principled and fiscally responsible decision making.

A Commonwealth Foundation analysis shows a strong connection between legislative professionalization and higher spending per capita, a higher tax burden and less economic freedom. Specifically, each increase in the level of professionalization results in an estimated $441 increase in spending per person, and a 0.4 percent increase in taxes as a percentage of income.

Term limits are just one of many government reforms. Initiative & Referendum, returning to a part-time legislature and more spending transparency also have the potential to move the culture in Harrisburg away from legacy building.

posted by ELIZABETH STELLE | 02:15 PM | 0 comment

JUNE 21, 2010

Are All Lawmakers Crooks?

This past Friday, former State Rep. Mike Veon, who had served as PA House Democrat Whip, was sentenced to 6 to 14 years in prison for his role in the ongoing public corruption case. Under indictment, but still to face trial, are former Pennsylvania Speakers of the House Bill DeWeese (D) and John Perzel (R), and former Representatives Brett Feese (R) and Steve Stetler (D).

On the same day, the FBI and IRS raided PA State Senator Bob Mellow's home and office (Mellow is the Senate Democrat Leader). This becomes the fourth high-profile case on that side of the Capitol, following an FBI raid of Sen. Ray Musto (D), the indictment of Sen. Jane Orie (R), and the conviction of former Senator Vince Fumo.

The leading spokesman for those opposing legislative reform, Sen. Daylin Leach, is certain to repeat his chorus that not all legislators are corrupt. But the crime rate in the Pennsylvania Capitol must be higher than any city in America. And Sen Leach and the vast majority of his colleagues sat around and did nothing, said nothing, or saw nothing while this corruption was taking place. In fact, most of the lawmakers who have been convicted, indicted, or are under investigation for corruption were elected to positions of leadership by their peers.

So I think we can move past the idea Pennsylvania does not need drastic reform in our legislature. Noting that most of those convicted or facing charges are among the longest serving members (indeed, several were first elected during the 1970s), term limits should be among the top priorities. Likewise, restoring the Pennsylvania General Assembly to a citizen legislature - as most other states have - is a necessity.

But it is becoming increasingly obvious legislators will not reform their own house, and it is high time citizens take control of their state government by demanding a Constitutional Convention or Initiative and Referendum.

posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 09:19 AM | 0 comment

MAY 25, 2010

Grand Jury Demands Legislative Reform

The long-awaited grand jury report written in response to the Bonusgate trials has declared that the grossly inefficient Pennsylvania legislature needs an overhaul. The grand jury wrote, "The current hierarchy of the House is designed to bestow the vast majority of the power on a select few, to the detriment of the other members of the House, as well as the public." Presiding Judge Feudale wrote of the citizen jury, "This grand jury will not be satisfied with non substantive window dressing and/or sound byte utterances; regarding the concerns set forth in their report."

A Lancaster Online report summarizes some of the grand jury's recommendations for legislative reform:

• Eliminating taxpayer-funded political caucuses.
• Conducting a routine full, independent audit of all legislative expenses and providing results to the public.
• Becoming a true part-time legislature, with commensurate reductions in legislative salaries, staff, and staff salaries.
• Prohibiting legislative staffers working on campaigns from receiving legislative money, including pay, benefits, or contribution to retirement plan.
• Creating a standardized, annually updated written ethics policy for the entire General Assembly.
• Making the budget planning process open and transparent.
• Returning all unused budget money to the state treasury.

 

The report mirrors many recommendation the Commonwealth Foundation has been championing for years - such as the merit of a part-time legislature, the necessity of state spending transparency, the elimination of incumbent protection plans, and a limited constitutional convention.

posted by LEAH ACHOR | 02:25 PM | 0 comment

FEBRUARY 15, 2010

The 70s Called, and Wants Its Legislators Back

State Rep. Frank Oliver announced he will be retiring at the end of his term.  This retirement - along with those of Sen. Bob Mellow, Sen. Barry Stout, and Sen. Ray Musto (the latter two previously serving in the PA House first), and the recent death of Congressman Jack Murtha - has greatly reduced the number of current Pennsylvania legislators first elected before I was born.

That list will soon be down to four - Sen. Michael O'Pake, and Reps. Mark Cohen, Bud George, and Bill Deweese - or fewer if there are additional retirements or election losses.  Five other sitting lawmakers were first elected during the 1970s (but after my introduction to the world): Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, and Reps. Thomas Caltagirone, Richard Geist, Nicholas Micozzie, and John Perzel.

For the record, there are also about 11 members (all in the Pennsylvania state house) younger than me, include six members born in the 1980s.  (Source: Pennsylvania Legislative Services).

posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 10:11 AM | 0 comment

DECEMBER 29, 2009

More Evidence for Term Limits

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, a Democrat from Delaware County, has provided the latest evidence that term limits are very healthy for representative democracies.

First elected to the state House of Reps in 2006, Lentz has limited himself to two terms in Harrisburg by retiring to run for an open Congressional seat next year. He'll have a very tough contest for the U.S. House, most likely against former U.S. Attorney and Delaware County district attorney Patrick Meehan, who is well known as a "law and order" guy.  

So it was no surprise when Lentz recently called upon state House Majority Leader Todd Eachus to resign his leadership post. Though controversy and speculation are swirling around Eachus, including the indictment of his former political ally Bill DeWeese (who recently resigned as House Majority Whip), Eachus himself has not been formally charged with any wrongdoing.

The salient question: Would Lentz have called upon an unindicted caucus leader to step down had he chosen to stay in Harrisburg and climb the ladder of seniority and power in the state House rather than retire and run for Congress? My answer: no way, Jose.

The Lentz example reminds me of another chapter in statehouse politics illustrative of the beauty of term limits:

In 1999, state Rep. Frank Serafini, a Republican from Lackawanna County, was found guilty of perjury by a jury of his peers. Article II, Section 7, of the PA Constitution states: "No person hereafter convicted of embezzlement of public moneys, bribery, perjury, or other infamous crime, shall be eligible to the General Assembly [italics added]." Upon the guilty verdict for Serafini, the Democrats-to their credit-attempted to introduce a resolution expelling him from the House. Republicans, to their discredit, voted to block the expulsion resolution from even being considered. There were only five Republicans out of 102 who voted to expel the perjurer, and they had something germane in common: each of the five had self-term limited himself and was exiting the General Assembly the following year, either to run for higher office or retire.

The moral of the story: term-limited politicians are more inclined to vote their conscience and do the right thing rather than get caught up in the political game.

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posted by JOE STERNS | 10:18 AM | 1 comment

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Legislative Staff and Term Limits

Following up on our blog post and Brad Bumsted's article about Pennsylvania having the most legislative staff, I took another look at the NCSL data, making a special note of Ohio, Michigan, California, and Florida.  Those states are of particular interest, as they are large states with term limits on legislators.

It is interesting that one point critics of term limits make (note that most critics are lawmakers, staffers, or lobbyists) is that term limits will lead to staff dominating policy decisions, as legislators will lack expertise.  However, in looking at these term-limited states - all with populations similar to Pennsylvania or larger - not only do they have far fewer staff, but they have reduced the number of staff since implementing term limits, while Pennsylvania has added more.

Rather than "empower staff", it appears term limits reduces reliance on legislative staff. More importantly, you don't have folks holding the same seat for 30+ years and accumulating power and staff - e.g. Sen. Vince Fumo, who probably had more staff himself than Ohio does.

 

Legislative Staffers
	Ohio	Michigan	Florida	California	Pennsylvania
1988	524	1,289	1,174	2,978	2,012
1996	552	1,404	2,173	2,610	2,702
2003	506	1,153	1,803	2,359	2,947
2009	465	973	1,570	2,106	2,919
2008 Population	11,485,910	10,003,422	18,328,340	36,756,666	12,448,279
Staffers per 10,000 Residents	0.40	0.97	0.86	0.57	2.34

posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 09:16 AM | 0 comment

AUGUST 28, 2009

Baby Boomers Dominate in State Legislatures

Interesting, if trivial analysis from NCSL on the age of state legislators. Only 4% of legislators nationally are under age 34.

They also have a tool with demographic profiles of legislators in every state.  Pennsylvania matches the US average with 4% of lawmakers in the young category (and I define "young" as my age or less, a category which is every growing).  The tool also includes, gender, ethnicity, religion, and occupation  - not surprisingly, almost 80% of Pennsylvania lawmaker list their occupation as "full-time legislators".

posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 02:41 PM | 0 comment

MARCH 17, 2009

Term Limits Needed in Pennsylvania

John Baer writes that the recent Vince Fumo conviction - the latest in a long history of corruption by long-time Pennsylvania lawmakers - is another reason why Pennsylvania needs term limits for state legislators.

Trust me, there are more, and there's an ongoing corruption probe of the Legislature likely to snag other long-term officeholders.

Also, I suspect if the feds focused a couple of years on almost any decades-plus incumbent they'd turn up something to prosecute.

And, OK, some long-termers serve more than steal, but the Pennsylvania pattern is pretty clear: the longer you're here, the better your chances of personal experience with prosecutors.

My only complaint with the article is that his listing of states with term limits could use a bit of Dr. Seuss - big state, small state, red state, blue state - but you get the picture:

Fifteen states have term limits. Big states (California), smaller states (Maine), Midwestern states (Michigan), neighboring states (Ohio) and southern states (Florida).

posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 05:03 PM | 0 comment

OCTOBER 13, 2008

Why Americans love term limits

Howard Rich, head of the pro-term limit group U.S. Term Limits, has an op-ed in the USA TODAY on why term limits are popular, except among legislators.

posted by NATHAN BENEFIELD | 01:50 PM | 0 comment