Three four-year legislative terms advanced

Senators gave first-round approval March 30 to a proposed constitutional amendment that would extend legislative term limits.

Currently, a state senator can serve two consecutive four-year terms. LR7CA, introduced by Columbus Sen. Paul Schumacher, originally would have extended this to two six-year terms. The resolution was later amended to provide three four-year terms.

Schumacher said that term limits have been both good and bad for the state.

“This is a policy decision the people have made that two terms was enough and good would come from bringing in new blood and new ideas to the Legislature,” he said. “As with any good idea, there is always a need for tweaking to make a good idea better.”

Under the Executive Board amendment, adopted 35-4, state senators could serve three four-year terms. Chairperson Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha said adding one more four-year term would be the easiest transition to 12 years of service, which was the goal of the original bill.

Ogallala Sen. Ken Schilz supported extending term limits, saying that longer service helps senators to be more effective advocates for their districts.

“I have been here for six years now. I’m still learning things almost every day about how this body functions, how best to work and strategize,” he said. “Is four or eight years long enough to give your constituents the most effective tool that they can have in this Legislature?”

Papillion Sen. Bill Kintner favored the committee amendment’s proposal of three four-year terms, saying it would promote accountability.

“When you have to go knock on doors, meet with people, you find out what’s going on in your district,” Kintner said. “When you have to run three times [instead of two], you have to be more responsive to their constituents.”

Opposing both term limit proposals, Omaha Sen. Robert Hilkemann said that it is too soon to be revisiting the issue, since it was rejected in elections in 2000 and 2012.

“The people of Nebraska have spoken twice on this and they say two four-year terms,” he said. “Do we not get it? It’s alright to discuss this but I think our present system is just fine.”

Senators advanced the proposed constitutional amendment to select file on a 27-12 vote.