The Truth Behind Prop 93: Less Time in SacramentoPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Nov. 20‚ 2007Sacramento veteran Bill Cavala made a good point yesterday about Proposition 93, and how it would change California’s Term Limits law. Rather than let legislators serve up to 14 years in the State Capitol, Prop 93 would allow them to spend 12 years in the Assembly or the Senate, but not both. “[It] limits the current ban by two years,” he said. “The issue for voters is whether a trade of 12 possible years in one house of the legislature versus 14 years in both Houses is good – and why?” My preference would be to just repeal term limits, and I imagine that Cavala (who spent 30 years working in the State Capitol) would agree. Since that’s not likely to pass, reforming term limits to let legislators spend more time in Sacramento is a good thing. But the drafters of Prop 93 had to be cute, and felt it was more politically palatable to reduce a legislator’s total tenure – rather than be upfront with the voters about their intent: relaxing term limits. |