By Constitution Staff

Oklahomans will have the opportunity to stop politicians from becoming entrenched in office following House passage of statewide term limits legislation on April 14. Senate Joint Resolution 12 would let the people decide whether to limit terms of office for most statewide elected officials. The change, which would amend the state Constitution and requires a vote of the people. The legislation now the legislation proceeds to the Secretary of State for ballot assignment.

SJR 12 was authored by Sen. Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso) and carried in the House by Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie). "The people decided overwhelmingly more than 15 years ago to limit the number of years a state legislator can serve because they believe an elected official should be a servant of the people. The voters want their leaders to make a sacrifice to serve the people, and then go and live under the laws they helped enact," said Murphey." Prior to legislative term limits, many career politicians were an elite class who made their life in politics. The people of Oklahoma want their leaders to be citizen legislators who stay in touch with the real world."

Currently, state lawmakers are limited to 12 years in office, and the governor is restricted to serving two consecutive, four year terms. SJR 12 would instead limit the governor to serve no more than eight cumulative years in office. That same eight total years rule would also apply to the Lt. Gov, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Insurance Commissioner, all of whom serve 4-year terms. The resolution also would limit anyone from serving as Corporation Commissioner for more than a total of 12 years. Corporation Commission terms are six years.

"Since term limits were approved by the people for the state Legislature, there is increasingly a wide mix of backgrounds and careers found at the state Capitol," said House Speaker Chris Benge (R-Tulsa)."This change will ensure fresh faces and new ideas are continuously entering the political process." The resolution passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 69-29. It had bipartisan support in the Senate, passing in a 30-12 vote on March 11.

"This is such an important measure that will change the way state government operates," said Brian Downs, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Responsible Government (OFRG). "Oklahomans overwhelmingly supported legislative term limits and I'm confident that voters will be in favor of term limits for statewide elected officials, too." That confidence is bolstered by the 67% vote that legislative term limits received in 1990 and recent polls which have shown 70% support or more for statewide officers to be term limited. "OFRG has worked very hard for the past two sessions to try to get term limits passed," said Downs. "It feels good to see that hard work pay off in the form of a ballot measure that gives voters an opportunity they've been asking for."