Mccaslin Joins Petition To Overturn Term Limits Valley Senator Says Lobbyists, Staff Would Run The State

Spokane Valley Sen. Bob McCaslin has joined a petition asking the state Supreme Court to overturn the state’s term limits law.

The 5-year-old law, scheduled to take effect in 1998, limits state representatives to three two-year terms, while senators, the governor and the lieutenant governor are limited to two four-year terms.

The petition was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington on Friday morning. It asks the state’s highest court to rule the law unconstitutional.

In addition to McCaslin, the petition was filed on behalf of five other legislators, seven private citizens, Common Cause of Washington, and the Association of Washington Cities.

McCaslin, a Republican who supported term limits as a candidate for his first term in 1980, said he is optimistic the law will be overturned. He is concerned a greater turnover rate among lawmakers in Olympia will give power to lobbyists and committee staff.

“If this continues in practice,” McCaslin said, “it means lobbyists and staff who are here 365 days a year will be running this place, probably more than they already do.”

Besides, McCaslin argues, there is enough turnover already. He points to the 1992 election, the year voters approved term limits. That year, 58 new lawmakers were voted into office. The turnover rates in the Senate and House were 33 percent and 44 percent, respectively.

“The ballot box has provided a lot of turnover here,” he said. “I don’t know what more the voters want.”

Jerry Sheehan, the legislative director for the ACLU of Washington, says overturning term limits would restore rights to both potential candidates for public office and voters who would want to support them.

“It’s a two-way street,” Sheehan said, “the right to vote and the right to run.”

Sheehan is hopeful the court will address the issue in the next three months, though it is possible a decision could be strung out until next year.

He, too, expects the law to be overturned.

Even some term limits supporters agree with Sheehan’s prediction. “I think ultimately, the courts will overturn term limits,” said Rep. Brad Benson, R-Spokane. “Whether or not I think they should is a different question.”

Benson argues term limits would generate more moderate leaders. He argues the law would have its greatest impact in districts that have traditionally voted either Democrat or Republican. Because it’s easier for legislators in those districts to gain reelection, they tend to gain leadership positions easier. Benson said Clyde Ballard, the Republican Speaker of the House, is a good example.

Benson also argues there is no such thing as a perfect legislator.

“My feeling is no matter how wonderful you are, you’re not indispensable,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anybody out there you can’t do without, myself included.”

Though lawmakers could overturn the law through legislation, McCaslin says such a proposal wouldn’t have enough support.

“(Other legislators) don’t have the guts I have,” McCaslin said. “The press would attack them saying they have a self-interest.”

In the petition, McCaslin indicates he would like to run for re-election in the year 2000. Currently, term limits would prevent him from doing so.

Earlier this year, McCaslin said he wouldn’t seek a sixth term in 2000, but noted he has changed his mind several times on the issue before.

, DataTimes