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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Term Limits Issue Headed For Statewide Advisory Vote Governor Fails To Sign Measure, But It’ll Be On Ballots Anyway

Gov. Phil Batt did not put his signature on a bill that puts the question of term limits on the November ballot.

The measure, which was enacted without Batt’s pen, calls for an advisory vote on whether Idaho’s 1994 term limits law should remain on the books.

Batt supported a bill sponsored by Rep. Jeff Alltus, R-Hayden, that would have given local communities the ability to opt out of term limits for city, county and school district officials. But the House State Affairs Committee axed Alltus’ proposal, opting to send House Bill 644 through the Legislature and to the governor.

The state’s term limits law has faced criticism since the U.S. Supreme Court exempted federal officials. The ruling left state, county, municipal and school district term limits on the books.

“I signed it into law when it came along (in 1994), not realizing it came right down to gopher commissioners,” Batt said Tuesday.

Many people believe the 1994 law was passed only because of its federal restrictions, not because of the limits placed on local elected officials.

That’s why Alltus, an avid term limits supporter, tried to give local voters the chance to decide the fate of term limits. He said a majority of voters in only nine counties voted against term limits in the 1994 election.

“It was a big war in State Affairs, me and the people vs. House leadership,” Alltus said. “And I lost.” The state vote will be only advisory - meaning it won’t change the law. But legislators could use the results to help decide if the term limits law needs amending.

, DataTimes