Legislators May Overrule Voters On Term Limits Lawmakers Considering Five Proposals To Undo 1994 Term Limits Initiative

Legislators have launched their campaign to repeal term limits that voters imposed on them and other state and local elected officials in Idaho in 1994, and reaffirmed last November.

With just four dissenting votes, the 21-member House State Affairs Committee this week approved introduction of repeal legislation sponsored by committee Chairman John Tippets and House Speaker Bruce Newcomb.

North Idaho Reps. Jeff Alltus, R-Hayden, and Jim Stoicheff, D-Sandpoint, voted no. Reps. June Judd, D-St. Maries, and John Campbell, R-Sandpoint, voted in favor of introduction.

Republican Rep. David Callister of Boise charged that Tippets was being disingenuous after pushing last year to put an advisory measure on the ballot to again test public sentiment on the issue.

The non-binding referendum found 53 percent support for continuing term limits on city, county and school district officials, legislators and state-wide elected officers.

“Inherent in the asking is that we give a darn about the answer,” Callister said. “Apparently we don’t.”

But Tippets said he pledged last year only to analyze the electorate’s response and act accordingly, not to adhere to the result of a close vote that many contend was heavily influenced by out-of-state spending.

The leadership proposal brings the number of term limits bills being considered in the Legislature this year to five. Alltus and Stoicheff are co-sponsoring a measure to let local voters remove limits on city, county or school officials. That measure is backed by Donna Weaver, chairwoman of Hayden Lake-based Citizens for Term Limits.

Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, has introduced a bill to remove the limits from school boards. Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, wrote one to remove the limits from any unpaid officials.

Another measure would remove the limits from county elected officials.