Iowa freshman lawmakers call for term limits

Sen. Jack Kibbie didn't learn everything he needs to know about being a legislator in his first 16 years on the job.

“Or 31,” the Senate president chuckles.

So it's not surprising that Kibbie doesn't share the enthusiasm of 10 freshmen House members to impose term limits on legislators.

“Let the voters decides,” says Kibbie of Emmetsburg, who was defeated in 1968 after eight years in the Legislature. After 20 years, on the sidelines, he was elected again in 1988.

Rep. Guy Vander Linden, R-Oskaloosa, thinks it's what the voters want. House Joint Resolution 10, which calls for a constitutional amendment limiting legislative service to 16 consecutive years, “is a response to what many of us heard in the campaign.”

“It was probably the most-often mentioned topic when I was out door-knocking,” says Vander Linden.

Joining him as sponsors of the resolution are freshman Republican Reps. Bryan Moore of Zwingle, Jarad Klein of Keota, Bob Hager of Dorchester, Lee Hein of Monticello and Ron Jorgensen of Sioux City as well as freshman Democratic Reps. Dan Kelley of Newton and Mary Wolfe of Clinton. Two veteran Republicans, Reps. Jeff Kaufmann of Wilton and Steve Olson of Calamus, also are co-sponsors.

Six of the 10 GOP freshmen, including Vander Linden, defeated incumbents to get to the Legislature. They are among 29 House freshmen this year.

Still, Vander Linden thinks the ideas is “worthy of more discussion,” so his subcommittee moved the bill to the full State Government Committee.

Rep. Todd Taylor, D-Cedar Rapids, didn't sign off on the resolution in subcommittee. Term limits limit voters' choices, he says.

Term limits also shift the balance of power from elected representative and senators to unelected bureaucrats and lobbyists paid by special interests, Taylor argues.

Rep. Dennis Cohoon, D-Burlington, with 24 years of service is the dean of the House, says some of the lobbyists have been at the Capitol as long as he has.

“Term limits sound good to the average person,” he says, “but the real advantage goes to the special interests.”

That's a concern for House Majority Leader Linda Upmeyer, R-Garner.

“The lobbyists and the bureaucrats stay forever,” she says. “I think the average length of service (for legislators) is about 10 years. I'm not sure it's terrible to have a couple of people around here with some history.”

Redistricting every 10 years is a “great term limiter, too,” Upmeyer adds.

Currently, there are 14 senators and eight representatives with 16 or more years of service. Sen. Wally Horn, D-Cedar Rapids, has 38 years of service in the House and Senate. There are eight freshmen senators.