Legislature needs term limits

The governor, mayor, school boards, and assemblies, all have term limits. Why in the world would the people of Alaska continue to allow 60 individuals to be able to make a political career for themselves to be able to rule over the people, and dictate, according to their will, the ways in which to best run the peoples state, and to dictate how we are to live and conduct our lives?

Year after year, these same people tend to ignore the will of the people, and impose what “they” deem best. They are allowed to get away with this because the people keep electing the same people, not realizing or knowing the day to day workings of the political machine known as the Alaska Legislature. The same people year after year provides for no diversity of participation by others. They become arrogant, stubborn and self servant.

They spend too much time crafting their political careers in the legislature, taking too much time away from what they are elected to do, which is supposed to be primarily minimal lawmaking, reviewing and doing away with unneeded or outdated laws, approving people for commissions and boards, as well as, to craft an appropriate annual state budget. The Alaska legislature continually and consistently demonstrates a lack of “spirit of compromise,” primarily exhibited by the majority. Therefore, I believe it is time for, and in the best interest of the people of the state of Alaska, to set legislature term limits, thereby bringing in a more diverse group of individuals, as well as, new ideas, and a better spirit of compromise to better implement the will of the people. This will foster better problem solving and attract more different kinds of people and ideas, better representing the diverse peoples of Alaska. Term limits force change!

Proposal: Two term limits in both House and Senate. If an individual serves two terms in the House or Senate, or one, they must then sit out that number of term(s) which they served, and then can seek office again. However, if an individual serves two terms in one branch of the legislature, they can still seek office in the other branch of the legislature concurrently, however, they then must wait four consecutive terms before seeking office again, having served four consecutive terms in the legislature.

No person who has served in the legislature, having served a term, or terms, as described above, and is in involved in the wait period of time before they can seek office again, shall by no means be able to be “appointed” into either body of the legislature until their wait period of time has ended.

More in Opinion

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, a Nikiski Republican, speaks during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Sen. Jesse Bjorkman: Protecting workers, honoring the fallen

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, a Soldotna Republican who co-chairs the House Education Committee, speaks during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge: Supporting correspondence programs

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

The Alaska State Capitol on March 1. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: We support all students

In the last month of session, we are committed to working together with our colleagues to pass comprehensive education reform

Rep. Ben Carpenter, a Nikiski Republican, speaks during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Ben Carpenter: Securing Alaska’s economic future through tax reform

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Alaska House makes the right decision on constitutionally guaranteed PFD

The proposed amendment would have elevated the PFD to a higher status than any other need in the state

Rep. Justin Ruffridge, a Soldotna Republican who co-chairs the House Education Committee, speaks during floor debate of a joint session of the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, March 18, 2024. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rep. Justin Ruffridge: Creating a road map to our shared future

Capitol Corner: Legislators report back from Juneau

An array of solar panels stand in the sunlight at Whistle Hill in Soldotna, Alaska, on Sunday, April 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Renewable Energy Fund: Key to Alaska’s clean economy transition

AEA will continue to strive to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to provide a brighter future for all Alaskans.

Mount Redoubt can be seen acoss Cook Inlet from North Kenai Beach on Thursday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: An open letter to the HEA board of directors

Renewable energy is a viable option for Alaska

Most Read