The BDN’s oddly headlined June 6 editorial, “Maine needs stronger legislative term limits,” makes a good case for abolishing legislative term limits altogether.
As the editorial rightly points out, term limits weaken the legislative branch, the branch of government that should be closest to the people. Thanks to a state House and Senate weakened by inexperience and high turnover, unelected lobbyists, legislative staffers, and employees of executive branch agencies all hold greater sway.
The ability of formerly term-limited legislators to run for different offices, or for the same office after sitting out at least one term, should not be considered a loophole in this poorly conceived law. Rather it is a measure that allows Maine voters greater choice in our elections. In fact, the legislators you mention in the article are not “swapping seats.” They are each running in a contested election that will be determined by the voters in each district.
The idea that service in the Maine Legislature should ever disqualify someone from running for a legislative seat is both bizarre and counterintuitive. In what other arena do we consider experience a dealbreaker? And, as the research the BDN cites shows, in the case of legislative term limits, it’s counterproductive.
Alison Smith
Portland