[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H3853-H3854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    TERM LIMITS: THEIR TIME HAS COME

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Smith] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, we are almost ready to embark on 
a great decision of whether we should have term limits for Members of 
the United States Congress. When George Will writes about term limits, 
he uses a couple of baseball stories to illustrate his point.
  When Earl Weaver was managing the Baltimore Orioles, he used to shove 
his chin into the chest of the umpire and shout at the top of his 
lungs: ``Are you going to get any better, or is this it?'' Well, the 
American people have decided that their Government in Washington is not 
going to get any better, something has to be done, this can't be it.
  When the Washington Senators were owned by Clark Griffith, he said 
one day after the opposing teams had hit a bunch of home runs: ``Fans 
like home runs, and we have assembled a pitching staff to please our 
fans.'' Term limits are a way of correcting this approach to 
Government.
  [[Page H3854]] The foundation of American thought with regard to 
Government goes as far back as the Athenian democracy, but I think it 
owes a good deal to the British political philosopher John Locke, who 
described government as a necessary nuisance to cope with 
inconveniences. Locke's view was we didn't need a powerful government 
to overcome the inability of Americans to deal with each other.
  As with George Will, I have changed my mind on term limits. I now 
believe they are necessary to restore the faith of our Government. 
Alexander Hamilton, in the Federalist Paper No. 68, wrote: ``The true 
test of a good government is its aptitude and tendency.''
  As we look over the last 30 years, what has been the aptitude and 
tendency of this Government? The aptitude and tendency is to borrow, to 
tax, to spend, and to perpetuate ourselves in office.
  For example, this Government has now spent $5 trillion coping with 
our welfare problem. We have resulted in a permanent underclass. We 
have got a Social Security system that is teetering on the brink of 
bankruptcy.
  What have we done for future generations? We have gone into debt $5 
trillion, thinking that what we do
 now is more important than giving them a responsibility to pay for our 
overindulgences. Is this it, or can we do better? I have come to 
believe in term limits only after examining our Government from the 
inside.

  The Founding Fathers were aware of term limits. Mr. Speaker, I wonder 
how many Members of Congress know that term limits existed in the 
Articles of Confederation. While recognizing the inherent problem of 
perpetuating oneself in office, the Founding Fathers did not include 
term limits in our Constitution because at that time it wasn't a very 
fun job. It wasn't pleasant to be in Congress.
  At that time, and they were to a great extent correct, the living 
wasn't good, and it was hot in Washington. It wasn't until after the 
Civil War that we saw the advent of the career politician in 
Washington.
  Today, as we look at the modern Federal Government, it is obvious 
that things have changed. We do not have the citizen legislator that 
the Founders envisioned. We have failed to heed Jefferson's warning 
about public office. He said ``Whenever a man casts a longing eye upon 
them, a rottenness begins in his conduct.''
  The Congress and the rest of the Federal Government has become a 
system of career politicians.
                              {time}  1945

  It is a problem where we now depend on this career for our 
livelihood. Can you imagine the career politician that wants this good-
paying job when it comes to the tough leadership decisions that are 
often asked of Members of Congress? When it becomes a conflict between 
that career and a good-paying job and making the tough decisions, too 
often we see too many taking the easy road to perpetuate their own job 
in office.
  Some people argue that we have term limits now. It is in the ballot 
box. But the reality evident to anyone who takes a look at this system, 
it is heavily weighted towards incumbents.
  Let us look at this last election, which is such a good example, some 
people say, of the power of the people to exercise their own term 
limits. It didn't happen. Most incumbents won. Most of the PAC money 
went to incumbents.
  And it is important, Mr. Speaker, that we do something to make this 
Government better, more responsive to the people. I suggest that 
something is to exercise term limits and our votes to include it in the 
Constitution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Mfume] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  (Mr. MFUME addressed the House. His remarks will appear hereafter in 
the Extensions of Remarks.]


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