[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E733]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          THE TERM LIMITS VOTE

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                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 29, 1995
  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, over the last 2 days, the House of 
Representatives has been riveted by a fiery debate over term limits. 
One of the most intriguing aspects of the debate was the absence of 
partisianship that characterized the other legs of the Contract With 
America.
  We have heard heartfelt arguments from Members on both sides of this 
contentious issue. Many of the most compelling arguments against the 
concept were made by Members of the Republican Party.
  After listening to these arguments, I will cast my vote against term 
limits. I will do so because term limits are not necessary, and they 
will lead to harmful unintended consequences.
  There is a better alternative that will improve representation on 
Capitol Hill. That alternative is to keep our faith in those we 
represent. House Members face term limits every 2 years when we stand 
for reelection. Every 2 years, our records are scrutinized and our 
constituents have to make the choice about whether or not to return us 
to Congress.
  They do a good job weeding out those who they no longer want to 
represent them. For example, half of all House seats have changed hands 
in the nineties.
  Term limits are not necessary. On this, I agree wholeheatedly with 
the eloquence of one of the most distinguished Republicans in the 
House, Representative Henry Hyde of Illinois, who called term limits 
the ``dumbing down of democracy.'' He is absolutely right--the people 
of Wisconsin's Fourth District are smart enough not to need artificial 
constraints on the exercise of their democratic right to vote for 
whoever they please.
  Term limits are not the answer to reducing barriers to running for 
Congress. That answer is clearly campaign finance reform. Campaign 
finance reform would give challengers access to the financial, media, 
and other resources necessary to mount a meaningful and competitive 
campaign. We should have spent this week on that topic, not term 
limits.
  Term limit proponents rail against an entrenched Congress and allege 
that power corrupts Members. In fact, the entrenched Congress is a 
myth. The average length of service for House Members is 7.5 years. 
That level is well below the 12-year limit proposed by leading term 
limits proposals.
  And, term limits will not magically lead to the election of 
upstanding men and women who will resist corruption. Term limits cannot 
change human nature. It is ridiculous to argue that scandals would not 
occur if term limits were in effect.
  As for unintended consequences, term limits will lead to two. First, 
they will usher in an even more powerful world of special interests. 
Power will shift from elected and accountable Members to unelected and 
unaccountable congressional staff, lobbyists, and bureaucrats. 
Lobbyists will write their own laws and will use their expertise and 
institutional memory to feed on a never-ending rotation of 
inexperienced Members.
  Second, if term limits had been in existence, Wisconsin would have 
been deprived of many of the banner achievements of Senator Robert 
LaFollette who spent 22 years in the Senate. Similarly, we would not 
have had Senator William Proxmire's 32 years of service. And, my 
predecessor, Congressman Clem Zablocki, would not have been able to 
serve the Fourth District in an outstanding fashion for 34 years. 
Members like these are invaluable both to their constituents and to the 
Nation as a whole.
  For all these reasons, I voted against term limits. It is a cynical 
constraint on the rights of the people I represent, and I could not 
lend the limitation my support.


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