[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 59 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                               TERM LIMITS

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                           HON. WAYNE ALLARD

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 30, 1995
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a historic day. For the first 
time in history, the House of Representatives debated and voted on term 
limits for its Members. I have and continue to be a strong supporter of 
term limits. Term limits would help to deter Members from acting in a 
career-oriented, self interested manner and would promote decisions for 
the public good. In short, term limits would make legislators more 
responsive to the people.
  The support for term limits has been demonstrated by the 22 State 
term limits initiatives and polls showing 70 percent or more approval 
by the public. My State of Colorado was the first State to enact limits 
in 1990 with a 12-year limit and in 1994 with a 6-year House limit.
  Four versions of term limits were offered yesterday. In the end, it 
was the Colorado law that I voted in favor of. I voted against the 
Dingell-Peterson 12-12 years amendment because it was retroactive, 
which has been rejected by States, and also because it would supersede 
all State term limit laws. I voted in favor of the Inglis 6-12 yeas 
amendment because it was the same as the Colorado provision, 6 years 
for House Members and 12 years for Senators. I also voted in favor of 
the Van Hilleary 12-12 year amendment because it would not supersede 
any State term limit law. This amendment would have kept the Colorado 
term limit law in place. I voted against the McCollum 12-12 years 
version because it would have superseded all other State term limit 
laws.
  I believe the voters of Colorado who voted for 6 years in the House 
and 12 years in the Senate know best. The Federal Government should 
respect the desires of each State. The McCollum amendment was flawed 
because it would have nullified all other State limits. If either the 
Inglis or Hilleary amendments had made it to final passage I would have 
enthusiastically voted yes. In my view, they were the only acceptable 
term limits proposals the House debated.


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