[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E243-E244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              TERM LIMITS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LINDA SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 1997

  Mrs. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Chairman, today I will vote against the 
seven term limits amendments to the U.S. Constitution which were 
offered by Members of Congress who represent States which have passed 
term limits referendums. According to these so-called scarlet letter 
proposals, if a Member of Congress from one of these States failed to 
vote in favor of the exact term limit proposal approved in the 
referendum, the phrase ``violated voter instruction on term limits'' 
would be printed next to the Member's name on future ballots.
  I am a strong supporter of term limits. I cosponsored House Joint 
Resolution 3 in the 104th and 105th Congress which would limit terms in 
the House to three terms and two terms in the Senate.
  Nevertheless, I opposed the scarlet letter proposals because the way 
these referendums are drafted, they preclude Members of Congress in 
scarlet letter ballot States from voting for any other version than the 
one approved

[[Page E244]]

by the voters. While I respect the voters' will to impose term limits 
and return to a citizen legislature, I believe the scarlet letter 
initiative is ill-conceived. By dictating the exact language of the 
amendment rather than providing the desired general terms, the 
referendum precludes Members from voting for amendments which would 
accomplish the same thing.
  Today I supported three different proposals including: First the 
McCollum base bill which sets a lifetime limit of six terms in the 
House and two terms in the Senate; second, the Fowler amendment which 
sets four consecutive terms in the House and two consecutive terms in 
the Senate; and third, the Scott amendment which sets a lifetime limit 
of six terms in the House and two terms in the Senate while also giving 
States the right to enact shorter terms. I believe these are each 
viable and reasonable proposals.
  We need legislators in Washington, DC, more concerned about the well-
being of the Nation than building their own political empire. Term 
limits will eliminate career politicians who, through the benefits of 
incumbency and cozy relationships with special interests, have stacked 
the deck against challengers.
  While term limitations are a blunt instrument, I hope they will help 
bring to Congress citizen legislators interested in serving their 
country for a limited time and returning to private life where they too 
must live by the laws they have created.

                          ____________________