A few thoughts on the term limit changes/financial disclosure amendment that #MILeg voted to put on the ballot yesterday and why I was a yes (🧵):
Firstly, this was a vote to simply put the measure on the ballot. Nothing effectually changed yesterday, and I want that part to be clear. But given the conversations over the last several years I've had with constituents, I know this is a matter people are passionate about...
and should have the ability to vote on. Regarding the term limits piece, this would change the current limits (3 two-year terms in House, two 4-year terms in Senate, 14 years total) to a total of 12 years in/between either chamber. Term limits have had many negative effects,...
chief among them that there is little to no institutional knowledge among actual elected officials and issues that take a long time to address get neglected. There's also a disproportionate focus on what comes next. I've told stories about how...
as soon as I was elected to my first term, I was asked if I was going to run for the Senate. By allowing folks to stay in one chamber for the duration of the 12 allowable years, it helps them build bipartisan relationships, cultivate an area of expertise,...
and keeps them focused on the job they're currently doing, not what comes after. On the financial disclosure piece, it's far from what I would prefer. It still allows for the use of many loopholes that many legislators (most recently Lee Chatfield) take advantage of...
regarding travel and gifts. But it's worth noting that at this time, there is NO financial disclosure requirement in MI. I have watched legislators on both sides of the aisle vote for legislation that would benefit them personally with no consequence and, more importantly...
no established recourse to begin with. The public financial disclosure in this constitutional amendment will not solve all of our ethics issues, but it will be helpful in addressing many of the conflict of interest issues that currently arise. ...
This amendment is far from perfect both when it comes to term limit reform and financial disclosure, but I do believe it's a positive step to address some of the problems these issues have created, and I think that the people of MI should be able to vote on it in November. /
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