Hutchison Has Complex History With Term Limits
The temptation is to depict a struggle between two Kays. In one corner, Kay Bailey Hutchison circa 1993, the one who bluntly stated, “If Texans send me to the Senate I will serve only two full terms.” In the other, a present day Hutchison who, in the middle of her promised-never-to-happen third term, has the audacity to sign on to a bill, as she did last week, that would set congressional term limits (the latest version, by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC, advocates 12 years in the Senate and six in the House).
Hutchison’s rivals are quick to ...
Comments (5)
TexasDems
How about both Perry and Hutchison adhere to a two-term limit and step down at the next election? I personally endorse this idea with great vim and great vigor!
ggshein
The story is confusing and too long. Most of Reeve's stories could use some editing.
Trei
FWIW, I don't think the story is confusing or too long.
However, I would say that Kay Bailey's stance on term limits is confusing and she's been our senator too long.
wentlandt
It smacks of hubris when sitting pols suggest that their political lives are vital to pushing pet projects through. I don't mean to impugn Carol Alvarado's work, and I understand it sometimes takes a true cause champion to push for changes in underserved communities, but by refusing to let go of a seat, even the most well-meaning incumbents give the impression that anybody other themselves is somehow ill-equipped to tackle an agenda--specifically an agenda embraced by community for which they serve.
Just because a freshman pol has yet to discover where all the bodies are buried does not mean they can't carry the torch of the community as they learn.
rutledd1
I second Trei's opinion on the length and coherence of the article.
While the power of incumbency is strong, I think the voters know well enough to hold on to people they like without the Constitution forcing their hand. In 1994, 34 Democratic incumbents lost, and in 2006, 30 Republicans lost. Just this year, the incumbent Corzine lost the gubernatorial election in New Jersey.
Just because Republicans in the 1990s were frustrated that they couldn't take out entrenched Democrats doesn't mean that the officeholders should be disallowed from becoming entrenched. It's very easy to paint incumbency as a one-sided deal, where the politicians slither their way into a lifetime appointment. But they can't do it without the voters' help.