For immediate release
March 9, 2021
Contact: Kenn Quinn, U.S. Term Limits
Phone: 207-713-8700
kquinn@termlimits.com
Maine House Rep. Nathan Wadsworth Introduces Resolution to Term Limit Congress
Augusta, ME — State House Speaker Nathan Wadsworth (District 70) has introduced HP438, a resolution for Maine to join other states in calling for a national convention for proposing a congressional term limits amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The lead senate sponsor is Sen. Richard Bennett (District 19). The effort is supported by the nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit, U.S. Term Limits (USTL).
Along with Rep. Wadsworth, several other members of the state house/senate cosponsored the legislation including Rep. Bruce Bickford (District 63), Rep. Richard Cebra (District 68), Sen. Bradlee Farrin (District 3), Rep. Randall Greenwood (District 82), Rep. Chad Grignon (District 118), Rep. Matthew Harrington (District 19), Sen. Dave Miramant (District 12), and Rep. Heidi Sampson (District 21). Senators supporting the resolution include Sen. Dave Miramant (District 12) and Sen. Bradlee Farrin (District 3).
In addition, twenty-six members of the Maine legislature have signed the pledge to support the term limits on Congress resolution.
According to Nick Tomboulides, Executive Director of USTL, “There are two ways to propose an amendment for term limits: through the Congress or through the states at a national convention. That is why it is important to get support from state legislators, and sponsors like Rep. Wadsworth, to call for a convention to discuss the details of the amendment.”
Tomboulides notes, “75% of Maine voters have rejected the career politician model and want to replace it with citizen leadership. The way to achieve that goal is through a congressional term limits amendment. Wadsworth knows this and is willing to work to make sure we reach our goal.”
A poll conducted by RMG Research shows that of 75% of likely voters in Maine support term limits on Congress, including strong support across party lines. 88% of Republicans, 71% of Democrats, and 58% of independents in the poll support this important election reform.
If passed in both the house and senate this session, Maine will join other states in the call for an Article V convention for the exclusive purpose of proposing term limits on the U.S. Congress. Once 34 state legislatures pass similar resolutions on the topic and approve the term limits amendment, it must be ratified by three-fourths (38) of the states to become part of the U.S. Constitution.
In 1995, the Supreme Court ruled in US Term Limits Inc. v. Thornton that states may not impose qualifications for members of Congress that are stricter than those written in the Constitution. Therefore, the only way to impose term limits on Congress would be through a constitutional amendment.
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U.S. Term Limits is the oldest and largest grassroots term limits advocacy group in the country. We connect term limits supporters with their legislators and work to pass term limits on all elected officials, particularly on the U.S. Congress. Find out more at termlimits.com.