00:39 Term Limits Empower Women & Increase Voter Turnout — Nick Tomboulides and Philip Blumel
Voters are cynical and disillusioned of the political process. Two in three Americans say they would fire the entire Congress if they could. How do we restore faith in our congressional institution? One way is to make our Congress more representative of the people. Another is to give the voters more choice at the ballot box.
America has one of the lowest voter turnouts in the world. Two recent studies show that term limits can make our elections more meaningful.
STUDY: Term limits increase voter turnout – Daniel C. Lewis, Siena College and Robynn Kuhlmann, University of Central Missouri
- More voters go to the polls when there are more meaningful choices. Most incumbents run unopposed.
- They also spend more time voting on down ballot races in term limits states
03:20 We salute Article V of the Constitution on Constitution Day — Stacey Selleck
How may the Constitution be amended? Both the federal government and the state legislatures have equal power to propose amendments. However, only the states may ratify amendments. Our goal is to get the states to use their constitutional power to impose term limits on Congress using Article V of the Constitution.
06:43 Term Limits Provide Greater Opportunity for Women — Nick Tomboulides and Philip Blumel
Despite being one half of the population, women make up about one-quarter of the state legislators. Why are political bodies not representative of the makeup of the citizenry? According research by Samantha Pettey, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Women do not sense there is an opportunity because the power of incumbency is so strong and there are barriers to entry. Women feel deterred when going up against powerful, career insiders and they don’t have a chance to win. With term limits there is about a 40% increase in women running for office.
08:50 Term Limits Results in Primary Elections — Staff
Nearly 40% of all elections were uncontested. Maine was the worst state this cycle with more than 83% of the elections having no real choices.
10:16 Chuck Grassley, Senior Senator from Iowa, Turns 85 — Philip Blumel
Poster child for term limits, Grassley, was elected 59 years ago. Senator Grassley has never won an election with less than 65% of the vote as an incumbent. He refuses to sign the term limits pledge or to cosponsor the term limits amendment resolution in Congress. It’s no wonder Sen. Grassley has earned an “F” grade on the USTL Legislator Report Card.
13:17 Women Are Adverse to the Idea of Becoming Career Politicians Says Research from Pettey — Nick Tomboulides and Philip Blumel
Term limits enhance the ability of women to serve and return back to society to their responsibilities.
14:25 Arkansas Term Limits with Phil and Nick
Talk Business & Politics and Hendrix College Poll surveyed 1,701 statewide likely voters, conducted on Sept. 5-7, 2018 on Issue 3 to limit the terms of state legislature. Overwhelming support: 67% Yes, 18% No
U.S. Term Limits and Remington Research Group 69% support tighter term limits, only 18% Opposed. We drilled deeper than that. We asked if making Arkansas term limits the very strictest in the nation would affect your vote. 55% said they would be MORE LIKELY to vote to support the amendment. Arkansas has been rife with corruption so Arkansans are ready to vote in favor of stricter term limits.
When politicians weakened the term limits in 2014, the measure was placed into a so called anti-corruption package, buried deep in a tome with misleading language that sounded as if they were voting to establish term limits rather than weaken them. Called the Arkansas Ethics, Transparency and Financial Reform Amendment, it was a double-deception. Not only did it gut term limits, they also gave themselves a 120% pay raise. “The Arkansas Democrat Gazette” called it the “Outrage of the Year.”
18:35 Arlington Texas City Council Backs Down — Interview with Zack Maxwell, founder of the Arlington Voice
The citizens of Arlington finally said “enough is enough” we want change in this community. They garnered 11,433 signatures to put a term limits initiative on the ballot. Maxwell mobilized a movement of citizen groups who were continuously getting crushed by the city council and accomplished the ballot signature drive in 10 weeks.
The Mayor paid agitator goons to derail the volunteers and citizens signing the petition. Once it was clear the measure would be on the ballot, the City Council rushed a watered down version of term limits to compete with the citizens’ initiative. Maxwell’s team won a restraining order because the council short-circuited the legal protocols to place their measure on the ballot.
The City Council scheduled a rare meeting at 7pm on a Sunday to vote to suspend the rules of the city in order to skirt the restraining order and put their weaker term limits on the ballot the day of the deadline. Maxwell’s team went full force demanding resignations of the council members and the Mayor. After two hours of citizen castigation, the council accepted defeat and killed its own bill. It was a midnight hour move with all the fire power save the pitchforks and torches. Politicians win when the citizens roll over. Bravo residents of Arlington, Texas for standing up against a tyrannical government.
MUSIC CREDITS – Full versions of the music sampled during this podcast may be purchased via iTunes at the following links :
“People Have The Power” written by Patti Smith & Fred “Sonic” Smith as performed by Patti Smith, “Pigs (Three Different Ones)” written by Roger Waters as performed by Pink Floyd, “Back On The Chain Gang” written by Chrissie Hynde as performed by The Pretenders
The “No Uncertain Terms” podcast is produced by Duke Decter for U.S. Term Limits
Executive Producer Philip Blumel (President, U.S. Term Limits)