For immediate release
March 18, 2021
Contact: Aaron Dukette, U.S. Term Limits
Phone: 859-779-0181
adukette@termlimits.com
West Virginia Senate Committee Passes Resolution to Term Limit Congress
Charleston, WV — Today, the West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee passed HCR9, a resolution declaring that the state legislature seeks to join other states in proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to establish term limits on Congress. The voice vote was overwhelmingly in favor of passage. The effort, sponsored by state Senator Randy Smith and Delegate Jeff Pack, is being spearheaded by the nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit, U.S. Term Limits.
In an op-ed the two lawmakers wrote, “The power of the incumbency has grown so strong that special interest super PACs now give $9 out of every $10 to incumbents over challengers. …It now takes $2.5 million just to establish equal name recognition. This is decades overdue.”
A 2018 poll conducted by McLaughlin & Associates shows that an overwhelming 83% of West Virginia voters approve of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will place term limits on U.S. Senators and U.S. House Representatives. This includes strong support across party lines: 89% of Republicans, 77% of Democrats, and 88% of independents. Large majorities also say that Congress members stay in power for too long, and that they’re more likely to support state lawmakers who help advance congressional term limits.
U.S. Term Limits President Philip Blumel commended the members of the West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee saying, “The people of West Virginia are lucky to have public servants who see what is going on in D.C. and are willing to take action to fix it. They know that Congress won’t set term limits on itself. Therefore, it is the obligation of the states to do so.”
Once the senate floor passes the resolution, West Virginia will join other states in the call for a convention for the exclusive purpose of proposing term limits on the U.S. Congress. Thirty-four state legislatures must pass similar resolutions on the topic and approve the term limits amendment before it goes to the states for ratification.
The West Virginia House passed the same resolution earlier this week.
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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.