Ease the Term Limits Law

Bob Hertzberg (D-Sherman Oaks) took office as speaker of the California Assembly less than two months ago, and his junior colleagues already are jockeying to succeed him. Under the state’s term limits law, Hertzberg was a lame duck the minute he got the job. By the time he masters the office, he’ll probably be looking for another office.

Excessive turnover is a byproduct of legislative term limits approved by voters in 1990. Ten years later it’s evident that the initiative measure is having a dramatic effect on the Legislature, but not in ways that the voters intended. The severe term limits adopted by voters--eight years in the Senate and six in the Assembly--are not working in the state’s interest and should be changed.

No one is suggesting outright repeal. Lawmakers assume--probably correctly--that term limits are still popular with the public. But a broad coalition of interest groups, from Common Cause to the state Chamber of Commerce, believes the Legislature’s work could be significantly improved by easing the limits, the most severe in the nation. Sen. Don Perata (D-Alameda) is sponsoring SCA 20, which would allow both senators and Assembly members to serve a maximum of 12 years--three four-year terms in the Senate and six two-year terms in the Assembly.

This change would give the Legislature badly needed stability but bar a seat from becoming a virtual sinecure--the major goal of the 1990 initiative. The Perata measure, and a companion amendment by Assemblyman Lou Papan (D-Millbrae), would put the issue on the November ballot. Statewide officers still would be limited to two four-year terms.

Term limits have done some good. The constant changing of chairs has infused the Legislature with fresh talent, members experienced in local government, and more women and minorities. But that benefit is more than offset by the lack of continuity, the loss of institutional memory, the departure of the most knowledgeable legislative staffers and the requirement for on-the-job training for new committee chairs and other leaders.

Worse still is the lack of incentive for attacking long-range state problems. Short-term legislators will not invest time and political capital in major issues when they know they will be out of office before they can see a project through.

California needs a few more good men and women for a few more years.