Feinstein, McConnell, Menendez Under Fire: Voters Demanding Term Limits

In the Keystone State, Representative Jared Solomon is leading the way in Pennsylvania to Term Limits members of Congress. Representative Solomon has filed House Resolution 183 this week. Hi, am Holly Robichaud, and this is Breaking News on Term limits.

The Republican presidential debate is just around the corner. It’ll be aired on Fox News on August 24th in Milwaukee. We’re asking Fox to ask each candidate if they support US Term Limits presidential pledge. So far, former South Carolina Governor and United Nations ambassador, Nikki Haley, and tech entrepreneur, Vivek Ramaswamy, have signed the pledge. Other candidates, such as Ron DeSantis, who has been a long-term supporter of the US Term Limits, have indicated that they support term limits on Congress, but yet have not signed the pledge. We’re urging all of these candidates from both political parties to sign the US Term Limits presidential pledge. In Kentucky, Senator Mitch McConnell, age 81, has had major health scare over the past two weeks when he froze for 15 seconds when speaking to members of the media. He was recently at the Fancy Farm picnic, an annual Kentucky political event, was drowned out with boos, chants of retire, “Ditch Mitch,” and, “Shame on you.” McConnell is the oldest-serving party leader in the Senate history. He’s fallen at least three times this year, a source close to McConnell told USA today. He has suffered a concussion, broken ribs after a fall in March. McConnell was first elected in 1984. Did you know that the United States currently has four senators age 80 or older? Isn’t it time for some fresh blood?

The age and health of members of Congress is once again in the news. California Senator, Dianne Feinstein, first elected in 1992, now age 89, was caught on camera unaware of a piece of legislation she was voting on and was told how to vote by an aide. She’s now been hospitalized again. Earlier this year, as you know, she missed over two months due to hospitalization. The media reported this past week that she’s given power of attorney to her daughter, but has opted to stay in the Senate. Giving someone power of attorney is generally done when someone is experiencing a decline in health to the extent that they can’t properly function. Feinstein transferring power of attorney to her daughter indicates that her cognitive functions have further declined. This is not the first instance of her cognitive skills being questioned. Political reported an aide is always with her ’cause she doesn’t recognize her Senate colleagues anymore. In fact, she has to have someone with her telling her how to vote pretty much all the time.

In Mississippi, primary elections were held on August 8th. It was a great night for term limits. 13 signers of the US Term Limits pledge for state legislative candidates won election unopposed. 11 more advanced to the November general election, winning their party’s nomination. These victories are added to those we’ve already saw earlier this year in Virginia, in New Jersey. We’re on the move.

Now for a follow-up on a previous corrupt politician of the week, the New York Times reports that New Jersey Senator, Robert Menendez, is under investigation by the Justice Department for the second time in less than a decade. And this time, his wife is also in prosecutors’ cross hair. The new inquiry, led by US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, appears to be focused at least in part on the possibility that either the senator or his wife received undisclosed gifts from a company run by a friend of Mrs. Menendez, and that those gifts might have been given in exchange for political favors, according to subpoenas that have been issued in the case.

Oh boy, it’s time for term limits. Things are very busy out in North Dakota. As I mentioned last week retired Congress North Dakota is gathering signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would prohibit anyone age 80 or older from being elected to Congress from North Dakota. The proposed amendment, if passed, would not impact any current North Dakota Congressional office holders eligible for reelection in 2024. Retired Congress is launching this ballot initiative as the public questions the ability of many office holders in Washington. Without congressional term limits in the federal Constitution preventing members from serving indefinitely, many in Congress hold their positions for life. Polling shows that large numbers of Americans favor age term limits on members of Congress.

Now it’s time for the corrupt politician of the week. This week, Representative Steven Palazzo of Mississippi makes our list. First elected to Congress in 2010 after serving in the Mississippi State House, and he’s no friend of term limits. Palazzo fraudulently sought to discharge from the National Guard based on false claims of financial, family, and community hardships. The Campaign Legal Center has asked Congress to investigate Palazzo for potentially violating campaign finance laws by channeling six-figure donors’ money to family-owned businesses. Serving in Congress shouldn’t be about enriching oneself. This is why we need term limits, once again.

Today, we’re joined by Taffy Howard, who is our South Dakota chair. We’re so excited about having her on board and so glad that she could make time to talk with us about the importance of term limits. Good morning. How are you, Taffy?

Good morning, Holly. I’m doing great.

Great. So why did you get involved with term limits?

Term Limits is a great, great organization, a great concept that we need to push forward. We need to drain the swamp. We have so many people in DC that need to go home. I think, looking through some of the material on term limits, hundreds of representatives, like half the Senate, would turn over if we had term limits. Imagine the new ideas, the fresh ideas. Imagine the people that we could get in there. And then I also come at it from personal experience. I did just run for Congress last year. I challenged an incumbent. They have the DC money. It’s almost impossible. So we need to encourage those grassroots folks to get involved in politics, but it’s really hard. But term limits will help that. So part of it is personal, part of it is, this is something that is supported by almost everyone. I think over 82% of the population supports term limits. Correct me if I’m wrong. [chuckle]

Yes, yes. You’re right.

Yeah. So it’s hugely popular, and there’s a reason for that, because we’re sick and tired of seeing people like Pelosi, all the rest of them, [chuckle] for way too long. So it’s time to clean house.

Great. Great. Why is term limits… Why do you think it’s so important that we get this amendment passed and why you’re working so hard in South Dakota?

Well, it’s important because these guys are not gonna leave on their own. They’re addicted to the money. They’re addicted to the power. So we have to do this. The people have to rise up and say, “Enough is enough. You were not meant to be career politicians. Our founding fathers never intended for this to be a career.” And yet we have people… I mean, they literally come out of college wanting to go into politics, wanting to run for office and wanting that to be their career. They don’t go into the real world. They don’t start businesses. They don’t contribute to our economy. So it’s time we take the reins into our own hands and we send them packing.

All right. I couldn’t agree with you more. So how do people in South Dakota feel about term limits?

Overwhelmingly, they support it. Overwhelmingly. Like I said earlier, 82% of the population of the country, I think over 82%, supports it. In South Dakota, I would definitely say that’s higher. But the people overwhelmingly support this. So it was an easy thing to get involved in because it is so wanted here.

Great. Well, I wanna thank you for all the work that you’re doing. You’ve been a terrific state chair, and you’re really helping us move the issue forward in South Dakota. So thank you for joining us today.

Thank you, Holly. Thanks for having me, and thank you for all you’re doing.

Thank you. Talk to you soon.

Had enough of corrupt politicians? It’s time for some fresh blood in Washington, DC. Don’t you agree? Well, we’re looking for volunteers. We need volunteers at every single state. So please go to termlimits.org and get involved today, because we can’t do it without your support. So please go to termlimits.org and get involved. And be sure to share this program every week with your friends and family, and stay tuned. I’m Holly Robichaud. We’ll see you next week with Breaking News on Term Limits.