March 3, 2022
Contact: Scott Tillman, U.S. Term Limits
Phone: (321) 345-7455
stillman@termlimits.com
South Carolina State Sen. Penry Gustafson Honored for Term Limits Support
Columbia, SC — South Carolina’s state Senator Penry Gustafson (district 27) was honored with a plaque for his support of term limits on Congress. U.S. Term Limits (USTL), the nation’s oldest and largest pro-term limits group, presented the distinction to Gustafson at the South Carolina capitol earlier this week.
Les and Shanna Chamblee of USTL gave the senator the “Champion of Term Limits” wood plaque which reads, “In recognition of a steadfast commitment to restore citizen government through term limits.” Gustafson has signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge and is the lead sponsor supporting senate concurrent resolution 363 (SCR363). The convention bill does not set the specific length of term limits, rather, it simply starts a discussion among the states on what the ideal term limits of Congressmembers should be.
Under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, the states have more power to amend the Constitution than the Congress does. In this situation, Congress would have a conflict of interest to propose term limits on itself. Recognizing this, the founders assured the states could both propose and ratify amendments without the approval of Congress. SCR363 leverages this power so the states may act in the best interest of the people.
The measure’s summary reads, “Senate Concurrent Resolution 363 applies to the United States Congress for a Convention of the States to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution to impose term limits on members of Congress.”
SCR363 must be approved by the state senate and the state house in order for South Carolina to be counted in the states calling for a term limits convention.
Gustafson is in good company in her commitment. More than 10 state senators have pledged to support SCR363 with many more indicating they will vote to approve it. These senators know that their constituents want term limits on Congress. According to a 2020 poll of voters in the state conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, term limits enjoy wide bipartisan support. In South Carolina 83% of Republicans, 71% of Democrats, and 79% of independents strongly approve of placing term limits on members of Congress.
In addition, there are five members of Congress from the South Carolina delegation, who have signed USTL’s term limits pledge.
Once the amendment is proposed by either Congress or the states at a national convention, it must be ratified by 38 states in order to become part of the U.S. Constitution.
View Gustafson’s signed pledge here.
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U.S. Term Limits is the 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.org.