June 3, 2021
Contact: Ken Quinn, U.S. Term Limits
Phone: (207) 713-8700
kquinn@termlimits.com
Pennsylvania State Senator Daniel Laughlin Honored for Term Limits Support
Harrisburg, PA — Pennsylvania’s state senator Daniel Laughlin (district 49) was honored with a plaque for supporting term limits on Congress. U.S. Term Limits (USTL), the nation’s oldest and largest pro-term limits group, presented the distinction to Laughlin at the Pennsylvania capitol earlier this week.
Mike Riley of USTL gave Laughlin the “Champion of Term Limits” wood plaque which reads, “In recognition of a steadfast commitment to restore citizen government through term limits.” Laughlin has pledged to support senate resolution 127 (SR127). The convention bill does not set the specific length of term limits, rather, it opens 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. Congress proposing term limits on itself presents a conflict of interest. Recognizing this, the founders assured the states could both propose and ratify amendments without the approval of Congress. SR127 leverages this constitutionally granted authority so the states may act in the best interest of the people.
Sponsored by Pennsylvania house representative Ryan Mackenzie, the SR127’s summary reads, “Calling for an amendment to the Constitution of the United States via a Convention of the States, pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States, establishing term limits for members of Congress.”
While this is technically termed “application,” For Article V resolutions passed by the states, the role of the federal government is purely ministerial, as the federal legislative branch has no authority to veto applications.
SR127 must be approved by both chambers of the state legislature in order for Pennsylvania to be counted among the states calling for a term limits convention.
Laughlin is in good company, more than 17 state lawmakers have pledged to approve SR127. These legislators realize that an overwhelming majority of their constituents want term limits on Congress. According to a recent poll by McLaughlin & Associates, 79% of likely voters in Pennsylvania support term limits on Congress, including strong support across partly lines. 78% of Republicans, 79% of Democrats, and 77% of independents support the reform.
In addition, there are six members of Congress from the Pennsylvania legislature including Senator Pat Toomey, 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 Laughlin’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.
