In the Empire State, there’s growing calls for term limits for statewide offices. New York is currently one of only 13 states that doesn’t have term limits for the governor. This is despite polling data that shows over 70 percent of New Yorkers support term limits for the governor and other statewide office holders. That isn’t surprising as New York has seen every statewide office have at least one office holder leave in disgrace over the past 20 years. Our New York State Chair, Liz Whitmer Gereghty, has been working with Unite New York in lobbying the legislature for term limits for statewide offices. Despite our joint efforts and a great lobbying effort, the New York legislature adjourned without acting. But it isn’t over. Our state chair and allies in Unite New York will be actively promoting the issue in the media and getting candidates to sign our pledge. Hi, this is Holly Robichaud with US Term Limits breaking news.
Did you know that US Term Limits is the largest nonpartisan nonprofit organization advocating solely for term limits? Well, we are. Our mission is to improve the quality of government with a citizens legislature that closely reflects its constituency and is responsive to the needs of the people it serves. The US Term Limits pledge is not a self-limiting pledge. Our aim is to limit the terms of all members of Congress as an entire institution. Find out more by going to termlimits.org. Momentum for congressional term limits continues to build nationwide. This year we’ve seen Tennessee and Louisiana join the rosters of states passing our resolution for congressional term limits, and Florida reaffirmed their support. Focus is now centered on North Carolina.
Last year the statehouse passed our term limits resolution, and now we wait for action in the state senate. In Oregon, our state chair Alek Skarlatos was featured on the nationally syndicated Steve Gruber Show discussing why congressional term limits are so popular and what can be done to make it a reality. State legislative candidates across the nation are getting the message that voters want congressional term limits. An additional 62, that’s right 62, 2024 legislative candidates signed our pledge in the past two weeks. Weekly numbers of legislative candidates signing the pledge keeps surging. All of this is due to our outstanding pledge team and the momentum for the issue. They’ve been working over time to get every legislative candidate on board with supporting congressional term limits. Over the past two weeks, an additional 18 congressional candidates signed our US term limits pledge. With the record number of congressional candidates signing the pledge for the 2024 election cycle, that number will exceed our previous records, and we’re so excited about this.
So we are joined today by our Democratic state chair for US term limits in Pennsylvania, Senator Andy Dinniman. Thank you for joining us this morning.
Oh, it’s a pleasure to be here on this important issue.
I really appreciate it. You know, you got involved with this and you know, why of all the issues that… You know that have, as a state senator, you have seen, why did you get involved with term limits?
Because it’s one of the most important of issues, and the public sentiment for term limits is so strong. And also, remember, it was here in Pennsylvania that the Constitution was put together, and it seems to me that Pennsylvania should be on the lead of this issue.
Oh, that’s great. So what… Do you think that term limits, you know, when implemented will change the status quo?
Well, we hope so. The problem now is that the people in Washington are so focused on getting re-elected and so partisan that they forget that they’re there to help the people. And we need something, and I think for change, and term limits is one of the vehicles to create that change.
Yeah. Why is term limits so important to you?
I believe it’s important because what I see happening now is the decay of governance, that people are losing their faith in what the federal government is doing, what Congress is doing, and we have to restore that faith somehow. And by making sure that the people we elect really represent the people and aren’t in there forever, and making sure that everything isn’t geared towards the incumbency and their re-election, term limits does that, and is an important element of changing and restoring faith in democracy in our nation.
Wow, great. I really, you know, like those sentiments. What do you think of people in Pennsylvania think of term limits?
Oh, I think the people in Pennsylvania are very supportive. In fact, even in my own county, I was surprised when I saw the number of people on the list who had signed up for term limits. So I think there’s large support, probably larger support than any other issue in, you know, we’re in a very divisive time in America. And by creating this issue that people all agree on is a way of restoring faith. And if I may add one other thing.
Sure.
I think the work that term limits is doing is very important. But you know, one key to all of this is, is the following. While everything we do softens the field so that we can plow it for success and really grow democracy. Ultimately, what will have to happen since so many of our people in Congress focus on getting re-elected is in some election, either party, we have to create this as the issue and beat the incumbent because as you know, the role of the politician, unfortunately, the bottom line is to get reelected. And once you have a few people lose their elections, then you’ll see a stampede towards term limits by members of Congress. So I congratulate term limits on plowing the field and allowing democracy to grow. But I hope that as we go forward, we could win not only a couple more states so that we get this passed, but also defeat a couple of those in Congress who think that they’re entitled to be there forever. No one in a democracy is entitled to be there forever.
That’s for sure. Well, I wanna thank you for all the work that you do for US term limits and for joining us today. And we appreciate all that hard work and keep going. We need Pennsylvania to join the growing list of states calling for the resolution.
Well, we hope so. And Pennsylvania is a very special state because as you know, it’s a swing state. And we’re in fact, the two parties have come closer together in the recent registration results. And so if Pennsylvania can move, it will be a means and a symbol for other swing states to move in the same direction.
Well, thank you for all of your efforts with you at the helm. I know we’ll get it done.
Well, and remember that my co chair is John Eichelberger of… Another former senator, does an excellent job. In fact, you know, John was one of the most conservative members of the senate and I was a much more moderate member of the senate, two different parties. But we learned as co-chairs, I was minority chair and he was majority chair of education, we learned how to work together. And we’re gonna work together on this issue as well.
All right. Well, I appreciate it. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Now it’s time for an update on United States Senator Bob Gold Bar Menendez. Gold Bar Bob filed paperwork to run for reelection as an independent. That’s right. Despite being on trial for bribery and phasing potential prison time, if convicted, Gold Bar Bob is seeking reelection, and he’s polling between six to 7% of the vote. All this is happening as more revelations about Gold Bar Bob are coming out at trial. Senator Menendez was not even on the FBI’s radar until a special investigator overheard the senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez at Morton’s Steakhouse in Washington. She said, what else can the love of my life do for you? Nadine is also under indictment and facing separate federal trial. Gold Bar Bob is basing his defense strategy on blaming it all on his wife and claiming he knew nothing. He’s running again? See why we need term limits?
Now it’s time for the corrupt politician of the week, and it’s Oklahoma Representative Tom Cole. Representative Cole was first elected in 2002. Before that, he was the Oklahoma Secretary of State for four years. And in the state Senate, he’s no supporter of term limits. Representative Cole bought $1,000 to $15,000 in shares of a medical technology company, Becton, Dickinson and Company in 2019. The following year, that company was awarded a $24 million COVID testing project by the Defense and Health and Human Services Department. Coincidentally, Representative Cole serves on the House Appropriation Committee that oversees the funding for these departments. When contacted by the New York Times, he declined to comment. So disappointing.
We have record number of pledges this election cycle. The polling data is with us. Americans want congressional term limits, and it can become a reality. We’ve got the momentum, but we can’t do it without you. Please go to termlimits.org and get involved today. And be sure to share this program with your friends and family. This is Holly Robichaud for US Term Limits breaking news. I’ll see you soon.