For immediate release
January 29, 2019
Contact: Scott Tillman
Email: stillman@termlimits.com
Phone: (321) 345-7455
Sen. Whiting Sponsors Term Limits Resolution in Iowa
Des Moines, IA – Sen. Zach Whiting (District 1) is leading the way in Iowa to term limit the U.S. Congress by introducing a resolution for a national term limits amendment proposal convention. The resolution, SJR11, was filed today and was referred to the committee on State Government. Not only did Senator Whiting file a resolution to term limit the U.S. Congress, he also filed a term limits resolution to term limit the Iowa state legislature (SJR4).
“Term limits are an important tool that can be used to help bring greater accountability to elected officials at all levels–federal, state, and local. Our focus as elected officials should be on service before self, not perpetuity in elected office,” says Whiting. He continued, “Accordingly, I am proud to sponsor constitutional amendments related to term limits for both members of Congress and state legislators in Iowa.”
On the federal level, 34 state legislatures can team up for a convention to propose a congressional term limits amendment to the Constitution. The Term Limits Convention effort is being shepherded by the nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization U.S. Term Limits.
According to Nick Tomboulides, Executive Director of USTL, “There are two ways to propose an amendment for term limits: through the Congress or through the states at a national convention. That is why it is important to get support from state legislators, and sponsors like Senator Whiting, to call for a convention to discuss the details of the amendment.” Once proposed, the amendment must be ratified by 38 states in order to become law.
Tomboulides notes, “More than 82% of Americans have rejected the career politician model and want to replace it with citizen leadership. The way to achieve that goal is through a congressional term limits amendment. Whiting knows this and is willing to work to make sure we reach our goal.”
Philip Blumel, President of U.S. Term Limits said, “Iowa citizens should be proud to have Senator Whiting fighting for term limits at both the state and federal level.”
According to the last nationwide poll on term limits conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, conducted in January 2018, term limits enjoys wide bipartisan support. McLaughlin’s analysis states, “Support for term limits is broad and strong across all political, geographic and demographic groups. An overwhelming 82% of voters approve of a constitutional amendment that will place term limits on members of Congress.”
There are twelve states that have passed resolutions for a national amendment proposal convention specifically naming term limits in the subject. In a divided political climate, term limits is the one true non-partisan issue that both President Trump and former President Obama have publicly endorsed.
View the text of the congressional term limits bill (SJR11) here.
View the text of the Iowa state term limits bill (SJR4) here.
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U.S. Term Limits is the largest and oldest 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.