OTHER COMMENTARY : A Sentence to Back Benches

While I understand the public’s frustration with the system, term limits are not the proper cure. There are more appropriate means of ensuring turnover and restoring faith in the process. One is meaningful campaign-finance reform, including reducing rates for political advertising and challenging the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1976 ruling equating campaign spending with free speech. Last year, I proposed spending limits on California races to challenge the court decision, and I’ll push the legislation again this time.

The most needed change is true grass-roots politics. I was told by all the “experts” not to challenge an incumbent two years ago. Incumbents can be defeated (four Assembly members lost last week), but challengers need spirited grass-roots campaigns.

Why hard work instead of term limits? Because some incumbents should be booted out, but the good ones should stay awhile. As a freshman legislator, I turned to experienced colleagues for advice on complex policy issues. Who will all the freshmen in 1997 turn to after Proposition 140 takes effect? Lobbyists representing special interests, rather than a colleague who represents the public interest and who has built up expertise in key issue areas.