New Hampshire OKs Term Limits for Congress

The New Hampshire House voted on Tuesday to send career politicians packing by limiting the terms of the state’s members of Congress.

The bill was sent by a 203-148 vote to Gov. Steve Merrill, who says he will sign it. The state Senate passed it unanimously earlier.

Twenty-two other states already have limited congressional terms, and New Hampshire’s bill says it will not take effect unless a total of 25 states adopt term limits.

While other states have passed term-limit measures by voter referendums, Merrill’s signature would make New Hampshire the first to do it through the Legislature.

The bill limits members of the U.S. House to three consecutive two-year terms, or six years, and senators to two six-year terms, or 12 years, starting in 1996. They could return to office for later terms.

Congress has dropped the idea of national term limits, for now. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling expected by summer could repeal congressional term limits in every state that has them so far.