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Amid renewed questions of age and health in Congress, lawmakers are split on whether they should implement some form of term limits, capping the number of terms any one person can serve as an elected federal representative.
Despite the relative popularity of the idea of term limits, the debate hinges on whether implementing such a policy would inhibit voter choice and make it harder for Capitol Hill to retain institutional expertise.
That’s the concern of Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont.
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“The voters will decide who they want. We have term limits, and we have age limits and that is the voter. And if they decide they want to elect an 80-year-old or 100-year-old that’s up to the voters,” Sheehy said.
Rep. Glen Grothman, R-Wisc., echoed Sheehy’s thinking.
“I think the voters — when they’re electing, if they want to elect Grassley, you shouldn’t take that right away from them,” Grothman said, referring to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the oldest serving member of Congress.
Grassley is 92 years old.
Although Grassley himself remains in good health, concern about other senior members of Congress has reentered the public eye in recent weeks. Most recently, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., 71, unexpectedly died in office last week. Before that, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., 84, and Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., 57, prompted public speculation after extended absences due to health reasons.
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In light of those recent events, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said he believes that lawmakers should recognize their own personal limits but seemed hesitant to agree that one bar should be set for all members.
“People ought to know when it’s time to step aside,” Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said.
“I’ve never been a big supporter of legislative term limits. I’ve served two terms in every position I’ve held until this one. I’m in my third term, but I’ve kind of limited myself before because I feel like you should make opportunities for others. And there’s always a trail on the pool of people who are willing to do it,” Warner said.
Other lawmakers disagreed, arguing that the oldest members of Congress had shown that most officeholders would strive to extend their stay in power as long as possible.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, believes that the necessary path is term limits.
“I’d like to see limits on everybody. And the best limit would be term limits and that’s what we should pass,” Cruz said.
“I’ve authored a constitutional amendment that would limit all senators to two terms and limit all House members to three terms. An overwhelming majority of Americans support that, and that would solve the problem effectively because you wouldn’t have people staying here forever.”
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That’s also the position of Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., who said the long tenure of some lawmakers likely goes against the original design for the country.
“I’ve been in favor of term limits before I came to Congress. I think the last thing that we need are professional politicians up here. I don’t think that the founding fathers ever meant for it to be that way. Too much power invested in one person — absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Marshall said.
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