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Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
When this year's legislation session comes to the end, twn senators will be unable to seek re-election because of term limits.
As Missy Shelton reports, one of those senators has a proposal that eliminates term limits.
Columbia democrat Ken Jacob's term is up.
He can't run again for the senate...He is running for Lieutenant Governor.
But before Jacob leaves the senate he says he'd like to put an end to term limits.
Missouri voters approved term limits, blocking representatives and senators from serving more than eight years in each chamber.
Jacob says term limits have filled the capitol with inexperienced lawmakers who don't have a history of working together.
But other lawmakers disagree...Springfield Republcian Representative Jim Viebrock says term limits aren't all bad.
He says it's a good way to ensure the best people are in office.
But those who oppose term limits say eight years simply isn't enough time to learn how to be an effective legislator.
Republican Senator Anita Yeckel of St Louis County says there's a tremendous learning curve.
Even supporters of term limits like Jim Viebrock acknowledge that term limits will end the careers of some good lawmakers.
The proposal from Ken Jacob that would eliminate term limits would ultimately go before voters.
He says there's no harm in asking voters to re-visit the issue.
Even though Jacob's proposal lets voters have the final say, Viebrock says it would be difficult for *lawmakers* to vote for such a proposal.
Though he says he'd probably support extending term limits from eight years to twelve years, he thinks these proposals have to be handled carefully or else they appear self-serving.
The proposal that would end term limits is up for consideration in a senate committee.
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