Don't leave big problems to newcomers

Steve:

You know very well our state Legislature can be more efficient and effective through term limits reform. As far back as 1996, the nonpartisan California Constitution Revision Commission suggested reforms similar to those in Proposition 93.

That's why groups as diverse as the California Labor Federation, California Small Business Assn. and Latino Issues Forum all support Proposition 93, as do teachers, firefighters, police officers and retirees. The point here is that all of these groups realize that Californians are better served by an experienced Legislature.

With time to specialize, legislators can better perform their crucial duty of providing checks and balances to the executive branch and state bureaucracy. This is the best way for legislators to ensure our tax dollars are well spent.

We're about to face a historic budget shortfall in California, and we're going to need the smartest, most experienced minds to solve this — not a group of newcomers.

An issue you continue to overlook is that Proposition 93 will make legislators more accountable. By gaining more policymaking experience, legislators will rely less on lobbyists and staff and more on their own know-how.

And let's set the record strait: The nonpartisan Center for Government Studies report you continually quote out of context clearly says that allowing a legislator to serve all of their years of service in one house or the other of the Legislature will be better for California.

Proposition 93 is a smart, simple reform that will make the state Legislature more efficient and effective. It will slow the electoral "musical chairs" as one legislator gears up to run against another to win a seat. This degrades the process — and ultimately doesn't help voters.

I completely agree that term limits have brought tremendous diversity to our state Legislature. Proposition 93 will not only maintain that diversity, but enable legislators to focus on the tough job before them.

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