Legislative bills request longer term limits, shorter sessions

Former Nebraska senator Ernie Chambers could stick around the Capitol even longer if a new constitutional amendment passes.

Sen. Mike Friend of Omaha introduced a bill Thursday to the Executive Board of the Nebraska Legislature that would increase the number of consecutive terms a senator can serve from two to three.

That means if Chambers decides to return as a senator, he would be able to stay for 12 years instead of just eight.

The two-year term limit was imposed in 2000 after a statewide vote.

"I think it's healthy to give voters the chance to analyze this again," Friend said after the hearing. "To figure out whether the citizens have changed their thought process a bit."

Increasing the limit, Friend said, would allow more experienced senators to stay longer and continue to share their knowledge.

Friend also introduced another constitutional amendment Thursday to cut down the number of days the Legislature meets each year.

The two amendments could work well together, and it might be a good idea to pair them into one proposed amendment, Friend said.

This would require more research into Nebraska's constitution and would probably need approval from the attorney general.

Ron Sedlacek testified at the hearing on behalf of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry in support of both bills. The chamber has opposed term limits as a concept but likes the idea of at least revisiting the issue and potentially extending the limit.

"We have term limits in Nebraska," he said. "We call them elections."

Those opposed to the bill argued that it's too soon to revisit the issue because voters only imposed the two-term limit in 2000.

"We haven't even gotten a chance to see if it really works," said Harry Muhlbach, who testified as an individual representing his family and other people who voted in 2000. "We haven't even tested it."

Muhlbach also argued that extending the limits could keep the Legislature from getting fresh ideas every few terms.

"Longer term limits also hurt good people who want to run," he said. "Sometimes with long term limits we get stale."

Friend is cautiously optimistic about the bills' chances, and said he will work hard to convince others to put them on the ballot in November.

"Twelve years, I think, is a service that could be better than eight," Friend said. "I don't see the harm here."

jennagibson@dailynebraskan.com