Issue Position: Term Limits

Issue Position

Since the founding of this nation, Americans have worried about the potential for power to corrupt their elected officials. As I have traveled around Kentucky's Sixth district, many people have expressed their concerns to me about career politicians who go to Washington and lose touch with the people they represent. To address this concern, I have introduced House Joint Resolution 26 legislation that would amend the U.S. Constitution to impose term limits on Members of Congress.

The Amendment provides that no Member of Congress shall serve more than 12 consecutive years in either the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives. Under my proposal, Senators would be limited to no more than two consecutive full terms, while Representatives in the House would be limited to no more than six consecutive full terms. Because this reform can only be achieved by amending the Constitution, the measure must be approved by a two-thirds majority in Congress and ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Real change in Washington requires fresh thinking. I believe that term limits will diminish the incentive of Members to focus solely on reelection, and help achieve our Founding Fathers' vision of a Congress composed of citizen legislators dedicated to promoting the national interest rather than their own self-interest.

Source