Legislators trying to limit government’s tenure

An amendment proposition would
limit stays to 12 years in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – Three legislators in Madison are trying to limit their stay and the stay of their peers.

A proposed constitutional amendment would limit those elected to the Wisconsin legislature to 12 years, while a governor could only serve two terms – a maximum of eight years.

The amendment couldn’t take effect any earlier than the 2020 elections in Wisconsin.

Joe Heim, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political scientist, notes the amendment sponsors are Republicans and their party tends to believe that lawmakers should not be career politicians.

Heim says bringing in new blood would be healthy for state government. Most people elected to the Wisconsin legislature lately don’t stay much longer than 10 years, anyway.