http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/knau/local-knau-887666.mp3
Phoenix, AZ – Arizonans voted in 1992 to limit lawmakers to no more than eight
years in office. Rep. Tom Chabin, elected in 2006, said the
problem with that restriction is that there's a learning curve
for everything from the technical aspects of making law to
understanding how small changes in the budget have broad effects
across multiple agencies.
(Quite frankly, eight years is just too little time to really get
into the saddle of the work of a legislator.)
The House Judiciary Committee voted 5-2 to send his proposal to
voters in November, with the Senate giving preliminary approval
to an identical bill. But the Judiciary Committee had different
thoughts about another measure to get rid of the House, make
Arizona a unicameral legislature state and have lawmakers elected
on a nonpartisan basis. That's the system in Nebraska. Rep. Steve
Montenegro said that change could streamline legislation,
something he's not sure is a good thing.
(I think that it's brilliant that a majority of bills die. I
think it should be difficult for bills to get through the
Legislature to the governor and get signed because sometimes,
frankly, bills are not really good bills.)
That proposal was killed on a tie vote. For Arizona Public Radio
this is Howard Fischer.