State Legislature
House, Senate Approve Term Limits for Statewide Officials
Measure would put it to a vote of the people
(Oklahoma City, OK) All statewide elected officials would join the governor in being limited to two terms in office under House Joint Resolution 1022 and Senate Joint Resolution 12 which both passed today with bipartisan support. The measures are an important part of the legislative agenda of Oklahomans for Responsible Government.
“Term limits have proven successful in getting new ideas into the House and Senate over the past several years,” said Brian Downs, OFRG Executive Director. “It’s time to bring new ideas to all statewide offices, especially in light of recent problems Oklahoma has had with our state-wide elected officials.”
HJR 1022 by Rep. Jason Murphey (R-Guthrie) will put term limits for statewide officials on the ballot for voters. “Term limits for legislators got approval of two-thirds of voters in 1990,” said Downs, “so there is every reason to expect support for this measure.” In fact, a July 2007 Pulse Opinion Research survey of 1,000 likely voters found 77 percent of those surveyed would vote for a measure setting term limits for executive offices. A December 2007 poll by the Tulsa World and KOTV found 73 percent of those surveyed supported the idea of term limits for executive offices.
The Senate version is SJR12, authored by Sen. Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso). “Both of these measures are aimed at putting the people back in control instead of career politicians and Senator Brogdon and Representative Murphey are to be commended for their proposals,” said Downs.
