Copyright The New York Times
To the Editor: Re “We Need Term Limits for Congress,” by Ron DeSantis and David Trone (Opinion guest essay, Oct. 23): It was somewhat of a pleasant surprise to see Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida joining with a Democrat in calling for congressional term limits, with the aim of reducing the corrupting effect, overwhelming advantages and near-certainty of re-election for incumbents. While the banning of all gerrymandering would have a far more beneficial effect on our electoral system, making it fairer, more democratic and less prone to performatively extremist candidates, term limits are also a laudable goal. But I was ruefully amused to be reminded by the authors that Congress has the power to “write our federal laws, control our tax dollars and provide oversight of the executive branch.” That is indeed what the Constitution says, but in light of the spineless capitulation of Republican members of Congress for the last nine months I have to wonder what the authors — especially Governor DeSantis — could have been thinking. Michael Esterowitz Brooklyn To the Editor: While both Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Representative David Trone speculate about the effects of congressional reform, we can look to our laboratories of democracy to see what has actually happened when states introduced term limits. The results of a number of studies suggest they are not a panacea for what ails America. Newcomers lack institutional knowledge, so power shifts toward governors, bureaucracies and interest groups. Politicians tend to focus less on long-term projects, knowing they will not be around to see the enactment of ambitious projects. These factors interact and can lead to higher state spending and worsening fiscal conditions as well as increased polarization. This is not to say that any such reform should be discarded; rather, we should be cognizant of the trade-offs inherent in any change. Michael E. Bednarczuk Clarksville, Tenn. The writer is an assistant professor of political science at Austin Peay State University. To the Editor: I have always thought that term limits for Congress (and for judges) would help attract candidates from diverse backgrounds who would put service to the public above a lifetime devotion to power. However, as Ron DeSantis knows — and encourages in his own state, Florida — gerrymandering has produced congressional districts that are uncompetitive, which means that a partisan following the district’s party line will simply be replaced by another partisan who will vote the same way. Few members of the House or the Senate are willing to buck their leadership, much less vote against a president or governor who threatens retribution. Term limits would help only if we attract citizens with the courage to stand up to pressure and be willing to return to their prior professions if not re-elected. Roy Goldman Atlantic Beach, Fla. To the Editor: Term limits would reduce the effectiveness of Congress. It takes time to learn how to effectively represent constituents, serve on committees and work across the aisle to create sound policies that serve the entire country. Term limits would have members of Congress seeking short-term popular solutions instead of making the difficult long-term solutions that require negotiation and compromise needed to move our country forward. Our votes limit terms. Susan Davies Fort Myers, Fla. To the Editor: In their call for congressional term limits, Ron DeSantis and David Trone never specify the number of terms they are talking about. That actually makes a big difference. The most common proposal, for example, has been for short term limits, on the order of two Senate terms and a comparable length in the House. Such limits are seriously flawed, however, because they would diminish in-house congressional expertise, empower special-interest lobbyists and weaken institutional leadership. I doubt Mr. Trone and Mr. DeSantis really want that. The nation surely doesn’t, especially now, when executive power is being so poorly checked. I believe that the sweet spot for term limits is longer: Limits of four Senate terms, or 24 years, and at least 10 terms, or 20 years, for House members would still reduce the stagnation the current system encourages, while avoiding the drawbacks that shorter ones lead to. Congressional term limits cannot be advanced seriously without specifying their number. Rick LaRue Silver Spring, Md. The writer worked for 40 years at Washington nonprofit institutes, including the Eisenhower Institute and the American Society of International Law.
