The state Senate Republican leader is in discussions with the ballot campaign that succeeded in passing an amendment that changed how legislative and congressional districts are drawn in Michigan. His target is the state’s term limits in legislators.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says term limits have created more problems than they solved. For one thing, he says lawmakers quickly start eyeing post-political careers as lobbyists. He’s hoping the Voters Not Politicians campaign will get on board to help fix that.
Shirkey’s press secretary, Amber McCann, says discussions are still in the early stages.
“At this point, he’s doing the research, sort of measuring the bandwidth, for what people would be interested in, if anything.”
The discussions include linking longer term limits to requiring a waiting period before ex-legislator could become paid lobbyists.
It would take super-majorities in the Legislature to put the question on the ballot.