Sweeping Down the Plains
In Oklahoma, “there’s a lot riding on November’s election” at least according to Associated Press writer Sean Murphy. He isn’t talking about the presidential race, but the battle for control of the state House of Representatives. There’s one big reason this election will be so competitive in Oklahoma: term limits.
Oklahoma was the first state in the country to pass term limits on their state legislators, back in September of 1990. But the limits are, frankly, too long, 12 years, so they are just now kicking in. Finally, this year, 28 legislators are termed out of the 101-member House.
Democrats have a 52-48 majority over Republicans, with one seat vacant at present. If Republicans take over the House it will be the first Republican majority since 1921, that’s 83 years ago. Quite historic. If Democrats hold the House, that too would be historic, because Rep. Jari Askins, already selected to replace the current Democratic House leader, would be the state’s first woman Speaker of the House.
Askins admits that she wouldn’t even have a chance to be the next Speaker without term limits. The seniority system would have kept her way back in line . . . still waiting. But she worries, “[T]erm limits may keep me from that opportunity, and that’s because of the large number of open seats.”
Changing party control is easier when powerful incumbents aren’t clogging the system. Ahhhhh, a competitive election, what a sight to behold, politicians nervously awaiting the voters, brought to you once again by term limits.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
