What would we do without crusty curmudgeons?

You may remember Howard Jarvis of Proposition 13 fame. He fought for the 1978 property-tax-cutting initiative that enabled many California home owners to keep their homes. At the time Jarvis was 75.

Pete Schabarum was a little younger in 1990 when he led the charge for the California term limits initiative he co-authored with Lew Uhler. These days Schabarum is 78, wears a hearing aid, and is legally blind. But he has hardly retired from political activism. Not with term limits again at risk and California politicians up to their old tricks.

Lawmakers in the state are limited to six years in the Assembly, eight in the Senate. A total of 14 if they get elected to both bodies. But state lawmakers are pushing for a term limit extension that would allow 12 years maximum in the legislature as a whole, which could be served in either chamber. Supposedly a “cut” in tenure.

Schabarum says, “They’re being disingenuous when they say this will be a reduction. This is about allowing the guys who run the place to hang on longer.”

Schabarum also has an answer for those who say that term limits reduce “experience” in the legislature. The chance for legislators to really, really know what they’re doing before being booted. He says, “Isn’t it interesting that everybody starts complaining about not having enough knowledge around the fifth year of their six-year term?”

Indeed.

This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.