In the past 7 years I have written about Term Limits on at least three occasions. Term Limits has been a “hot topic” issue since the early 1990s in the contemporary United States but early concerns on the topic were expressed in the Revolutionary War era. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators that would leave their normal productive employment and go to the Nation’s Capital a few months each year and then return home to continue their normal employment. Further, after a term or two it would be someone else’s turn to serve his country by going to Congress.

In November of 2018 I wrote “Poster Politicians for Term Limits Campaign” where I pointed out that Senator Tammy Baldwin and then Representative Ron Kind each had more than twenty years in Congress and have few noteworthy accomplishments. I suggested a vote for their challengers, both of whom had noteworthy careers outside of politics, in that November’s election.

In March of 2024 I wrote a similar article “Candidates for the ‘Term Limits’ Campaign Posters” with further concerns about career politicians and the need to find fresh faces to represent us in Washington. Since Rep. Ron Kind had already retired, I suggested a new candidate to personify the term limits campaign. At that point, State Representative Steve Doyle had been in the Assembly since May of 2011 – a period of 13 years. But, that was dwarfed by his then 38 years on the La Crosse County Board having been first elected in 1986.

In July of 2025 I wrote a third article titled “Term Limits for Congress” with more facts and figures in support of the effort. The proposed federal legislation I wrote about then is still just that – proposed! Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX), with 18 cosponsors – all Republican – and Rep Ralph Norman (R-SC-5), with 28 cosponsors, introduced a joint resolution “Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to limit the number of terms that a Member of Congress may serve” in their respective legislative organizations. In the Senate there are now 19 cosponsors – all Republican – and in the House there are now 105 cosponsors to include 6 Democrats.

The proposal is to limit a citizen to two terms in the Senate and three terms in the House. The irony of this is that if this was law before the 2024 elections, then both sponsors would now be “former” Senator or Representative, respectfully.

While I like the term limits efforts, I disagree with the proposed term limits. Quality leadership is built on experience and six years in the House of Representatives won’t allow this. I am not sure if twelve years in the Senate would allow this either. Compare this to an Army officer that starts as a Second Lieutenant and six years later might be a Captain. Generals normally don’t attain that rank until well past the twenty year mark! Even in the civilian world, corporate leadership doesn’t happen that fast!

This is all proposed federal law pertaining to the Congress in Washington, D.C. State legislators would have to create similar legislation for a Governor to sign or to be passed by the citizens in a State Constitutional Referendum.

Something pertinent to term limits is needed in Wisconsin and not just for office holders like Steve Doyle with his 14 years in the Assembly and almost 40 years on the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors. Consider retired State Senator Fred Risser. When 93-year-old Sen Risser retired in 2020 after 6 years in the Assembly and 58 in the State Senate, he was the longest tenured state legislator in United States history! And, there are already 16 states with term limit legislation for their state legislatures.

Term limits prohibit what appears to be lifetime appointments and allows other citizens to participate in an elective government role.

It is time to get informed and get involved. The County Republican Parties will soon be having their Annual Caucuses where members in good standing can present resolutions for debate or discussion. Resolutions that pass at the County level have then begun the process to the Congressional District Caucus and then the Republican State Convention. If they have received a majority vote each step, they are then presented to the Republican State Legislators for their information and action as appropriate.

It starts with one person and one idea – such as Term Limits! This is “We the People” starting at the grass roots level and making the democratic process work, one idea and one step at a time!