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Thursday, September 2, 2010

White calls for term limit for governor


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Gubernatorial candidate Bill White has issued a statement calling for a term limit for the office of governor. We couldn't agree more. Current Gov. Rick Perry assumed the office in 2000 and was elected to two full terms in 2002 and 2006. He's shooting for his third term. If he wins, and stays in office, Perry will have served as governor 14 years. Whoa! That's a half generation in time and a lot of accumulated power.

We are reminded that the Texas Legislature (not the people, unfortunately, who are treated like children) decides what questions to put before voters in the form of proposed amendments to the state Constitution. The next time you bump into State Representative candidates Patrick Rose (D) and Jason Isaac (R), you might want to ask them if they will support term limits. No squirming allowed please – a YES or NO will do.

"Texas needs term limits to avoid excessive centralization of power in Austin and the use of power by special interests to entrench a governor in office," said Bill White, in supporting a referendum on whether to limit the governor to two four-year terms.

"Perry's use of board appointees as a political fundraising machine demonstrates the need for term limits, which are in effect for the governors of 37 out of 50 states," said White.

"The public deserves to know from Rick Perry, not some spokesperson, whether he supports or opposes term limits for governor, and whether he supports letting voters decide," said White.


10 comments:

Peter Stern said...

Yes, limit the terms of the Governor. If you can't do the job in 2 terms you shouldn't remain Governor.

Along with limitations on the terms of Governor, we should take it a step further and include limitations on the terms of Senators and House Representatives. There are many more individuals to be concerned about than the omnipotent Governor, many who have accumulated great power and wealth while in office.

Then we should prohibit any former legislator from being hired by their wealthy special interest campaign contributors, otherwise, doesn't the hiring prove that there previously was "a conflict of interest" while the elected official was in office? [rhetorical question]

Furthermore, why do we taxpayers continue to provide significant lifetime retirement income and packages to former elected officials? Especially the part-timers in the Senate and House? We should do away with these as well.

Another issue is that of appointments made by the Governor. I don't think Texans realize how many appointments the Governor makes during his or her term.

Many of the appointments are for positions that the people, NOT the Governor, should determine, e.g., the Commission of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) --- to name two.

Another dilemma is that the laws protect the incumbent Governor from a run-off in the primary. There should be a run-off if the incumbent gets less than 50 percent of the total votes.

For many years people were fond of saying that the position of Governor in Texas was one of the weakest positions in Government; however, Perry has proved that statement to be erroneous.

Ho Hum said...

OF COURSE HE DOES!

Anonymous said...

Hohum, you think a governor should have unlimited terms?

Anonymous said...

Yes, unless the people vote him out which is true term limits.

The kind of limits favored by White are for the benefit of the lazy people that don't care enough to get off of their butts to vote.

Reality-based Texan said...

Whatever. Term limits are a good idea no matter who is in power, Republicans or Democrats.

Again, if you can't do the job within your two terms, get out and let someone else have a turn.

And if you did the job well after 2 years, then get out and let someone else have a turn.

Anonymous said...

What else would you expect Dopey to say? This Liberal activist Trial Lawyer is the one thing that would be worse than Perry for another term. Be careful with your vote and check out his record as Houston Mayor. He left the taxpayers in “Big H” in more debt per capita than Californians. Definitely a tax and spend liberal and some say a crook. Do your due diligence before you make the same mistake so many did in voting for his buddy, Obama.

Anonymous said...

White deserves to be looked at closely as an alternative to 10 years, possibly 4 more years, of the biggest crony governor in Texas history. Perry has managed to build up an $18 billion state government deficit. He refuses to publicly debate Bill White. And Now Perry is blocking the state comptroller's office from releasing information on the state's financial condition, which the comptroller is statutorily required to do. The information is not pretty. Perry will keep the reports hidden from the public until after the election.

Anonymous said...

Is that the best you can do? To call White "Dopey" and and "Obama buddy"?

Whenever self-righteous Texas GOP types want to "bad-mouth" some opposing candidate the best they can do is to call the candidate and Obama "lover" or "buddy".

Become more creative! This is what has been holding-back the GOP for years. White could be a good option to Perry.

Heck, Daffy Duck would be a good alternative to Perry!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous ^ said; ”Is that the best you can do?”

What about the part where I said,

“This Liberal activist Trial Lawyer is the one thing that would be worse than Perry for another term.”

and

“He left the taxpayers in “Big H” in more debt per capita than Californians. Definitely a tax and spend liberal and some say a crook.”

It seems that you chose not to challenge those truths.

Before you jump off into the abyss with your hate for Perry, stop and investigate this guy.

Somehow the Democrats were able to come up with a candidate that is worse than Perry. I’d rather listen to Perry for 4 more years than the snake in the grass, White.

Anonymous said...

I don’t think anyone can argue with the fact that Bill White was the author of the City of Houston’s Sanctuary City designation. Do you want all of Texas to be a “Sanctuary State”? Think about the runaway costs for Illegal Aliens in our schools, hospitals and welfare programs! Perry is wishy washy about the subject but White is dead serious he will put aliens first over Texans.