Voters won’t decide on longer terms for legislators

PIERRE —While lawmakers on the Senate State Affairs Committee were not enthusiastic about the need to run for re-election every two years, they killed a measure Jan. 25 that would have put longer terms on the general election ballot.

Senate Joint Resolution 1 would have put the constitutional change on the ballot for voters to decide if members of the Legislature should have four-year terms instead of the current two-year terms.

In last year’s election, Sen. Arthur Rusch, R-Vermillion, said he was often asked, “Are you up for election again?” He said voters seemed tired of two-year elections and that the Legislature would benefit from the change.

“It provides some stability in government,” Rusch said of longer terms. “It allows you a better opportunity to focus on what’s important.”

Speaking in favor of the bill, Rep. Lee Qualm, R-Platte, said, “It does seem like we are running constantly.”

Qualm said it takes new lawmakers two years to figure out the process and the players in that process and then they have to run for re-election.

“I think we would be a better Legislature if we had four-year terms,” Qualm said.

Sen. Jim Bolin, R-Canton, said the change in the length of terms would give more power to the executive branch. According to Bolin, during the eight years of Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s administration, the governor made 14 appointments to the Legislature.

The governor would get to choose more of the Legislature and have them serve longer if the terms were lengthened to four years, Bolin said.

Two-year terms mean that, in theory, the public could completely replace the Legislature every two years, Bolin said

“That’s a great power and authority that the public has,” Bolin said.

Sen. Craig Kennedy, D-Yankton, said he didn’t like running for office every two years but he couldn’t see how the public would benefit from longer legislative terms.

“I think the public likes the idea that they can replace us,” Kennedy said.

The biggest weakness of the Legislature is turnover and a lack of institutional knowledge according to Sen. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen.

“The best way to give the people the authority is to put this on the ballot,” Novstrup said.

Sen. Brock Greenfield, R-Clark, moved that the bill be deferred to the 41st day of the legislative session, a tactic that kills legislation.

Greenfield said it is important for legislators that “we remain in constant contact with the people and we remain accountable constantly.”

Greenfield’s motion passed on a 5-2 vote.