State Rep. Dan Fabian introduces bill to limit terms for state legislators and constitutional officers

Rep. Fabian: “I feel strongly that elected officials should be public servants, not politicians.”

ST. PAUL—State Representative Dan Fabian, R-Roseau, this week introduced a bill, House File 670, to place term limits on state legislators and constitutional officers, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor and Secretary of State. Currently, the elected positions can be filled without limit.

“Placing term limits on legislators and constitutional officers will give citizens more faith and confidence in the process we have here in St. Paul. We need to recognize that nobody has a monopoly on good ideas, intelligence and certainly not common sense,” Fabian said. “My perception is that Minnesotans frequently view us as career politicians. I feel strongly that elected officials should be public servants, not politicians.”

Representative Fabian proposes limiting state legislators’ terms to a maximum of 14 years combined between the House and Senate, and eight years (two terms) for constitutional officers. The 14-year maximum is based on the number of possible terms a legislator could hold, while accounting for redistricting every 10 years. However, Fabian acknowledges this number is not set in stone. “I’m open to suggestions and amendments to make sure that we get it right. This bill simply helps start the process. Let’s see where it takes us,” he said.

Should the bill pass both the House and Senate, Minnesota voters would decide in 2014 whether or not to approve legislative and constitutional term limits. “It is my belief that there will be great opposition to term limits here in St. Paul, and I don’t think that, if this decision was left to the Legislature, members would decide to impose term limits on themselves,” Fabian explained. “Ultimately, this Constitutional Amendment will allow the will of the voters of Minnesota to be heard.”

House File 670 is awaiting a hearing in the House Elections committee. State Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, is carrying the bill in the Senate.

-30-