(07-11-2022, 10:05 AM)homebiscuit Wrote:

(07-11-2022, 09:58 AM)mikesez Wrote: We don't have to imagine.  We see it at work at the state level.  There is an obvious loss of expertise and a loss of name recognition between the people and their representatives.  The lobbyists have more kingmaking power than they did before because of this loss of name recognition.
But on the other hand the state legislatures do more in less time than US congress does, for the last few decades this is true.  Most of the problem with US Congress seems to be that the members are afraid of getting primaried. Can't be afraid of that if you're not running again anyway.  The loss of expertise problem could be alleviated by a requirement that anyone who reaches their term limit continue attending sessions of Congress but without a vote.

You’ll have to explain that one.

Say the term limit for US house was 12 years, you're coming to the end of your last term, you can't run again.  The idea is you'd have to spend the next few years still living in DC and you'd have to come whenever the Speaker called Congress into session.  You might even get assigned to committees and expected to speak.  You just wouldn't have a vote anymore.  Similar to how it works now for the members from PR and USVI.

As an example in FL, legislators that reach their term limit typically become lobbyists and part of the reason they are so good at that new job is the new legislators need them to teach certain things. My idea would allow them to perform this job function but on the peoples' payroll instead of the private lobbyist payroll.

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