Political Quotes

“I support them if they are applied retroactively to all of us, to sitting officeholders. Unfortunately, through a series of parliamentary maneuvers known as ``filling the amendment tree,'' the Republican leadership has made it impossible for us to amend this resolution. It is either up or down. So here we are unable to make these term limits apply to us. Advocates of this proposal assert that in its present form, it limits Senators to two terms. That is simply untrue. Without retroactivity, Senators in this Chamber--every one of us--can serve an additional two terms if this amendment passes. That is very convenient for Members here, but it really, to me, does not get at the issue of term limits. Let me cite two specific examples. Under this proposal, the majority leader would be limited to seven terms, or 42 years, in the U.S. Senate. The distinguished chairman of the Armed Services Committee will be limited to nine terms, or 54 years, in the U.S. Senate. I do not think that most supporters of term limits will be satisfied with so-called limits that allow politicians to stay in office for more than half a century.”