Mike Levin: “I will vote against ending debate on the constitutional amendment to limit congressional terms. Term limits is a serious…”

“I will vote against ending debate on the constitutional amendment to limit congressional terms. Term limits is a serious matter which deserves serious debate. Amending the Constitution of the United States is always a serious matter and should not be done without adequate deliberation. The majority leader filed a cloture petition immediately upon calling the term limits amendment up for debate even though there has been no effort to filibuster this issue. Invoking cloture at this stage would have the affect of cutting off debate. The Senate should have a full and open debate on this matter, and fully consider amendments which have been offered and other amendments which Senators wish to propose. For example, there is no amendment before the Senate which conforms to the language contained in the Michigan Constitution which calls for a limit on Representatives of three terms in any 12-year period, and a limit on Senators of two terms in any 24-year period. That amendment would not be allowed, for instance, if cloture is invoked. Ending the debate now would also preclude other amendments from being offered, including an amendment which would count the terms of office already served by those presently in office. Madam President, I will oppose cloture which would prematurely cut off that debate and make it impossible to offer relevant modifications to the constitutional amendment on the ground that they are not technically germane.”