Term Limit Modification Discussions Intensify

Talks on relaxing Michigan’s legislative term limits continue in Lansing.

House and Senate leaders have been meeting with officials from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Voters Not Politicians – the group that led the recent drive to reform legislative districting.

Participants say nothing has yet been decided, but it looks as if lengthening the limits would be accompanied by ethics reforms, such as requiring financial disclosures and establishing an ethics review board.

Michigan’s legislative term limits are the strictest in the nation. They have been criticized for weakening the legislature by filling it with inexperienced members, which has led to an increase in influence from lobbyists and the state bureaucracy.