To get on the ballot, reform initiative needs signatures

From a press release (my opinion follows):

Main Street Campaigns Launches Statewide Rally for Reform To Make Illinois Government More Accountable And Responsive

CHAMPAIGN, IL (October 15, 2009) — Main Street Campaigns today launched a statewide non-partisan campaign called Rally for Reform, an effort to get an amendment initiative (www.PutBackAmendment.com) on the November 2010 ballot so voters could enact reforms that will make state government more accountable and responsive.

“The people of Illinois have waited long enough for reform. Voters are tired of legislative loopholes and political practices that lead to unfair policies and corrupt our government,” said Main Street Campaigns Executive Director Will O’Brien, a Democrat.

“The time has come to give Illinoisans the chance to truly change and reform the infamously corrupt system we have had for far too long,” said John Bambenek, author of the amendment and Main Street Campaigns Political Director.

The amendment will feature four needed reforms to clean up state government, including:

Term Limits — Legislative terms would be limited to two years per term, and legislators would serve a maximum of four terms (eight years). The eight year maximum could be consecutive or broken up, but eight years would be the limit.

Seven-Day Public Viewing of All Legislation – This would assure lawmakers would actually read what they’re voting on, because the public would have ample opportunity to read the bills as well. It would end the practice of “shell bills” that often contain taxes and spending the public doesn’t know about until it is too late.

End Gerrymandering — After the census, all data would be made public to ensure a scoring system based on objective criteria. Incumbency is explicitly disallowed, ensuring that people pick their politicians instead of politicians picking their voters. Anyone can sue based on gerrymandering instead of just the Attorney General.

Equal Ballot Access – This would end the discriminatory practice that allows some established political parties an advantage in getting on the ballot. It would remove unfair impediments to Independents and third-parties who want to run for office. Disqualification of signatures could only be based on fraud, deception, or unintelligibility – as opposed to technicalities often used by established parties to get Independent candidates thrown off the ballot.

To get the amendment on the ballot the campaign will need to get 500,000 signatures by May 2nd. Come Rally for Reform at http://www.PutBackAmendment.com.

Here’s the problem I see with term limits: We already have term limits. If I have a good legislator, I want to be able to re-elect him or her. The problem with the legislature isn’t incumbency, it’s a powerful and entrenched leadership. I want term limits on the Speaker of the House and the Senate President, whoever that happens to be at the time. And I want power limits and I want spending limits to prevent the speaker from being able to turn on or off the cash flow depending on whether or not a legislator it sufficiently subservient.

The other stuff is perfectly OK. But I won’t vote for any initiative that includes term limits.