Illinois GOP leaders introduce executive term limits proposal, Quinn flips opposition
Illinois is one of only 14 states that doesn’t have some form of gubernatorial term-limits. A proposal introduced by Illinois State Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) would give Illinois voters an opportunity to change that this coming November by enacting eight-year term limits on executive...
Illinois is one of only 14 states that doesn’t have some form of gubernatorial term-limits.
A proposal introduced by Illinois State Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) and Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) would give Illinois voters an opportunity to change that this coming November by enacting eight-year term limits on executive branch officers.
In a statement Durkin said, “Term limits will bring fresh perspectives to these offices and will make elections for these offices more competitive.”
But time to get the issue on the November General Election ballot is running out. The legislation, SJRCA 69, needs to pass out of the General Assembly by May 5th.
The term limits proposal would limit Illinois’ executive branch six elected officers to two terms per office. The limits would apply to:
- Governor
- Lieutenant Governor
- Attorney General
- Secretary of State
- Comptroller
- Treasurer
The executive term limits proposal accompanies a citizen-led initiative proposal to limit General Assembly members to eight-year terms. The proposal is being circulated by the Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits. As a citizen-initiative constitutional amendment proposal the group needs to collect in excess of 300,000 signatures, and survive any legal challenges, for the issue to be successfully put on the ballot in November.
The group did not include executive term limits because the Illinois Constitution doesn’t allow constitutional initiative questions about the executive branch, only of the legislature.
Bruce Rauner, who has financially backed the General Assembly term limits proposal, reiterated his support for executive term limits by stating, “I strongly support this term limits proposal. It is the perfect complement to our initiative for legislative term limits, and as governor, I’ll limit myself to two terms no matter what.”
As recently as December, Gov. Quinn stated that he wouldn’t rule out running again in 2018 and beyond, should he win re-election in 2014. He also previously stated he does not support the Rauner-backed term limits proposal for the General Assembly.
In a reversal of opinion Gov. Quinn reacted to the GOP proposal by stating, “I support this proposed constitutional amendment and have supported term limits since 1994.” However, he previously stated he does not support the Rauner-backed term limits proposal for the General Assembly.