Prop. 93

Or, How I Am Trying to Pull A Fast One on the Voters and Extend My Time in Office Another 12 Years, by Fabian Nunez.

There are three simple things this proposition does, two of them good, one of them not. First, it reduces the total amount of years a person may serve from 14 years to 12 years. Secondly, it allows a person to serve those 12 years in any combination of state senate and assembly. Thirdly, it restarts the clock for everyone currently serving in the Legislature. So, let's do this quickly.

1) Sure, reducing the years on can serve from 14 to 12, why not. It would make it easier to mix and match the ability to serve in the state senate and assembly.

2) Again, sure, if someone wants to spend all his time in the assembly or the senate, why not.

3) Ahhh, here's your trouble. The true intention of this proposition makes itself clear- this is nothing more than an attempt by certain members of the legislature Fabian Nunez to stay where they are and re-set the original term limit proposition. Does there need to be changes to the term limit rules? Sure, see items 1 and 2, but that change surely can be affected sooner than 12 years from now, because that's effectively when the changes will fully take effect. The term limit law is clear- 3 2-year terms in the assembly and 2 4-year terms in the state senate. This proposition re-sets the clock and allows all current members of the legislature a clean slate to stay in office for another 12 years, for a possible total of 26 years. I certainly do not think that when the voters passed the original term limit measure they expected this.

Therefore, I recommend a No on 93.