Published: April 14, 2009 01:42 pm      

Voters to decide term limits

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House has given final approval to a resolution that calls for a vote of the people on whether to impose term limits on statewide offices.

The resolution passed the House Tuesday by a vote of 69-29. It previously passed the Senate and now goes to the Secretary of State.

Currently, lawmakers are limited to 12 years in office, and the governor is restricted to serving two consecutive, four year terms. The resolution would limit the governor to serve no more than eight cumulative years in office.

That same eight total years would apply to the lieutenant governor, auditor and inspector, attorney general, treasurer, commissioner of labor, superintendent of public instruction and insurance commissioner.

Corporation commissioner terms would be limited to a total of 12 years.

"The people decided overwhelmingly more than 15 years ago to limit the number of years a state legislator can serve because they believe an

elected official should be a servant of the people. The voters want their leaders to make a sacrifice to serve the people, and then go and

live under the laws they helped enact," said Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie and author of the bill. "Prior to legislative term limits, many career politicians were an elite class who made their life in politics. The people of Oklahoma want their leaders to be citizen legislators who stay in touch with the real world."