Contact: Scott Tillman, National Field Director U.S. Term Limits
(202) 261-3532
scott@termlimits.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
North Dakota Representative Jim Kasper Betrays Voters by Breaking Term Limits Pledge
Bismarck, ND – Fargo Representative Jim Kasper has broken his promise to his constituents by introducing HCR 3019, an amendment to repeal voter-approved 8-year term limits replacing with 12-year limits. Kasper pledged to his constituents during his election campaign in June 2020 he would support 8-year term limits for State House, State Senate, and elected constitutional officers.
The pledge reads, “I, Jim Kasper, pledge that, as a member of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly I will cosponsor and vote to place on the ballot a constitutional amendment enacting 8-year term limits – and no longer limit — on each of the following offices: State House, State Senate, elected constitutional officers*. *Excluding Public Service Commissioners who serve 6-year terms.”
Kasper’s recent action is a direct contradiction of his election promise to ND constituents.
The proposed amendment has been introduced as an attempt by legislators to change the 2022 voter-approved term limits. This move by Kasper and other lawmakers is opposed by the public, it goes against the will of the voters who had submitted more than 46,000 signatures in order to place term limits on the ballot in the last general election.
“Jim Kasper never introduced term limits; he broke his promise to the people he represents. Elected officials refused to send term limits to the people for a vote, so the people submitted over 46,000 signatures in 2022 for term limits. The measure was opposed by career politicians in Bismarck, the Secretary of State and Attorney General attempted to bully the term limits committee and when they were unsuccessful, they reject tens of thousands of valid signatures using unlawful tactics. The North Dakota Supreme Court rebuffed the attempt to deny a vote, and voters approved term limits by almost 2-1. Now Kasper and other want-to-be career politicians are attempting to ignore what voters want,” Scott Tillman, National Field Director, U.S. Term Limits.
November 2022, voters approved 8-year term limits on the governor and legislators, 63%-37%. The measure was popular with the public but opposed by every lobby group in the state as well as most legislators. The voter approved term limits will not take effect for 8 years.
Voters prohibited the legislature from initiating any changes to term limits. The state constitution requires any change to originate with the citizens through the signature initiative process.
“It’s no secret legislators and lobbyist hate limits. Virtually every organized lobby group in North Dakota vocally opposed the amendment last year. Term limits makes the lobbyist’s job harder, and making the job harder for lobbyists is among the top reasons people support term limits,” Scott Tillman, National Field Director, U.S. Term Limits.
Link to Committee Hearing of Representative Kasper Breaking Pledge.
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U.S. Term Limits is the largest only national nonprofit organization advocating solely for term limits. Our mission is to improve the quality of government with a citizen legislature that closely reflects its constituency and is responsive to the needs of the people it serves. Find out more at termlimits.org.