For immediate release
January 29, 2019
Contact: Scott Tillman
Email: stillman@termlimits.com
Phone: (321) 345-7455
Rep. Tom O’Dea Introduces Congressional Term Limits Resolution in Connecticut
Hartford, CT – Rep. Tom O’Dea (District 125) is leading the way in Connecticut to term limit the U.S. Congress by cosponsoring a resolution for a national term limits amendment proposal convention. Sponsor Rep. Terrie Wood and Co-sponsor Rep. Dave Rutigliano also support this resolution, HJ40 has been filed in the Connecticut General Assembly. [View complete text here.]
Through Article V of the U.S. Constitution, 34 state legislatures can team up for a convention to propose a congressional term limits amendment to the Constitution. The Term Limits Convention initiative is being shepherded by the nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization, U.S. Term Limits.
Representative O’Dea commented on the resolution saying, “The Founding Fathers never envisioned full-time career politicians and, as the mess in DC has shown, we shouldn’t have them. Term limits are absolutely necessary and, if you ask the politicians off the record, they all agree. I am stating, on the record, that we desperately need term limits, for the good of our country.”
According to Nick Tomboulides, Executive Director of USTL, “There are two ways to propose an amendment for term limits: through the Congress or through the states at a national convention. That is why it is important to get support from state legislators, and cosponsors like Representative O’Dea, to call for a convention to discuss the details of the amendment.” Once proposed, the amendment must be ratified by 38 states in order to become law.
Tomboulides notes, “More than 82% of Americans have rejected the career politician model and want to replace it with citizen leadership. The way to achieve that goal is through a congressional term limits amendment. O’Dea knows this and is willing to work to make sure we reach our goal.”
According to the last nationwide poll on term limits conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, conducted in January 2018, term limits enjoys wide bipartisan support. McLaughlin’s analysis states, “Support for term limits is broad and strong across all political, geographic and demographic groups. An overwhelming 82% of voters approve of a constitutional amendment that will place term limits on members of Congress.”
Sponsor Terrie Wood is proud to support this resolution and quoted, “This is an important subject on which to have a public discussion. I look forward to hearing what the residents of CT think about term limits for our representatives and senators in Washington. We are lucky to live in a democracy where everyone’s voice may be heard on this.”
Should Connecticut pass this resolution, it would be the thirteenth state to apply for the an amendment proposal convention specifically including term limits in the topic. In such a divided political climate, the issue of term limits has been endorsed by both President Trump and former President Obama.
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U.S. Term Limits is the largest and oldest term limits advocacy group in the country. We connect term limits supporters with their legislators and work to pass term limits on all elected officials, particularly on the U.S. Congress. Find out more at termlimits.org.