MSU Forum To Examine If Term Limits Are Working

Are Michigan’s term limits working? That question will be tackled by the Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy Research on November 14 during a forum in downtown Lansing. Voters amended the state constitution in 1992 to enact term limits, allowing for three two-year terms in the House, and two terms in all other state offices from the Senate to the governor. John Engler was the state’s last three-term governor, and both Jennifer Granholm and Rick Snyder after him have served two terms. There will be a huge turnover come January 1 in the state Legislature, with 70% of the Senate term-limited and 20% of the House having to leave office. Critics of the law say while it was well-meaning, it has allowed lobbyists to become the state’s real policy makers, with no limits on how long they can have those jobs.