At a meeting before the session began, one of our own legislative leaders gave us only a 15 percent chance of success. I didn't think we had the votes. We had all underestimated the power of the grassroots pressure and publicity, and their effect on the legislators. Three of those took the podium and spoke for us. This is magnified when strong public opinion supports the objective.
Politicians respond to pressure from back home.
When one is trying to persuade a legislator to change his vote, confrontational tactics work against the objective. Based upon our experience in Louisiana, we see a tremendous opportunity for other states, like Georgia, to obtain a term limit law for state legislators. Using a parallel strategy, adapted to allow for obvious differences between our states, Georgia too can succeed in this endeavor. If we could get it done in the Louisiana Legislature last year, of all places, term limits ought to be achievable anywhere. Rense Johnson is Chairman of Citizens for Term Limits.