Eighty-three years ago, lawmakers' terms doubled as transportation evolved and allowed lawmakers to keep in better touch with their constituents. Now, some lawmakers want to lengthen their terms still further, to four years. They say it would allow them to spend less time fund-raising and more time legislating.
Opponents see it as a power grab, intended to further decay the democratic rule of the people.
The subject is a touchy one on Beacon Hill this week, after the House on Wednesday voted to lift the eight-year term limit of House Speaker Thomas Finneran. Ken White, director of the government watchdog group Common Cause, said the move to extend lawmakers' terms is another attempt to make the Legislature less responsive to voters. Sen. Brian A. Joyce, D-Milton, disagreed. He said more time between elections would mean lawmakers could spend less time attending fund-raisers and asking for money and more time serving constituents. Lawmakers have proposed the idea of extending their terms before.