TERM LIMITS: GROUP WANTS TO RETURN `LEGISLATURE TO PEOPLE'

Limiting the number of years state and federal lawmakers serve would eliminate career politicians and build a legislature that favors the interests of common citizens over those of special interest groups.

That's the message Missourians for Limited Terms is trying to get across to Missouri voters. The group is trying to gain support for two constitutional amendments that would limit a lawmakers' tenure to eight years.

"Our task is to get more than 100,000 signatures to support both amendments and to get this on the 1992 ballot," said Greg Upchurch, a St. Louis attorney and chairman of Missourians for Limited Terms.

Upchurch was in Cape Girardeau Tuesday for a public hearing on the issue. Excluding media representatives, three people attended the hearing, held on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University, and none spoke on the topic.

Upchurch said attendance at a Monday hearing in Springfield drew about 20 people and one in Joplin drew about a dozen.

No limits exist that mandate the number of terms a state or federal legislator can serve. Upchurch said that without term limitations power in the legislature is held by lawmakers with the most seniority.

Upchurch, who has testified before the Missouri House in favor of term limitations, said the only group that seems to be opposed to the idea is legislators themselves.

"In Congress, we return people at a rate of 97 to 98 percent," he said. "That's an `A' according to any grading scale I've ever seen. But I can't believe people are actually giving Congress an `A.'

Upchurch said based on his organization's tabulation of the terms of state lawmakers over the past 10 years, House members serve an average of 11.8 years. In the senate, the average tenure is 18 years, he said.

Though the amendment calls for limitations for both state and federal lawmakers, Upchurch said it is questionable that the state could limit the term of federal legislators. But, he said, laws limiting the terms of elected officials in other states and cities have already passed.

California, Colorado and Oklahoma passed term limit amendments in 1990. Kansas City last fall enacted term limits for elected city officials. Most recently, term limitations have been passed in San Antonio, Texas.

Upchurch said, ideally, term limitations would create a system where men and women from all walks of life would be able to run for office and be effective, without making a career out of politics. He said legislators would serve briefly, then return home to live under the laws they have passed.

Such a measure, he said, would bring more women and minorities into legislatures.

A survey mailed by Missourians for Limited Terms has garnered more than 800 responses, and 75 percent of them favor the idea, he said.

"We feel less-experienced legislators will be more interested in serving the public," he said.

Missourians for Limited Terms is a bipartisan group funded by non-tax-deductible donations. It has raised about $10,000 through direct mail solicitations, but estimates it will need $90,000 before the issue is put on the ballot.

Campaigns to collect signatures for both amendments will begin in July, Upchurch said, adding that the 8th Congressional District, because of its population base, will be an important part of that process.

The organization will continue a weeklong series of public hearings in St. Joseph and Kansas City, and later in the week in Jefferson City, Hannibal and Kirksville.