WITH RESERVATIONS, EMERSON VOTES FOR TERM LIMITS MEASURE

The following are remarks made by Rep. Bill Emerson, R-Mo., following the defeat Wednesday in the House of Representatives Wednesday night of a measure to limit lawmakers' terms in office. The Cape Girardeau Congressman voted for term limits.

"In 1992, Missourians voted in overwhelming numbers for term limits. What they voted for is not what is before the House, and I have never come to the conclusion that the arbitrary limitation of terms is a very good idea. I have long maintained that we have a good term limitation procedure in place right now that was devised by the founding fathers. It's called an election, and one occurs every two years.

"There is no panacea to solving problems, there are no magic answers, and I am concerned that the arbitrary limitation of terms will create as many problems, if not more, than it may by chance resolve.

"At the same time, I have no interest in blocking the will of the people. They do have the right to amend the Constitution on this issue if that is their will. I think that the best way to have a reasonable national debate on this subject is for Congress itself to not be the impediment; to set the wheels in motion for an amendment to the Constitution if the people so desire, and thus return the matter to state legislatures for debate and ratification or rejection. I am voting to do that.

"I believe the substantive debate on this subject has some way to go. The debate is not fully joined at this time. I don't believe the issues involved, pro and con, have adequately been laid before the people, and I believe debate in state legislatures will help heighten the people's awareness of what is at stake. For example, I am not certain that the arbitrary limitation of terms will result in the positive benefits that ardent proponents believe would result. The arbitrary limitation of terms could limit the choice of the people and empower an unelected bureaucracy to stretch beyond its current reach.

"If the debate were to end right here and the choice devolved purely upon the House of Representatives, I would consider my responsibility to be different than it is in the current context. My vote is to not be an impediment of the people's will. I am voting to send the issue to the respective states for further discussion and debate -- ratification or rejection -- whatever the will of the people may be."