Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R ) is teaming up with former Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) to call for congressional term limits, serving as bipartisan co-chairs for the group U.S. Term Limits.
In a New York Times op-ed published on Wednesday, DeSantis and Trone argued that Capitol Hill “shouldn’t be a retirement home” and called on term limits to be established either through an act of Congress or by individual states.
“Neither approach would be easy, but the threat of a convention would almost certainly compel Congress to pass an amendment, making the arduous trek down either path critical to creating a more representative government. At a time when the country feels increasingly divided, this effort at reform would bring people together,” DeSantis and Trone wrote.
“If term limits are good for the presidency, why not for Congress? After all, members of Congress wield enormous influence over our lives,” the pair continued. “They write our federal laws, control our tax dollars and provide oversight of the executive branch. The concentration of power among career politicians fuels partisanship by empowering lobbyists who profit off longstanding relationships, and deepens public cynicism about government.”
According to a poll released by McLaughlin and Associates for U.S. Term Limits earlier this year, 83 percent of Americans said they support congressional term limits.
The bipartisan effort comes as the age of public officials has become a point of contention in Washington. Three lawmakers have died this year and last year President Biden, 82, dropped his reelection bid over concerns about his fitness for office. President Trump, 79, has also received some pushback over his age.
