A good way to kick off the discussion (03/19/07)

Toward the end of Saturday morning's legislative update session at the Jay County Courthouse, moderator Pat Bennett posed a thoughtful question.

Having heard both State Sen. Allen Paul and State Rep. Bill Davis complain about the nature of the legislative process, particularly this session, he asked, "If you were king, what would you change about it?"

The answers were illuminating.

"Everything is geared to the next election," said Paul, decrying "the constant raising of funds and the growing involvement of lobbyists."

The Richmond Republican also noted that the tone of politics has grown more nasty in the 20-plus years he has been in office. "People seem more outspoken than they have in the past," he said. "It's a very vicious way to make a living."

Davis also cited the constant campaign cycle. He also made three specific - though long-shot - reforms that could make a difference.

First, he said, four-year terms for representatives and six-year terms for state senators could help, though he acknowledged that's a change voters are unlikely to want.

Second, political gerrymandering of districts has to stop.

Both parties have done it for scores of years, but there have been serious proposals from House Republicans to turn the process over to an independent commission. "When we allow the type of gerrymandering that's been done by both sides, people don't have a voice," Davis said.

If that doesn't work, there's a third step.

"If we cannot stop the gerrymandering, we need to go to term limits," Davis said. "I hope it doesn't come to that."

They were concrete answers to a thoughtful question, and coming from folks on the inside of the legislative process they deserve to be taken very seriously. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]