Former Senator Exposes ‘Goal’ of Majority in Washington

Sixteen U.S. senators have now been serving in the Senate at least 20 years. Seven of them have been serving for at least 30 years, while two, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., have logged at least 40 years in the upper chamber.

Meanwhile, over in the House of Representatives, 71 current congressmen have served at least 20 years. Sixteen of them, including top Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer, have held their seats for at least 30 years. Two members have spent more than 40 years in the lower chamber, and one, Democrat John Conyers of Michigan, has logged 52 years in the House. This is in the chamber where members must stand for re-election every two years.

Former Sen. Tom Coburn, who served six years in the House and 10 more in the Senate before retiring of his own accord, would like to abolish the “career politician” by instituting term limits.

“Our founders never intended for people to serve lengthy, lengthy terms in office,” Coburn said during a recent appearance on the nationally syndicated radio show “Caravan to Midnight.” “As a matter of fact, the only person at the Constitutional Convention who was against term limits was Alexander Hamilton. But they didn’t think they needed it; they called it rotation in office. And, of course, they were right until Congress fixed itself to where it’s the decider of everything, along with the Supreme Court and executive branch, and individuals in this country no longer have the power.

“And so, instead of Washington telling us what to do, what I would like to see is the American people start telling Washington what to do.” (Read more from “Former Senator Exposes ‘Goal’ of Majority in Washington” HERE)

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