THE TROJAN HORSE COMES TO LAKELAND

As part of a statewide drive against a proposal by State Representative Baxter Troutman (R - Winter Haven), a 12 foot horse was brought to the Lakeland City Hall Monday with the banner "STOP Trojan Horse Politicians".

The horse belongs to Scott Tillman, state director of the national organization "Don't Touch Term Limits" in Michigan, who says he was asked by his Florida counterpart, George Blumel of Palm Beach County. The Lakeland stop is the fourth of a series of stops in a three week tour to oppose the bill sponsored by Troutman. The bill would extend term limits for legislators from the current eight years to twelve.

Tillman says it is an idea by legislators and lobbyists which would be only the first step in eventually eliminating term limits altogether.

Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1992 to limit legislative service to eight consecutive years.

Florida is not the first place this "trojan horse" has been shown. Back in December, Tillman cruised around the Michigan state capitol in Lansing to protest an attempt by several legislators about to be forced out by term limits to weaken that state's law. And last month, it appeared in Lincoln, Nebraska as that state's legislature started public hearings on four proposals to eliminate limits there.