FATHER OF TERM LIMITS IN FLORIDA OUT OF RETIREMENT

There is a proposed constitutional amendment scheduled for next year's ballot which would modify the current term limits for legislators from eight to 12 years. That has caused the man many consider the father, if not the grandfather, of the term limits movement to come out of retirement to fight the battle once again.

According to Lakeland Ledger political reporter Bill Rufty's column today, Jack Gargan had been living the quiet life on Cedar Key since he lost a campaign for Congress three years ago. He was enlisted by a national organization opposed to repealing or changing term limits to help their efforts against the proposed amendment in Florida, sponsored in the House by Winter Haven Republican Baxter Troutman.

Gargan has been involved with the national term limits movement for a number of years, founding the organization THRO ("Throw the Hypocritical Rascals Out"), and also serving as chairman of the Reform Party before H. Ross Perot attempted to reclaim control of the party he founded.

The proposed amendment would not apply to anyone currently serving in the Legislature, only to those elected for the first time in 2006 or after. According to Troutman, "Of the 16 states that originally approved term limits, 75 percent of them have since modified their positions on the eight-year limit because they found it unworkable...A majority of members in the House from both parties voted for the resolution to put 12 years on the ballot. None of us now in the Legislature will benefit because we will still leave on the eight-year limit."