|
|
| |
| Fri, Nov. 21, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| | 
Term limits proposal gains ground Tuesday, Oct 12, 2004 By David Robinson Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - A small majority of Arkansas voters oppose a proposal to extend the number of terms for state lawmakers, according to a new independent poll. Fifty-one percent of likely voters polled on Amendment 1 say they will vote against it, while 40 percent say they favor the idea, according to the poll commissioned by the Arkansas News Bureau and Stephens Media Group. The results were of interest to political observers considering that in 1992 Arkansas voters approved the existing term limits by a 60-40 margin. Constitutional Amendment 1 would extend the maximum time state lawmakers can serve to 12 years in each house. Instead of today's six-year maximum for House members, the amendment would allow six two-year terms. Senators would get three four-year terms rather than the two four-year terms today. State lawmakers put the measure on the ballot, but the campaign for it is coming primarily from business and industry groups. Their argument is that existing limits force lawmakers out of office just as they're gaining the experience needed to be effective. The poll results were encouraging to Amendment 1's supporters and a surprise to Ernie Oakleaf of Opinion Research Associates Inc., which conducted the survey Oct. 4-6. Oakleaf said he was surprised not only that the proposal is doing so well but that the poll's 9-point undecided margin is as low as it is. "I wouldn't think this would be an issue people are spending a lot of time thinking about, especially in a presidential election year," Oakleaf said. "But I think that shows the voters are paying attention. I would think that it's very much an issue that's in play for the election. It's something that could go either way." Opinion Research interviewed by telephone 502 randomly selected registered voters who said they were planning to vote in the Nov. 2 general election. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. "It's an outstanding trend," said State Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman Stacy Pittman, who has been traveling the state campaigning for the amendment. "Earlier polling showed a much much wider margin, but as Arkansans are understanding what Amendment 1 is about - it is extending not repealing term limits - as they understand the need for legislators with more knowledge and experience, we're not surprised to see these numbers changing like they are." Tim Jacob of Save Term Limits said he wasn't surprised by the poll results given the well-financed campaign for Amendment 1. "I'm glad we're ahead, especially being outspent 10 to 1 so far," said Jacob. He said his organization has 200 volunteers and about a $10,000 budget. "If we inform voters we'll continue that lead. But I'm pretty much ready for a campaign of misrepresentation and that's what we've got to watch out for." Pittman said a large grassroots movement is involved in the effort to pass Amendment 1. The groups include professional trade organizations from business to labor to health care, plus the Arkansas Farm Bureau, she said. "We'll continue to get our message out to the Arkansas voters," she said. Ron Russell, the chamber's president and CEO, said he hoped as much as $500,000 could be raised to support the effort. "This is the powerful against the people," Jacob said. "They're trying to buy back the powers that they lost in the Legislature." Janine Parry, associate professor of political science at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, said the poll showed more support for the amendment than she expected. "People aren't wholly opposed to it and that's despite the fact that people generally are predisposed to vote no on ballot measures - you know, when in doubt, vote no," said Parry, also director of the university's Arkansas Poll. "It wouldn't take a whole lot of campaigning to shift the outcome of the vote." To be effective, she said Amendment 1's support would need to come from those other than state lawmakers, who would run the risk of appearing self-serving. |
