Unite New York
Is it possible many incumbents win race after race because of their accomplishments? Of course. Still, we shouldn’t discount the advantages government power affords candidates for office. Generally, incumbents have better name recognition, can reward their campaign contributors and other key constituencies with tax dollars or other special perks, and have the ability to punish those who oppose them.
A good friend of Unite NY recently penned this great OpEd on how term limits could curtain the power of career politicians and empower voters.
Term limits would diminish the power of incumbency in New York
Imposing limits on the amount of time politicians can wield power will boost competition and curb opportunities for corruption — both good for democracy.
By
According to an analysis from the Center on the American Governor, from 1980 to 2013, the gubernatorial reelection rate was nearly 80 percent. The last New York governor to run for reelection and lose was Mario Cuomo, a Democrat, in the Republican wave election of 1994, almost three decades ago.
If all this sounds too cynical, I would suggest even the possibility of politicians abusing power in such a way that ensures their reelection is grounds for imposing term limits on both executive and legislative branch officials in New York.
The built-in advantages of incumbency create an unfair political environment, cutting against one of the key arguments against term limits: that they restrict a voter’s freedom to kick politicians out of office.
In a system where government operates to promote the common good, that would be true. But that’s not the reality of our political system. Just think of the long line of New York officials who, facing scandals, have had to resign in just the past 15 years.
Moreover, according to a poll conducted by the reform group Unite NY, 80% of New York voters want term limits for governor. It would be difficult to fill a large room with people who might feel disenfranchised because they can no longer vote for a candidate for their third or even fourth consecutive four-year term.
Another serious critique of term limits is that they disincentivize lawmakers and executive branch officials from delving into the important minutiae of policy problems. This lack of policymaking experience, the argument goes, would concentrate decision-making power in the hands of longtime staff, lobbyists, and the state bureaucracy.
This criticism can be addressed in a number of ways. First, state government is already too big, imposing the highest state and local tax burden in the country. Reducing its size and scope would devolve power to local officials and the private sector, thereby shrinking state government’s sphere of influence and the need to develop expertise in a wide range of policy issues.
Second, there are reform proposals to professionalize fiscal and economic analyses in government. For example, the Empire Center has proposed establishing a Legislative Budget Office to provide a nonpartisan perspective on issues coming before the state Legislature. Lawmakers would need to insulate any such office from politics and ensure it is using sound methodological tools for its analyses. This office could act as a trusted source of information for policymakers, allowing them to rely less on lobbyists and other self-interested parties.
Moreover, it shouldn’t take years to understand how the government works or develop an understanding of the policy concerns that matter to voters. Those in government who truly care about the issues will take the time to learn.
Given the immense power state government has, and the corruptibility of human nature, imposing limits on the amount of time politicians can wield power represents a reasonable effort to reduce opportunities for corruption and allow for more competition in political campaigns.
To her credit, Gov. Kathy Hochul has already proposed limiting statewide officials to just two consecutive four-year terms. This should be a top priority for the governor and the state Legislature in 2024.
New York faces many complicated and costly challenges. While term limits do not represent a cure-all, they would demonstrate that Albany is interested in a change of direction.
Bob DiCostanzo lives in Guilderland.
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