Small Town News

Bills propose term limits, eliminating stipends

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Bunting supports 12-year maximum service

The longest-serving legislator from Sussex County has signed on to legislation that could end his political career.

Sen. George Bunting, D-Bethany Beach, is cosponsoring Senate Bill 61, which calls for term limits of 12 years for members of the General Assembly.

"I think term limits sometimes bring freshness," said Bunting, who serves as chairman of three committees and sits on 10. "I have a lot of trouble getting people to show up for paid committees. Some legislators don't show up for the meetings, yet they get paid. When a newer legislator comes in, they are very conscious about being there on time and doing more."

Bunting said some legislators have businesses to run or other

jobs to do, so they aren't in Dover as much. But, he said, that doesn't make it right.

"In the 1980s, I put one of the first term-limits bills out there, and it kind of got laughed at," Bunting said. "I'm not sure this bill is going anywhere either. Maybe there's another way to approach this thing, like having legislators sign into meetings to get paid. Once some folks have been there awhile, they stop coming, while I and others attend religiously."

Bunting said he sees and understands the opposition to the bill, especially in Sussex County. He and Rep. Daniel Short are the only cosponsors of the bill, which is proposed by Sen. Michael Katz, D-Centerville.

"As a Sussex Countian, we have to work a little harder because we are a distinct minority, and it takes longer for us to get to leadership," Bunting said. "So what's it say for me... if this passes, I'd be gone."

Sen. Robert Gilligan, D-Sher-

wood Park said the bill is unnecessary because term limits are automatic during the 2-year or 4-year election cycle.

Another bill, Senate Bill 62, calls for eliminating stipends received by committee members and leadership officials in the Legislature.

The two bills would drastically change the course of Delaware politics if passed.

"When I look around Legislative Hall, I'm taken by the big plaques that honor members who have served 20 years or more," Katz said in a release. "It used to be a rarity, but now it's becoming commonplace. I've always thought that serving in the Legislature should be more a form of community service than a career."

SB 62 would eliminate stipends handed out to committee leaders, which according to Katz would save about $327,000. As for eliminating stipends, Katz said he thinks it would be one way to help balance the budget.

He received the financial information from the nonpartisan Controller General's Office, which states the speaker of the House and Senate president pro tem receive nearly $20,000, while members of the Joint Bond Bill and Sunset committees each receive almost $4,000 - in all a total of up to $327,000.

"While the savings are real, it

misses the bigger picture," Katz said in a release. "As a member of the Joint Sunset Committee, I'll be the first person to admit these committees require a lot of extra work but we should view these posts as part of the duty we signed up for and not as an additional way to pad our paychecks."





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