The Failure of Term Limits in Florida (Florida Government and Politics)

“The definitive account of how term limits have reshaped contemporary Florida politics.”—Seth C. McKee, author of __Republican Ascendancy in Southern U.S. House Elections__ “If you want to know why term limits were adopted in Florida and how they have changed the legislature and lawmaking process and the balance of power between institutional actors you absolutely have to read this book.”—Aubrey Jewett, coauthor of __Politics in Florida, Third Edition__ In 1992, Florida voters approved an amendment to the state’s Constitution creating eight-year term limits for legislators—making Florida the second-largest state to implement such a law. Eight years later, sixty-eight term-limited senators and representatives were forced to retire, and the state saw the highest number of freshman legislators since the first legislative session in 1845. Proponents view term limits as part of a battle against the rising political class and argue that limits will foster a more honest and creative body with ideal “citizen” legislators. However, in this comprehensive twenty-year study, the first of its kind to examine the effects of term limits in Florida, Kathryn DePalo shows nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, these limits created a more powerful governor, legislative staffers, and lobbyists. Because incumbency is now certain, leadership races—especially for Speaker—are sometimes completed before members have even cast a single vote. Furthermore, legislators rarely leave public office; they simply return to local offices where they continue to exert influence. __The Failure of Term Limits in Florida__ is a tour de force examination of the unintended and surprising consequences of the new incumbency advantage in the Sunshine State. In 1992, Florida voters approved an amendment to the state's Constitution creating eight-year term limits for legislators—making Florida the second-largest state, after California, to implement such a law. Eight years later, sixty-eight term-limited senators and representatives were forced to retire, and the state saw the highest number of freshman legislators since the first legislative session in 1845.Proponents view term limits as part of a battle against the rising political class and argue that limits will foster a more honest and creative body with ideal “citizen” legislators. However, in this comprehensive twenty-year study, the first of its kind to examine the effects of term limits in Florida, Kathryn DePalo shows nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, these limits created a more powerful governor, legislative staffers, and lobbyists. Because incumbency is now certain, leadership races—especially for Speaker—are sometimes completed before members have even cast a single vote. Furthermore, legislators rarely leave public office; they simply return to local offices, where they continue to exert influence.The Failure of Term Limits in Florida is a tour de force examination of the unintended and surprising consequences of the new incumbency advantage in the Sunshine State. Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 List of Figures 10 List of Tables 12 Foreword 14 Acknowledgments 18 Introduction: The Campaign for Term Limits 20 1. Change Comes to the Florida Legislature 35 2. Electoral Competition and the New Incumbency Advantage 52 3. A Different Breed of Florida Legislators 74 4. Political Career Paths of Term Limited Legislators 98 5. The Race for Leadership 112 6. Loss of Institutional Memory and the Business of the Legislature 141 7. Filling the Void: Governors, Staff, and Lobbyists 176 8. Term Limits and the Future of the Florida Legislature 206 Appendix A. Term Limited States 212 Appendix B. Florida Term Limits Ballot Language 214 Appendix C. Sample Interview Questions 216 Appendix D. Interview Subjects 218 Notes 220 Bibliography 244 Index 256 A 256 B 256 C 256 D 257 E 257 F 257 G 258 H 258 I 258 J 258 K 258 L 259 M 259 N 259 O 259 P 259 Q 260 R 260 S 260 T 260 U 261 V 261 W 261 Z 261 Proponents Of Term Limits Have Constantly Argued That Term Limits Of Its Legislature Created More Honest And Creative Legislative Body, But Depalo's Twenty-year Study Of Term Limits In Florida Shows This Is Not The Case, Finding That Term Limits Create A More Powerful Governor, Legislative Staffers, And Lobbyists.