Murphey News Story
April, 2009
People to Decide Statewide Office Term Limits

 OKLAHOMA CITY (April 14, 2009) – Oklahomans will have the option to stop politicians from becoming entrenched in office following House passage of statewide term limits legislation today.

 Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 would let the people decide whether to limit terms of office for most statewide elected officials. The change, which would amend the state Constitution, requires a vote of the people. Following passage in the House today, and the Senate previously, the legislation now proceeds to the Secretary of State for ballot assignment.

 “The people decided overwhelmingly more than 15 years ago to limit the number of years a state legislator can serve because they believe an elected official should be a servant of the people. The voters want their leaders to make a sacrifice to serve the people, and then go and live under the laws they helped enact,” said Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie and House author of the bill with Senator Randy Brogden, R-Owasso. “Prior to legislative term limits, many career politicians were an elite class who made their life in politics. The people of Oklahoma want their leaders to be citizen legislators who stay in touch with the real world.”

 Currently, state lawmakers are limited to 12 years in office, and the governor is restricted to serving two consecutive, four year terms. SJR 12 would instead limit the governor to serve no more than eight cumulative years in office.

 That same eight total years rule would also apply to the Lt. Gov, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Insurance Commissioner, all of whom serve 4-year terms.

 The resolution also would limit anyone from serving as Corporation Commissioner for more than a total of 12 years.

 “Since term limits were approved by the people for the state Legislature, there is increasingly a wide mix of backgrounds and careers found at the state Capitol,” said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. “This change will ensure fresh faces and new ideas are continuously entering the political process.”

Murphey News Story
Feb, 2009
The Effect of Term Limits on the Legislature

 OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 25, 2009) - Most statewide office holders would be limited to a maximum of eight years in office if legislation passed by a House committee today becomes law.

 The change would have to be approved by a vote of the people if passed by the Legislature.

 Currently, state lawmakers are limited to 12 years in office, and the governor is restricted to serving two consecutive, four year terms. Joint Resolution 1022, by Rep. Jason Murphey, would instead limit the governor to serve no more than eight cumulative years in office.

 That same eight total years rule would also apply to the Lt. Gov, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Insurance Commissioner, all of whom serve 4-year terms.

 The resolution also would limit anyone from serving as Corporation Commissioner for more than a total of 12 years.

 "The people of Oklahoma have shown that they overwhelmingly support term limits as a way to bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to the Capitol," said Murphey. "Term limits ensure accountability to the voters and prevent elected officials from becoming entrenched in office."

 The bill passed the House Rules Committee today and will now be considered by the full House.

Murphey Article
Jan, 2010
The Effect of Term Limits on the Legislature

 I find it helpful to use the occasion of the new legislative session to think back about my experiences and observations over the last three years and apply the knowledge picked up from this review to strategize how to conduct my efforts during the next year.

 Perhaps you have encountered someone of the belief that in order to win approval for legislation, an elected official must play a political game in which he compromises his principles.

 I can distinctly recall the comments of those who asserted it would be nearly impossible to pass legislation because politicians would be alienated with stances such as my pledge to sponsor a bill to reduce legislative pay, refusing lobbyists gifts and contributions, massively reducing government spending and voting against all new debt spending.

 However, with the support of a large number of reform-minded legislators, I have been blessed to win approval for a number of legislative initiatives codifying a modernization agenda designed to reduce the size of state government while making it more transparent and accessible to citizens. This was done while still refusing to compromise on these principles.

 There is no doubt that some legislators were offended by the pledges. And the more I think about it, the more I am convinced that there would have been a lot of truth in what those naysayers touted had it not been for the fact that Oklahomans forever changed state government by putting in place the policy of term limits.

 Up until just a few years ago, the Legislature was dominated by powerful politicians who could easily squash any attempt to seriously disrupt the status-quo. I don't know that I would have ever experienced legislative success in that environment. Alienating a powerful politician by hinting at change could have made a life-long enemy who would have held the reins of power for many years.

 Today, there are a large number of legislators who are truly "citizen legislators." as opposed to professional politicians. They have new ideas and don't mind listening to the ideas of others. We certainly do not always agree with each other, but it is not an unpardonable crime to suggest far-ranging changes. I have been honored to develop strong friendships with a large number of reform-minded legislators.

 As citizen legislators, we know that we will be out of the Legislature in a short time. We don't have time for petty grudges or blacklisting our colleagues. If we want to effect change, we must work together in the time that we have.

 In my view, term limits has been the single most effective tool employed by the people of Oklahoma to bring about a change for a better Oklahoma government.

Murphey Article
Feb, 2009
Sponsoring Additional Term Limits

 I am a big supporter of Oklahoma’s term limit laws.

 There is little doubt that term limits on Oklahoma legislators was a key factor in the breaking up of the “old guard” political machine that used to dominate Oklahoma politics.

 Those of us who are fighting to put an end to the abuses of the past face an increased likelihood of success, due in part to the fact that there are many new elected officials who have taken office in the past few years. Many of these individuals have not been corrupted by the political process. Unlike some of their predecessors, they are not career politicians. Oklahoma’s term limit law allows all representatives and senators to serve a maximum of only twelve years in the Legislature. After that, they are under a lifetime ban from ever again holding office in the Legislature.

 This new generation of representatives and senators is fulfilling one of the important visions of our nation’s founding fathers: the concept of a government in which an average citizen dedicates a few years of his or her life to representing the people as a citizen/statesman. At the end of his/her term of office, the legislator returns to the real world to live under the laws he or she helped create. This ensures that legislators will be more representative of the people, rather than becoming a class of the political elite.

 As a result of the term limits law, the Legislature is very different than it was just a few years ago. Gone are many of the “old guard” power bosses who tightly maintained the status quo. These politicians could have stayed in office almost indefinitely and they held powerful committee chairmanships where they would bottle up reform-minded legislation. They have been replaced by a group of energetic professionals, many of whom wish to enact pro-growth policies in order to change Oklahoma for the better. And, should some succumb to the temptation to become part of the status quo, they will inevitably be replaced because of term limits.

 I think all Oklahomans should take pride in the fact that Oklahoma was the first state to pass a legislative term limits law, and this year I am honored to serve as the House Author for Senate Joint Resolution 12. SJR 12 is sponsored by in the Senate by Senator Randy Brogdon and would allow the people to vote on expanding Oklahoma’s term limit laws to include statewide elected officials. A House version of the bill will be carried by Representative Mike Jackson, meaning there will be two opportunities for the effort to be successful this year.

 I have written about a term limits bill in two previous years, but unfortunately it was narrowly defeated both times. Now, because of term limits, yet another wave of freshman representatives and senators have been elected, and they have ensured the appointment of a new leadership team in the State Senate that will undoubtedly support the idea.

 I think this is a good sign for the future because it demonstrates the commitment of Oklahoma’s new leaders to continued reform. It is also important to remember that none of this would have been possible without the people of Oklahoma taking the initiative to pass the first term limit proposal through the initiative petition process.

 As your Representative, I will continue to advocate for this important reform.