NYC Council Speaker backs mayor in extending terms
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said yesterday she would support Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bid to extend city term limits to allow for continuity of leadership during the financial crisis.
"In these difficult times, I believe voters should have the choice to keep the current leadership," said Quinn, who had been considered a likely candidate for mayor in 2009. "If voters are not happy with any of us, they have the right to vote us out of office next November." Bloomberg, a Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent, is due to leave office at the end of 2009. He announced last week that he would push for City Council legislation to give city officials the option of running for a third term. Voters set the current limit - two consecutive four-year terms - in a 1993 referendum and reaffirmed it three years later.
A City Council member opposed to Bloomberg's plan has introduced a competing proposal that would require a voter referendum on any change in the term-limit law.
Quinn said at a City Hall news conference that she had decided to support Bloomberg's proposal "after careful conversations with my colleagues and careful deliberation." As the council's leader, Quinn wields considerable influence with its members, many of whom have not decided how to vote on the issue.
Quinn said Bloomberg had promised no quid pro quo in return for her support, nor had she threatened council members with the loss of perks and committee chairmanships if they opposed Bloomberg's bill.
Elected officials who oppose Bloomberg's plan said any change in the law should go before the voters, not be left up to the 51-member council.
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Isn't this how Rome burned?
If a children's story like Star Wars used the theme of term limit suspension to overthrow a Democracy you would think the people of New York would be smart enough to be up in arms over this.
Their "council" is apparently rolling over like puppy dogs for this.
I wonder why?
Welcome To Detroit
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