Roy Targets Washington’s ‘Entrenchment’ With No-Pay Term Limit Bill

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Term limits have always been an issue that members walk on eggshells around in the halls of Congress; however, once your term has an expiration date, it might be easier to give one to others.

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who chose not to run for reelection to Congress, lost the GOP primary for attorney general. His job now has an inevitable “term limit,” but that isn’t stopping him from legislating.

The Daily Signal has learned Roy is set to introduce a bill meant to limit terms in Congress to only six in the House and two in the Senate without limiting voter choice.

The catch is: They can stay if they want; they just become volunteers.

“For too long, Washington has rewarded longevity with greater power, higher pay, and deeper entrenchment,” Roy told the Daily Signal.

“If members of Congress want to serve beyond 12 years absent from a constitutional amendment limiting them, they should do so without taxpayer-funded salaries and without monopolizing committee chairs and leadership positions,” he continued.

Roy’s bill, the Statutory Term Limits on Congressional Pay & Power Act, proposes that if lawmakers want to stay in Congress beyond 12 years of cumulative service, they become rank-and-file volunteers. Across both chambers, they will receive no pay, no benefits, and cannot hold any leadership position or chair a committee.

If passed, it will go into place with the 121st Congressional session in 2029. If any members are continuously reelected until then, many will meet this 12-year threshold. In theory, it could be any combination of the two-year terms in the House and the six-year terms in the Senate.

“This bill helps ensure that public service remains exactly that: service to the people, not a lifelong career in politics,” Roy continues.

Notable members potentially affected beginning in 2029 would be Sens. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; and many more in the Senate.

In the House, all Republican leadership would be affected, including Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; James Comer, R-Ky.; Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; Richard Neal, D-Mass.; and Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who has been in office for over 45 years.

Roy claims Americans “overwhelmingly” support term limits, which many polls have proven. However, it’s the members who are going to have to vote to essentially kill their job, which might be easy for Roy but not for members who have planned for long, powerful political careers.

The president is the only executive office with a two-term, four-year limit, enacted in 1951 by the 22nd Amendment after Franklin D. Roosevelt broke the long-standing tradition, set by George Washington, of serving only two terms.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., has recently suggested legislation to set an 18-year term limit on Supreme Court justices, who currently serve for life. Per Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution, they serve “during good Behavior,” meaning until they retire, die, or are removed through impeachment. With increasing distrust in the Supreme Court, this legislation might make its way to the floor.

If continuously reelected, Khanna would be one affected by Roy’s bill.