Committee supports new term limits bill

AUGUSTA – In a hurriedly called work session while most of the Legislature was in session, the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee voted Thursday to recommend that voters be asked to approve an extension of the term limits law from four terms to six next November.

The panel had earlier voted for a similar bill but ran afoul of the rules by amending a bill that would have repealed term limits with a measure extending the law.

“When that was ruled not germane, that killed the bill,” said Sen. Lisa Marrache, D-Waterville, co-chairman of the panel. “What we have done is report out a new bill that does the same thing.”

But while approval of the first measure was unanimous, the new bill drew opposition from two lawmakers. One of them was Rep. Bonnie Gould, R-South Berwick, a freshman lawmaker. She said she still opposes term limits and supports sending the question to the voters, but is “very uncomfortable” about reporting another bill to the Legislature in its final days of the session.

The measure would not apply to current lawmakers who are in their fourth and final term under the current law. The committee expects the bill will be debated next week.