Hardy seeks term limits for sheriffs, judges, district attorneys
Rep. Rickey Hardy’s bill to create a Who Dat license plate has gotten much of the press, but another bill prefiled by the Lafayette Democrat would have more far-reaching consequences. House Bill 101 would impose term limits on judges, sheriffs and district attorneys. Currently district court judges and district attorneys serve six-year terms (appellate judges serve 10-year terms); sheriffs serve four-year terms.
Hardy’s bill would impose a three-term limit on those elected officials beginning in January of 2011; terms which began before Jan. 1, 2011 would not be subject to retroactive term limits. For example, if Lafayette Sheriff Mike Neustrom, first elected in 1999 and now in his third term in office, is reelected or runs unopposed in 2011, his three-term limit would kick in with the start of his fourth term beginning in 2012.
“If it’s good for the governor, it’s good for the lieutenant governor, it’s good for the attorney general, it’s good for the Legislature, then it should be good for everybody else,” Hardy says of his rationale for filing the bill, adding that incumbency often means a lock on office. “It allows the little man to be able to participate in democracy, and to elect the D.A.s and judges and sheriffs, because we all know in the state of Louisiana, once you become an elected official it takes an act of Congress to remove you, and it gives no one else a chance to be able to serve.”
It takes a change to the Louisiana constitution to impose term limits on elected officials. Consequently, HB101 would require a two-thirds vote by both chambers of the Legislature as well as approval by voters statewide.
Hardy is far and away the most energetic among the Acadiana legislative delegation when it comes to prefiling legislation. Among the dozen bills filed by the former school board rep ahead of the spring session is a bill that would require persons arrested for DWI be subject to a mandatory 48-hour stay in jail before bailing out; a bill that would criminalize saggy pants with a first-offense comprising a $500 fine and 40 hours of community service; and a bill that would double the drug-free zone around schools and other designated areas from the current 1,000 feet. Hardy is also reprising legislation that would require persons convicted of some drug offense to have a special license plate or identification card.
... written by citizen , March 08, 2010 - 11:14 pm
I'd like to see a 3 year term on State Representatives, how about that.
... written by Unpaid Terrorist , March 09, 2010 - 12:47 am
Good. Very Good.
... written by Cajun Transplant , March 09, 2010 - 01:42 am
Thank you! "Hardy is far and away the most energetic among the Acadiana legislative delegation when it comes to prefiling legislation." Not only that, when I contacted him about another educational matter, his response was immediate! We appreciate your good work, Rep. Hardy!
... written by Morrow , March 09, 2010 - 02:51 am
Its about d**n time somebody takes on this issue. I'm sick to death of sons inheriting lifetime jobs from fathers and judges sitting forever and sheriffs who say they'll serve 8 yrs but change their minds! Every six or eight years should see a turnover and new faces and ideas. Don't forget tax assessors and clerks of court also !!!
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , March 09, 2010 - 05:09 am
TERM LIMITS WOULD BE A SURE-FIRE SOLUTION FOR ELIMINATING THOUSANDS OF POLITICIANS ON THE LIFETIME RETIREMENT BENEFIT, AND HEALTH CARE FOR LIFE, ( Its not as if they sacrificed their blood or a limb in a war!!! ) IF THAT IS NOT A RIDICULOUS FLEECING OF THE TAX-PAYERS, BUT, hardy is banging his head against a 10' thick concrete bunker...... I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY POLITICIANS WHO REMAIN WITH THEIR HAND EXTENDED BEHIND THEIR BACK, ON THE TAKE $ AND BEGGING THE PERKS THAT ARE FURNISHED BY THE DAMN LOBBYISTS, SHOULD BE CARED FOR AT THE TAXPAYERS EXPENSE.........CUT TERM LIMITS, IN TWO TERMS A POLITICIAN WILL MAYBE GET THE JOB DONE, IF NOT, THEN HE IS INCAPABLE OF DOING THE JOB............... A NEW BROOM SWEEPS BEST, A USED BROOM IS WORTHLESS.........
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , March 09, 2010 - 09:24 am
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR ONE IS NOT PRIVILEGED, TO SIX OR EIGHT YEARS TO PRODUCE THE GOODS............... THATS WHAT DRAWS MANY TO A POLITICAL CAREER, A GENUINE 14 KT. THIEF SCAMER CAN BILK MANY UNSUSPECTING PEEPS ESPECIALLY WITH THE HELP OF THE MONEY CRONYS WHO RECEIVE 60 % OF THE HONEY. "YOU GO TO A UNIVERSITY OBTAIN A PETROLEUM DEGREE, YOU GO TO WORK FOR A MAJOR OIL COMPANY--- ONE YEAR LATER ITS FOUND, YOU CAN'T CARRY THE LOAD. YOU'LL BE TURNING THE PRODUCE AT PIGGLY WIGGLY.............. *** IN POLITICS, ESPECIALLY HERE IN LOUISIANA THE VOTERS ARE SO ACCUSTOMED TO 3RD. RATE POLITICIANS WITH STICKY FINGERS, THAT AS LONG AS THEY CONFESS LIKE JIMMY SWAGGART, THEY ARE FORGIVEN AND CHAMPIONED AS HEROES, ASK DUREL AND EDWARDS...............
... written by Resident , March 09, 2010 - 06:30 pm
Hardy's term limit proposal is great, but he needs to back off the quasi-fascist ideas. Saggy pants look stupid, but criminalizing it? Gimme a break. And this license plats/ID business. So a guy who gets caught with a bag of weed has to have some ridiculous symbol on his car?
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , March 09, 2010 - 06:43 pm
RESIDENT, * REALLY ! I WOULD WANT TO SEE ALL POLITICIANS WHO HAVE BEEN INDICTED, MADE TO INSTALL A FLASHING NEON SIGN ON BACK OF THEIR AUTOMOBILE, STATING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH THEFT........... REP. HARDY IS WHAT I CALL AN "ATTEMPTER ", HE FALLS JUST SHORT OF CHAMPIONING ANY WARRANTED, JUST CAUSE.......HE IS A POTSTIRRER, AND CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES, HE IS TOO CLOSE TO THE TREES ACTUALLY, SURROUNDED BY HIS PEERS WHICH ARE ALL THE SAME LOWLIFE SCAMMING ARTIST........ IF HE WANTS TO DO A GREAT SERVICE TO HUMANITY, I'D SAY FILE A BILL MANDATING, ALL REGISTERED PEDOPHILE'S WEAR A BADGE ON THEIR CHEST SPECIFYING THEIR CRIME AGAINST CHILDREN, AND A BRIGHT RED LICENSE PLATE DENOTING THEIR CRIME........ NOW, THERE YOU GO MR. HARDY,EVEN THE LOWLIFE THIEVES COULD'NT TURN THEIR BACKS ON SUCH A WORTHY AND JUST CAUSE....... SORRY, THIS IS A PET PEEVE OF MINE, I'D LIKE 5 MINUTES WITH SUCH MONSTERS !
... written by Resident , March 09, 2010 - 08:52 pm
NS, I agree that sexual or violent crime against another person warrants harsh justice, although a 17 year old touching his 16 year old girlfriend should not be viewed in the same light as a 40 year old molesting a 10 year old.
My pet peeve is this "war on drugs" mentality that criminalizes people who commit no harm against another, especially with simple possession. I suppose distribution is a bit more tricky, but demand dictates supply...and the dealer doesn't force people to overdose on a dangerous drug.
Mr. Hardy should get a grip and focus on significant issues like term limits instead of license plates.
... written by northsidian , March 09, 2010 - 11:34 pm
What does the almighty chamber of commerce say about this? Lifetime politicians are the reason everything is so ******-up now!! Term limit all of them!! Also no retirement benefits for the blood suckers!!
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