The two top Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly would like to prevent politicians from serving more than two terms in the state’s highest executive offices.
And their candidate for governor is pushing for a constitutional amendment that would put limits on how long a state legislator could continue to serve.
Getting rid of well-known incumbents could be a way for Republicans, who've had a hard time winning statewide office in recent years, to make inroads. But Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno insists that's not the objective.
"It's very difficult to recruit candidates for some of these races because of the overwhelming power of incumbency,” Radogno said, “and that was the case when Republicans had it as well as Democrats. We need to be careful that this is about good policy going forward. It's not about gigging the other side."
But their effort to institute to limit the governor and other top executive officers to two terms was thwarted when Democrats refused to let the measure out of an obscure Senate subcommittee.
Sen. James Clayborne, D-Belleville, noted that the sponsors – Radogno and House Republican Leader Jim Durkin -- both have had lengthy careers as legislators.
"If I propose a constitutional amendment that I believe will diminish incumbency, will allow people with great ideas and fresh ideas to come into ... these chambers,” said Clayborne, “then I should be willing to practice."
Neither Durkin nor Radogno would commit to any self-imposed limit on their terms as leaders.
Meanwhile, GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner is moving forward with a plan to limit legislators’ terms.
In tandem with his campaign for governor, the wealthy private-equity investor has helped fund a campaign to collect half a million signatures to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.
He'll be in Springfield today to help submit the petitions.
Statehouse Bureau Chief Amanda Vinicky contributed heavily to this report.