Tim Johnson's Broken Term-Limit Promise

As Tim Johnson gears up for his campaign to be re-elected for a fourth term, let us remember that he won election in the first place by promising to serve for only three terms:

On March 21 [2000], self-limiter Tim Johnson won the Republican for the Illinois congressional seat currently held by retiring Rep. Tom Ewing. This win marks a victory for term limits advocates over the political establishment....

While both of the other candidates opposed all forms of term limits, Johnson ran for office on a pledge to serve as a citizen legislator and won with 44 percent of the vote.

“The seniority system in Congress hurts all of us because it rewards those who put their own reelection concerns above all else,” Johnson said. “I will enter Congress knowing full well the date upon which I will leave. I will focus entirely on the good of my district and my country.”

Americans for Limited Terms began airing TV ads in Johnson's district on February 25, highlighting Johnson's three-term self-limiting pledge.... (Emphasis added.)

Since Mr. Johnson will not keep his own promise to limit himself to three terms, I would urge the citizens of the Fifteeenth District to impose its own term limit upon him in November 2006.