: > On Sun, 29 Jun 1997 "Michael M. Butler" <butler@comp*lib.org> Wrote:
: > >you have to be able to not tell if this is the last time you'll ever
: > >encounter the other party
John Clark replied
: >True. I don't have a very high opinion of US Senators but they almost always
: >keep their promises, those made to other Senators that is. Having a reputation
: >for honesty among fellow Senators is to your advantage so you work at it,
: >developing such a reputation with Mr. Joe Average would be no great benefit
: >so the hell with it.
quoth Michael Butler
: This is one of the hidden (or at least unpiblicized) costs of term limits.
: It increases the "lame duck" period when elected officials can't be sure
: their logrolling will pay off. "Why should I cut a deal with Senator X,
: he's a short-timer."
Like a lot of aspects of term limits, it's a cost to the district
that elected the officer, but a benefit to the nation at large.
Logrolling is why porkbarrels are never shut down.
Anton Sherwood *\\* +1 415 267 0685 *\\* DASher@netcom.com