By THOMAS CALDWELL, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD — Freshman Rep. Tony Labranche, D-Amherst, has introduced several proposed constitutional amendments that would change the way New Hampshire’s representative form of government would work.
Among the changes is a term-limit proposal that would prevent anyone from holding a legislative office for more than 15 terms, and another that would allocate legislative seats on a proportional basis.
Speaking before the House Legislative Administration Committee on Jan. 12, Labranche said it was a Republican in his home district that originally proposed term limits. Labranche said he originally opposed the idea, but after seeing how many of those representing New Hampshire citizens in Concord had served multiple terms, he changed his mind. He noted that one representative has been serving since 1974, the year Labranche’s mother was born.
“I believe that the people … deserve a fresh voice in the legislature,” he said. “What this seeks to do is to prevent lifetime membership of the House.”
Committee member Vanessa Sheehan, R-Milford, said, “I personally think there’s a lot of value to experience. People don’t necessarily go stagnant. … Fifteen two-year terms would be about 30 years of experience in the House, and I don’t believe there’s necessarily anything wrong with having experience.”
Committee members also noted the difficulty of finding enough people to run for the House in some…
