Legislatures in the Industrial Heartland:

A Citizen Legislature in Indiana & Term

Limits in Ohio

Sources: NCSL, Weber & Brace

Illinois – Professional

Indiana – Citizen

Ohio – Professional

Pennsylvania – Professional

$0.00

$20,000.00

$40,000.00

$60,000.00

$80,000.00

$100,000.00

$120,000.00

$140,000.00

$160,000.00

$180,000.00

IL OH PA IN

LOB/Legislator

2008 Legislator Salary

Diversity in the Legislature

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

Illinois Ohio Pennsylvania Indiana

% Women

% African-American

Sources: NCSL

Sources: NCSL

Total Staff During Session

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1979 1988 1996 2003

IL

OH

PA

IN

Number of Staff per Legislator (2003)

Illinois – 5.12 Staff Members

Indiana – 2.05 Staff Members

Ohio – 3.83 Staff Members

Pennsylvania – 11.65 Staff Members

Sources: Weber & Brace

Average percentage of new members in lower house

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

IL OH PA IN

Sources: NCSL

Estimated Proportion of Full-Time Job Spent on Legislative Work

Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania: 80% - 100%

Indiana: 60% - 70%

Sources: Follow the Money

Median Cost to Win Competitive Election (2006)

$0.00

$100,000.00

$200,000.00

$300,000.00

$400,000.00

$500,000.00

$600,000.00

$700,000.00

$800,000.00

IL OH PA IN

House

Senate

2006 Legislative District Competitiveness

Sources: Follow the Money

Term Limits in Ohio

• 8 year limits in both House and Senate– 2 terms Senate; 4 terms House

• Can return after 4 year hiatus

• Statewide initiative in 1992: 69.2%

• Went into effect in 2000

Percentage of Races Competitive

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

IL

IN

OH

PA

Sources: Follow the Money

Sources: Ohio General Assembly

Decreased Legislative Output After Term Limits

0

50

100

150

200

250

122nd 123rd 124th 125th

# o

f B

ills

Pas

sed

House

Senate

Term Limits

Internal Consequences• Legislators unhappy with term limits because

– Don’t feel freshman legislators will have sufficient experience

– Becomes harder to hold departments accountable– Shouldn’t need to throw everyone out

• After implemented– Lost many experts (esp. education)– 2001: first completely partisan budget in years– Rushing to do more sooner because of next election– Don’t know others, don’t make same friendships

• Mixed opinions on lobbyists• 2000 election had lots of primaries

Sources: Columbus Dispatch News Articles

The “Insider” Opinion

Observers: Former legislators, staff, public administrators, lobbyists, journalists

What to do about term limits?

Net support for term limits.

Sources: U. of Akron Institute of Applied Politics