Albany, NY – NY Senate Backs Term Limits For Legislative Leadership Posts

Albany, NY – New York’s state Senate has endorsed term limits on legislative leadership, though the idea is unlikely to win approval in the Assembly.

The Senate voted Monday to impose eight-year limits on the Senate leader, Assembly speaker and minority leaders and committee chairpersons in both chambers. Those individuals could keep their legislative seats but couldn’t continue in their leadership positions.

The Senate has already voluntarily adopted leadership term limits. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a Republican, says turnover encourages fresh ideas and better government.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has said he has concerns about term limits but that he’s willing to discuss the idea. Heastie became speaker last month following ex-Speaker Sheldon Silver’s arrest on corruption charges. Silver was speaker for more than 20 years.