Patterson promises to sponsor term limit amendment

House candidate Robert Patterson pledged to support term limits for members of Congress Tuesday.

Patterson is one of three Republicans challenging Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) in the primary.

“Jeff Van Drew is the perfect example of why we need term limits in government,” Patterson said. “After spending more than a quarter of a century in politics, Cong. Van Drew is so desperate to hold onto political power, he will say or do anything. Over the past month since his switcheroo, we have seen Cong. Van Drew twist himself into knots, trying to run away from his pro-abortion, pro-amnesty, anti-Trump record. Term limits strips power from politicians and puts it in the hands of the people.”

Van Drew defected to the Republican party last month after losing support from rank and file Democrats over his opposition to impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.

Patterson signed a pledge promising to sponsor and vote for a constitutional amendment limiting congresspeople to three terms and senators to two terms.

Richter’s pledge provided for slightly longer limits for elected officials in the lower chamber. His proposal would limit members in both chambers to 12 consecutive years in the same chamber of Congress.

Former Rep. Frank LoBiondo promised to seek term limits in his 1994 campaign but never followed through. He did not seek re-election in 2018, bringing his congressional career to a close after 24 years.