Cox: Term limits for leadership

In an email pitch for the pro tem job, state Rep. Clay Cox, R-Lilburn, calls for term limits on the House's top three leadership positions:

I also believe the public deserves politicians committed to service rather than power. I therefore propose, to avoid long entrenched power structures, that we as a caucus adopt rule changes placing limits of four terms by our caucus for the positions of Speaker and Speaker Pro Tem and Majority Leader.

Kind of assumes Republicans will be holding onto things for 8 years, doesn't it? ... Too soon?

The email, which was forwarded to me, also adds the line that has become necessary to the point of near redundancy: "I hide nothing in my past that would potentially embarrass the caucus."

Most of the rest of the email:

As your Speaker Pro-Tem, I will ensure that we re-commit ourselves to those conservative principles that won us the majority we are entrusted with; real tax reform that eliminates the state income tax and capital gains taxes in favor of a consumption tax system; base line budgeting, and mandatory sunset and review of bureaucracies. In short, we must get out of the people’s pockets and get government off of their backs.

We also must re-assert our state sovereignty by resisting the federal government’s unprecedented growth and encroachment into the lives of every Georgian.

Together we will restore confidence in our caucus and develop a legislative vision that our people will be proud to support: one of creative strategies to reduce how much we tax the fruits of their labor and improve the way we serve their families and businesses.

As I have stated, politically and personally, you all know me by now. I am a conservative fiscally and socially. I’m a pro life Christian, and I firmly believe that our founders got it right the first time. I was our party’s nominee for Congress (13th) in 2002, and I have served you as Chief Deputy Whip and as Hawk, and I hide nothing in my past that would potentially embarrass the caucus.

Join me - it is time that we grant positions of leadership based on leadership ability. I possess that ability, and respectfully seek your support.