New term limits measure collecting signatures

A potential ballot measure dealing with term limits, campaign contributions and junkets is now being circulated for signatures, according to the California Secretary of State's office.

The measure would give state Assembly members an additional two years in office, and state Senate members an additional four years - one extra term for each chamber.

But legislators could take advantage of the term limits extension only if they did not receive campaign contributions or join any privately funded junkets, which lobbyists and contributors often pay for legislators to take.

It was unclear from the text of the initiative whether it could be applied to current legislators, all of whom have likely accepted campaign donations and/or taken junkets.

A call to the measure's proponent, Paul McCauley, was not immediately returned. McCauley is also currently collecting signatures for another ballot measure that would levy a one-time 55 percent tax on property exceeding $20 million, held by either a resident or non-resident.

According to the California Secretary of State's office, McCauley's term limits measure must have 694,354 verified signatures from California voters submitted by March 2 in order to qualify for a statewide ballot.

It's still unclear when the next statewide election will be, because the recently passed state budget includes budget reforms that must be approved by voters. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said last month that he believed June would be the most likely time for such an election.

Ballot measures must qualify for a statewide election 131 days before the election itself, making it unlikely the term limits measure would be on a June special election ballot.

The next scheduled statewide election is the gubernatorial primary in June 2010.