The new Democratic majority in the House will continue a rule initiated by Republicans 12 years ago requiring committee chairmen to give up their gavels after three consecutive terms.
John Santore, spokesman for incoming Rules Committee Chairman Louise M. Slaughter, D-N.Y., said Thursday that the term limits issue was not an area of contention when Democrats decided to continue most of the procedural and parliamentary rules adhered to under the past Republican-controlled House.
Santore added that there were divergent views on the issue and it was possible that the Democratic leadership could review the rule in the future.
Republicans adopted the three-term limit for committee chairmen when they gained the majority in 1995 with a pledge to change the entrenched political system that had alienated many voters.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070104/ap_on_go_co/house_term_limits