John Deaton Criticizes Markey-Moulton Debate, Calls for Term Limits and Healthcare Reform
John Deaton Criticizes Democratic Primary Debate, Calls for Term Limits and Major Healthcare Reform
Washington Clean Hands Act Would Create Congressional Term Limits
“Our founders didn’t put term limits for members of Congress in the Constitution because they would never imagine in a million years that someone would go to Washington for 50 years, 30 years, 20 years.”
Editors Note – Radio Worcester interviews candidates from across the political spectrum to help voters hear directly from those seeking public office.
By-Hank Stolz
Graphic- Radio Worcester/Photo Submitted
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WORCESTER, MA- Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton joined Hank Stolz on Radio Worcester to discuss his reaction to the Democratic primary debate between incumbent U.S. Senator Ed Markey and challenger Seth Moulton, arguing that Massachusetts voters deserve solutions rather than political infighting.
“I got sickened to be honest with you, because all I saw was two career politicians arguing over which one was more corrupt,” Deaton said.
Throughout the interview, Deaton outlined his positions on energy policy, congressional term limits, healthcare reform, and his vision for what he describes as a more independent, common-sense approach to governing.
Deaton Criticizes Career Politicians
Deaton said the Democratic primary debate failed to address the issues that matter most to Massachusetts residents, including rising energy costs, housing affordability, and healthcare expenses.
Rather than debating policy solutions, Deaton argued that the discussion focused too heavily on political attacks between the two longtime public officials.
Energy Policy Includes Nuclear Power and Natural Gas
Energy affordability was one of Deaton’s primary concerns during the interview.
He expressed support for expanding nuclear energy, particularly through the use of small modular nuclear reactors, while also advocating for increased domestic natural gas production.
“What surprises me is that Ed Markey’s the co-author of the Green New Deal, yet he’s completely excluded, won’t even consider nuclear energy,” Deaton said.
He pointed to advances in small modular reactor technology as a potential way to reduce electricity costs while lowering carbon emissions.
“These small modular reactors are incredible. They’re carbon free emissions and they’re run at 97% efficiency,” he said.
Deaton argued that combining new nuclear generation with expanded natural gas infrastructure could significantly reduce electricity costs for Massachusetts residents.
“If we installed four of them, 300 megawatts, and we expanded natural gas, we would absolutely cut our electricity prices in half.”
Calls for Congressional Term Limits
When the conversation turned to Seth Moulton’s criticism that Senator Markey has spent too many years in Washington, Deaton said the discussion highlighted the need for congressional term limits.
“My first bill is what’s called the Washington Clean Hands Act, and it seeks a constitutional amendment for term limits,” Deaton said.
He argued that America’s founders never envisioned members of Congress remaining in office for decades.
“Our founders didn’t put term limits for members of Congress in the Constitution because they would never imagine in a million years that someone would go to Washington for 50 years, 30 years, 20 years.”
Positioning Himself as an Independent Republican
Deaton also addressed questions about his Republican affiliation, emphasizing that he considers himself an independent-minded candidate focused on practical solutions rather than partisan politics.
He said his campaign is centered on addressing issues affecting Massachusetts residents regardless of political party.
Healthcare Reform Through Greater Competition
Healthcare was another major topic during the interview.
Rather than supporting Medicare for All, Deaton proposed increasing competition by breaking up vertically integrated insurance companies that he believes dominate the healthcare marketplace.
“We need a Republican Teddy Roosevelt style revolution. When he came in, he took on the oil barrons and the railroad tycoons. He bust the trust.”
Deaton argued that healthcare consolidation has reduced competition and contributed to rising costs.
“The reason the Affordable Care Act is never going to be affordable. It allowed three vertically integrated insurance companies to control over 90% of our healthcare.”
He said meaningful reform should focus on increasing competition while lowering costs for consumers.
Have Congressional Term Limits Ever Been Seriously Considered?
The idea of limiting the number of terms members of Congress can serve is far from new. In fact, proposals date back to the First Congress in 1789, but none has ever become part of the U.S. Constitution.
A Brief History of Congressional Term Limit Proposals
1789 – The first constitutional amendment proposing congressional term limits was introduced during the nation’s first Congress, but it never advanced.
1947 – During debate over what became the 22nd Amendment (limiting presidents to two elected terms), Senator Chapman Revercomb (R–West Virginia) proposed adding congressional term limits to the amendment. The proposal failed in the Senate, receiving only a single affirmative vote, Revercomb’s own.
1994–1997 – Congressional term limits became a centerpiece of House Republicans’ “Contract with America.”
- March 1995: The House voted 227–204 in favor of a constitutional amendment imposing term limits, but constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority, so the measure failed.
- 1995–96: The Senate considered a similar proposal but never brought it to a final vote.
- February 1997: Another House proposal received 217 votes, again falling short of the required two-thirds majority.
2000s–Present – Nearly every Congress has seen one or more constitutional amendments introduced to establish congressional term limits. Recent proposals generally call for limiting House members to three terms (six years) and Senators to two terms (12 years), but none has received a floor vote in either chamber.
Can Congress Pass Term Limits by Ordinary Legislation?
No.
In U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton (1995), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that neither Congress nor individual states can impose qualifications—such as term limits—for members of Congress beyond those listed in the Constitution. The Court held that only a constitutional amendment can establish congressional term limits.
What About Presidential Term Limits?
Unlike Congress, presidential term limits are already part of the Constitution. The 22nd Amendment was proposed by Congress in 1947 and ratified by the states in 1951, limiting presidents to two elected terms. Since then, various lawmakers have introduced amendments either to repeal or modify those limits, but none has advanced.
While dozens of members of Congress from both parties have introduced term-limit amendments over the years, no proposal has ever received the two-thirds support in both the House and Senate required to send a constitutional amendment to the states for ratification. The closest Congress came was during the mid-1990s, when the House approved a proposal by a simple majority but fell well short of the constitutional threshold.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) – Congressional Term Limits: A Brief Overview
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12343 - Congress.gov – Legislative history of proposed constitutional amendments for congressional term limits
https://www.congress.gov/ - U.S. Supreme Court – U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton, 514 U.S. 779 (1995)
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/514/779/ - National Archives – 22nd Amendment (Presidential Term Limits)
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/22nd-amendment - U.S. House of Representatives – Office of the Historian – History of the Contract with America and the 1995 term limits vote
https://history.house.gov/
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