European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 21, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 4 the stars and stripes tuesday june 21,1994 court to review Congress term limits Washington apr the supreme court agreed monday to decide whether states can impose term limits on members of Congress by restricting the number of times their names can appear on the ballot for re election. The court said it will consider reinstating provisions of a stale constitutional amendment in Arkansas that was struck Down by courts in that state. The court will hear arguments in the Case during its 1994-95 term which begins in october. A decision is expected sometime in 1995. The Arkansas supreme court ruled in March that states cannot impose qualifications on congressional candidates in addition to those set by the Constitution a minimum age . Citizenship and state residency. At the same time the justices refused to reinstate a similar term limits amendment in Washington state. A Federal judge in Seattle last february ruled that the Washington amendment violated voters constitutional right to choose their representatives. A Federal appeals court still has the Washington state ruling under study. Term limit amendments have been enacted in 15 states by voters disenchanted with Congress and with longtime incumbents perceived As having lost touch with the people they represent. Colorado was the first state in 1990, to pass such an initiative. States that followed suit in 1992 were Arizona Arkansas California Florida Michigan Missouri Montana Nebraska North Dakota Ohio Oregon South Dakota Washington and Wyoming. The term limits movement Quot is the most significant grass roots political phenomenon of recent years Quot said lawyers for . Term limits inc., which filed one of the Arkansas appeals. The Arkansas amendment permanently barred from the Senate election ballot anyone who had served two six year terms. People who served three two year terms in the House were barred from the ballot for the House of representatives. However anyone can run As a write in candidate. Arkansas highest court invalidated those provisions citing a 1969 supreme court decision that said the House Short of impeachment and conviction cannot exclude any member who meets the constitutional qualifications. The Arkansas supreme court said that Rule Quot makes eminently Good sense a adding that there should be a uniform Standard for representation in Congress. In the appeals acted on monday lawyers for Arkansas and the term limits organization said the amendment bars no one from running for Congress but Mere by limits ballot Access. The amendment is a legitimate Effort by voters to ensure that the advantages of incumbency do not create a modern Day legislative fiefdoms that. Render the political process unresponsive to the electorate a the states lawyers demands actions from North Korea Washington apr president Clinton said monday that he found hopeful signs in former president Carters talks with North Korea but said the communist regime must freeze its nuclear program As promised. Quot we will evaluate words in terms of actions a he told Abc. Clinton said administration officials Are trying to confirm North koreans willingness to keep its promises to Carter including freezing its nuclear program allowing International inspectors to stay and holding an Quot unprecedented Summit with South korean president Kim Young Sam. Quot we have to know there has been a change a Clinton said. Quot the crisis is going to keep coming for weeks a rep. Lee Hamilton d-ind., chairman of the House foreign affairs committee said on can. But he said Carter s trip fostered a Quot stepping Back from the escalation of former Secretary of state Lawrence Eagleburger also appearing on can chided Carter saying the United states cannot afford to look weak now a i really wish head stayed Home a he said. The administration has refused to open a third round of talks with North Korea until the country meets Clinton s demands. Quot we have surely something to gain by talking to North Korea a Clinton said. A Carter who feared Clinton a push toward sanctions would Lead to War briefed White House officials sunday on his trip. He declared afterwards the crisis is Carter returned with a series of proposals from North korean president Kim ii Sung including a drastic reduction in troops on the korean Peninsula and removal of weapons along the demilitarized zone. A senior administration official speaking on condition of anonymity said Carters trip leaves the White House operating on two tracks continuing its push toward sanctions in the United nations and trying to confirm North koreans resolve to keep its promises especially the pledge to freeze its nuclear program and allow International inspectors to stay. In a Sharp difference with Clinton Carter said North Korea docs not fear sanctions because Little Trade is allowed now. Quot but they do have concerns i think to the Point of War a about being branded As an outlaw nation and about the insult they think this would be to while officials seek a solution to korean tension South korean soldiers patrol the demilitarized zone this week. Their a great Leader a a Carter said in an interview sunday. A Carter previously has said Kim agreed to freeze the nuclear program to allow inspectors to stay and to hold an unprecedented Summit with the South. Meanwhile two american senators assessing military preparedness in South Korea said monday that they were confident any invasion by North Korea could be repulsed but called for improvements. Republican Sens. Phil Gramm of Texas and John Mccain of Arizona said they will give defense officials in Washington a list of 12 suggestions for improving the fighting capability of America arid South korean troops. A we can Hope for the Best we can work for the Best but we have to be prepared for the worst a Gramm said. Quot on the basis of history in dealing with North Korea you would be foolish not to prepare for the the senators said they believe the crisis Over North koreans suspected development of nuclear weapons Isnit Over despite Carter s mediation efforts. Quot what the North says is not an Issue a Gramm said. A what they do is the s official .-russian War games called off from staff and wire reports Moscow a As expected the joint .-russian military exercises scheduled for Southern russian next month have been cancelled officials from both countries said monday. Quot defense exercises Are delayed a . Embassy spokesman Michael Mcclellan said Quot we re working to set a new Date in about 250 soldiers from the 3rd inf div based in Wurzburg Germany have been training for the trip to Russia for months even though both sides have been saying since late april that the exercise was Likely to be cancelled. Russian defense ministry spokesman Vladimir Nik Aronov said the russian defense establishment cannot be blamed for calling off the exercises and pointed the Finger at the Duma the lower House of. Parliament where the opposition rallied enough strength to go on record opposing the Maneu vers. Although the Kremlin and defense ministry favored the first joint exercises with . Soldiers on russian soil the russian government bowed under political pressure though the idea has not been abandoned entirely. Quot its definitely not going to happen in two weeks a Mcclellan said in an inter View referring to the july 8-12 plans for the Maneu vers a it will probably be in the fall the exercises had been planned for to Skoye near the City of Orenburg Southeast of Moscow. He said another location was to be chosen As Well russian defense officials were unable to say where or when the exercises might be rescheduled. After opposition built up in the Duma president Boris Yeltsin asked defense officials to review the plans but they were left in place and later quietly cancelled. Three weeks ago when the exercises were in jeopardy a visiting . Congressional delegation led by the chairman of the Senate armed services committee Georgia Democrat Sam Nunn suggested holding the exercises in the United states where he said they would be welcomed in contrast to the reception the proposal has received from russian politicians. Although there have been joint naval Maneu vers in International Waters these were to be the first such land exercises. . And russian officials Are tentatively slated to sign nato partnership for peace accords this week in Brussels Belgium. The partnership envisages joint military exercises involving countries that sign up
