Some lawmakers want to amend the state constitution and double a governor's term from two to four years.
But to critics a two-year gubernatorial term is as sacred as the state's motto or its tax structure.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein has more.
Every so often lawmakers introduce a constitutional amendment is introduced to extend the governor's term.
Occasionally, the measure makes it past the Legislature and onto the ballot.
But the three most recent times- 1970, 1982 and 1984.- its failed to receive a two-thirds majority.
Although it came close in '84 with nearly 64% of the vote.
Prime sponsor of this year's amendment, Representative David Campbell, believes that with 105 new lawmakers in the statehouse it's worth making the pitch again.
For starters, Campbell says a governor's term is so short; there's barely time to run the state.
T.25
5:20 ...Commissioners and state agency heads are all nominated and put in office for 4 or six years. b/c the Legislature in its wisdom, believes they need that long to administer and lead their small piece of the government....The governor oversees all of them, and it doesn’t make sense.
It also doesn't make sense to Campbell that a newly-elected governor has about five weeks to propose a budget after inauguration.
Once the budget is finally passed in late June, he says the governor- only six months in office- is already focused on the next election, a little more than a year away.
And the Nashua Democrat points out the amount of fundraising required for a modern gubernatorial race ends up sucking up a lot of whatever time is left.
T.15
4:22 ... The extreme cost, it's gone from 800 thousand in '94 to every campaign is in the multiple millions...that means that every other year, parties have to mobilize and raise a lot of money, people have to give to campaigns, governor's have to raise money...it is moving you into the campaigning world and away from governance and administration.
Campbell and other supporters see doubling the governor's term as a form of campaign finance reform.
Representative Paul McEachern- who served as legal counsel for Governor Hugh Gallen in the late 70's- saw that administration driven to distraction by re-election.
McEachern says with four year terms, governors don't have to be so afraid to tackle hard issues.
T.18
2:48 for instance, on the most pressing issue in front of us, school funding, to take that and try to resolve that, rather than putting it off to a constitutional amendment, down the road. That is systemic, that is the short-term outlook of any person in that office.
T.28
6:10 that's been the battle cry since the early 70's when they were arguing to give people a 4 –year term.
State Representative Lee Quandt.
....if you look at the issues we are facing right now, people have rolled up their sleeves. We are dealing with education funding, health care, 3 years, 4 years, one year you can learn the issue. The other year, you can put legislation in to fix it. and you don't need three, four, five years to fix it. I think their hearts are in the right place, but I don't believe they are valid arguments.
Critics, like Quandt, say they are reluctant to cede so much authority over to the governor.
In Quandt's case, he fears that four years would give a governor more time to cozy up with special interests.
But others, like House Republican leader Mike Whalley worry the governor would ignore public sentiment and push radical policies.
T.29
2:29 I like the idea our governor's put their names before the people every two years. They are being rehired, and I don't believe there is anything wrong with that.
Neither Republican nor Democratic House leaders know whether lawmakers have an appetite for a constitutional amendment this year.
It takes a 60% majority to pass the measure.
Prime sponsor Representative David Campbell is telling any lawmaker who will listen that a recent poll shows 58% of the public in favor of a longer term....and he adds, that's without much public debate.
He argues as many constitutional amendment supporters like to do, that the Legislature should let the people decide.
But in a state with a suspicion of that top post dating back to Colonial days, Campbell knows he's fighting a lot more than some 400 legislators.
The full House is expected to vote on the measure in March.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
