Legislative dynasties would be a thing of the past under bills introduced in the House and Senate that would restrict the number of terms a lawmaker can serve as either chamber’s top leader. At least, that’s what supporters say.

Republicans’ goal is to end the kind of multiterm reigns of power that Democrats Marc Basnight and Jim Black enjoyed. Basnight served a record-breaking nine terms as Senate president pro tem, and Black a record-tying four terms as House speaker.

“Whoever gets that main gavel in either chamber is able to raise a lot of money,” said Rep. John Blust, R-Guilford, a primary sponsor of House Bill 61, Speaker Pro Tem Term Limits. “They can then use that right now to put that money in the few competitive districts that have existed, giving the party of the president pro tem or the speaker enormous advantages in those few competitive elections.”

Term-limits supporters aren’t only targeting legislative leaders. Republicans have introduced legislation limiting all lawmakers to four consecutive terms in office.

The idea isn’t new. Blust has sponsored similar bills in past sessions, only to see them die in committee.

Chances are this year will be different. Blust said that H.B. 61 has the blessing of both House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, and Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham.

Team ticket trip up?

One snag is that GOP lawmakers in the Senate have introduced a leadership term-limits bill of their own — one that differs on two key points.

While the House version would limit leadership posts to two-terms only, the Senate version — Senate Bill 140, Leadership Limits/Gubernatorial Team Ticket — would bar legislators from serving three consecutive terms. That means a lawmaker could serve three terms, step aside for one term, and then serve another three.

Another difference: the Senate version would require the governor and lieutenant governor to run on the same ticket, like the U.S. president and vice president do. The change wouldn’t go into effect until the 2016 gubernatorial election.

Former Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, a Fayetteville-area Democrat, introduced a comparable team-ticket bill in 2005. It won a number of Republican co-sponsors but never came up for a vote.

Sen. Tommy Tucker, R-Union, sees value in gubernatorial nominees having leeway to choose running mates. Tucker is a primary sponsor of S.B. 140.

“That individual would have the same ideals and be tied ideologically with the governor, rather than having two people who are diverse there,” Tucker said.

Because both the House and Senate versions would amend the North Carolina Constitution, voters would have the final say on the proposals by voting up or down on a ballot question in 2012.

Tillis ‘adamant’

H.B. 61 already has seen action. The House Judiciary Subcommittee A heard the bill March 9, and a vote could be taken as soon as Wednesday.

Jordan Shaw, communications director for the speaker’s office, said that Tillis is “adamant” that H.B. 61 move through the House. The fate of the Senate version is less clear.

“The ‘ticket’ option that is included in the Senate version is less of a priority, but will be heard if it comes over from the Senate,” Shaw said.

Tucker said he hopes the Senate version gets run, but he’s heard rumblings about nixing the gubernatorial team ticket part. “That may be pulled out at the last minute, and just limit it to the president pro tem and speaker,” he said.

David N. Bass is an associate editor of Carolina Journal.