After Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away at the age of 87 Democrats floated a bill that would put term limits on future Supreme Court Justices. The bill aimed to limit a Justice's term to no more than 18 years.
Term limits aren't the answer. Mandatory retirement ages are.
Senate hearings have begun for Ginsburg's potential replacement in Washington this week. Amy Coney Barrett is 48 years old. With a lifetime appointment she could serve 40 years or more on the Nation's High Court.
The ranking Democrat member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is holding the hearings, is 87-year old Sen. Diane Feinstein. Even some Democrats wondered if she was up to the task because of her age.
Other prominent members continue to creep up in age.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 80. Pelosi's leadership team, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Whip Jim Clyburn are 81 and 80 respectively. All are running again for another two-year term next month.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is 78 and is running for another 6-year term in November. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer turns 70 next month and is planning on seeking another term in 2022.
This isn't about age. This is about power.
Current incumbent re-election rates in the US Senate are over 80%. In the House, over 90% are re-elected every two years. Congress itself, ironically, forces airline pilots to retire at the age of 65 by law. Congress also forces air traffic controllers to retire at the age of 56 (with some exceptions up to 61).
The United States Military has mandatory retirement for active duty soldiers based on age.
Why not Congress?
There are 7 Senators aged 80 or above serving right now. Twenty-two are between 70 and 79.
Legacies in Washington have become built on longevity. Vermont's Patrick Leahy has been a Senator since 1975. Iowa's Chuck Grassley took office in 1981. There are two Republicans in House who have been office since the 70's.
Joe Biden is running for President at the age of 77 (turning 78 on Nov. 20). Biden has been in and around Washington, D.C. since 1973 when he first became a Senator.
Exactly why America needs mandatory retirement age in Congress and for appointed officials including Supreme Court Justices. Mandatory retirement would force Congress do it's job, working for the American people rather than just hanging around the hallways of power wasting everyone's time and money.