By Sean Crawford, IL Public Radio
Springfield, Ill. – Southern Illinois Congressman John Shimkus says he'll break his promise to only serve a certain number of terms in Washington.
John Shimkus was first elected in 1996, in part on a platform that included term limits. He pledged to only serve 12 years in Congress.
But with that deadline approaching in 2008, he's now making it clear he has no plans to step aside. Shimkus says he'll run for a sixth term next year and if he wins, will try again in 2008, effectively breaking his promise.
"It was a mistake at the time; it's a mistake now," Shimkus told reporters in a conference call Wednesday. "Unless everyone plays by the same rules, term limits do not make sense."
Shimkus is not the first public official to go back on his word in the matter of term limits. He says the decision was tough, but adds both the President and Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, urged him to keep running. He also says constituents also encouraged him.
But he also admits voters now likely have more reason to be skeptical of his campaign promises.