Then And Now

By Melissa August, Harriet Barovick, Michelle Derrow, Brian Doyle, Tam Gray, Lina Lofaro, Robert Morse, David Spitz and Chris Taylor

MR. SMITH WON'T LEAVE WASHINGTON

Term limits seem like such a good idea on the hustings, but when the time to pack up and head for home comes around, many members of Congress have trouble saying goodbye.

NAME Scott McInnis (R.-Colorado)

WHAT HE SAID THEN In his first and second campaigns, he promised to serve just three terms. By his third (and fourth), he had changed his mind.

WHAT HE SAYS NOW Planning to run for a fifth term. A spokesman says McInnis was only in favor of term limits if they applied to all states.

TERMS SO FAR Four terms: from 1992 to 2000

[NAME] Martin Meehan (D.-Mass.)

[WHAT HE SAID THEN] "Should I be elected to serve more than two additional terms...I hereby resign and direct you to remove my name...from the roll of members."

[WHAT HE SAYS NOW] "I have come to realize over the past seven years that...to arbitrarily limit my own service puts the people I represent at a disadvantage."

[TERMS SO FAR] Four terms: from 1992 to 2000

[NAME] George Nethercutt (R.-Washington)

[WHAT HE SAID THEN] He promised to "serve only six years as a Representative." Also said, "It's time to send new people to Washington."

[WHAT HE SAYS NOW] "I made a mistake when I chose to set a limit...The only people who don't change their minds are in cemeteries and insane asylums."

[TERMS SO FAR] Three terms: from 1994 to 2000