With an incumbency re-election rate rivaling that of Congress, members of the South Carolina Legislature have little justification to attempt to improve their near permanent status. But just such a proposed constitutional amendment was approved for the ballot box by a House Judiciary subcommittee last week.

The proposed amendment would increase House terms from two to four years, and Senate terms from four to six years. Advocates of the proposal say that it would allow the Legislature to spend more of its time studying legislative matters and less time on the next election, according to The Associated Press.

Certainly, it would give them greater insulation from the electorate, even though their single-member election districts have discouraged opposition. The majority faced no challengers in the most recent elections.

The voters should retain the opportunity to make known their opinion on the representation they receive from the House and Senate with the reasonable frequency now allowed under the constitution. There is little reason for legislators to promote further this self-serving, term-extending bill.