TERM LIMITS: THE FIGHT DIES HARD

It takes a lot to discourage the zealous advocates of congressional term limits. A major Supreme Court ruling isn't enough, certainly. Last week's decision, in which the court voided an Arkansas term-limits measure, had the effect of overturning similar laws that had been approved in 22 states. And the movement appears headed for another disappointment in coming months, when the Senate is expected to consider and reject a term-limiting constitutional amendment, which failed in the House in March. But advocates of term limits, an idea supported by two-thirds of American voters, refuse to give up the fight. They plan to redouble their effort to throw out their opponents in Congress. "We will make it clear to longtime incumbents that you can't get out from under term limits," says Paul Jacob of U.S. Term Limits, the largest group behind the push. "If the court doesn't hold you to them, the voters will."

The Term Limits Legal Institute has targeted more than 60 foes of term limits in the House, most of them Democrats, in congressional districts where the majority of citizens who voted on such referendums favor limits. Among the targets: California Democrat Vic Fazio, a nine-termer whose district approved a term-limits initiative with a 66% majority in 1992. But the campaign is daunting. To win the two-thirds of both Houses needed to send a constitutional amendment to the states for approval, backers would have to replace or win over 63 House members and, at last count, at least 24 Senators. Yet advocates like Cleta Mitchell, director of the Term Limits Legal Institute, insist their enthusiasm is abiding. Says she: "I've always considered this a marathon rather than a sprint.''