An initiative that would limit terms of state and congressional officeholders survived a pre-emptive strike Friday.

The Washington Supreme Court, in a written order, refused to consider a legal challenge to the initiative, saying it was too complex to properly consider before the November election."I'm disappointed," said Ed Younglove, a Seattle attorney representing the challengers, who included U.S. House Speaker Tom Foley and Gov. Booth Gardner.

"I would say almost definitely we will challenge" the initiative anew if it wins voter approval on Nov. 5, Younglove said.

Initiative backers said they were not surprised at the court's decision, given its history of letting initiatives go to the ballot.

"We're an elated bunch here at the old campaign office," said Initiative 553 Campaign Director Sherry Bockwinkel. "We think the court has decided in favor of freedom and the democratic process and against self-serving politicians and lobbyists."

Only Justice Richard Guy disagreed with the court decision, saying he wanted to "hear the case on the merits."

Foley, D-Wash., Gardner and other officeholders joined a citizen lawsuit asking that the measure be stricken from the ballot. Imposing term limits requires an amendment to both the U.S. and state constitutions, they insisted.

The initiative was certified to the ballot by Secretary of State Ralph Munro after proponents submitted petitions bearing 211,257 signatures of registered voters, well above the required minimum of 150,001.

In its order, the court suggested this was not the time to entertain a challenge.

It said "underlying constitutional issues are complex, as well as of great public significance," and there wasn't time now for "adequate briefing, argument and deliberation."

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The court also said there was a real question as to whether it had jurisdiction without the matter first going to a lower court.

The initiative would limit service in the state Legislature to 10 years and tenure in Congress to 12 years. Within those caps, state and U.S. House members would be held to three two-year terms. State senators could serve two four-year terms and U.S. senators could serve two six-year terms.

The governor and lieutenant governor would be limited to two four-year terms.

If adopted, the initiative would bar Gardner from running for a third term in 1992.

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