As usual, Alaskans losing in Juneau

MYRL THOMPSON/Capitol Watch

April 29, 2007

The first 100 days of the 25th Legislature has come and gone. That early optimism that accompanies any change in the political climate is well into its wane.

Reality has set in and, despite the best intentions of a few, little has actually changed for the better. Just as in many of the preceding years, the majority, bankrupt of new ideas, is squandering a perfect opportunity to do Alaska right.

Our new governor is certainly trying to do the right things. Her policies are sound, but sometimes policies and politics are on a collision course.

An entrenched power structure can prove to be nearly insurmountable without constant vigilance and demonstrated will. Holdovers from past administrations, with their longtime connections and alliances, can work in a subtle and almost undetectable manner to undermine even the best intentions.

I thought that when the Senate broke free of the yoke of the one-party stranglehold that has controlled it for years that there would be a refreshing change for the better. What has actually transpired is not much different than previous majorities.

Humorist Will Rogers had it figured out when he quipped that he is always for the minority, no matter who they are.

Why is it that the minority inevitably comes up with the best ideas, only to have them languish and die? I noticed that when the Republicans controlled the Senate, the Democrats were constantly coming up with great bills that never got anywhere. Now that they are in the &#8220majority working group,” it is as if they have never had a decent idea. Have they just been relegated to the status of paper tiger by the real leadership?

Ethics reform is a perfect example. When I was working for ethics reform prior to its recent notice by politicians, the Democrats in the Senate were the first onboard and were making perfect sense. However, now that they are actually in a position to make positive change, little to nothing is happening, aside from some window-dressing and assorted platitudes.

The same can be said for the House side on this issue. The same party has controlled this chamber for way too long. Fresh ideas are at least a decade removed there.

The better bills are stuck in the minority and destined to be held down by the majority, for fear that the Democrats will receive credit. To make matters worse, the majority even manages to hold up the governor's fresh and worthy ideas.

Blocking good ideas is only one dubious tactic of the majority, and it pales in comparison to their ability to promote absolutely terrible schemes. The majority-led attacks on the cruise ship initiative are a classic example of this type of maneuver.

The people of Alaska recently voted this initiative into law because past legislatures refused to do so. The new governor, Sarah Palin, publicly supported the people's demonstrated will. The House minority was onboard with the people of Alaska, too.

But the House majority, well-greased by tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from cruise industry interests, has managed to move industry-sponsored bills from committee to committee, despite overwhelming disapproval and the blatant slap in the face it represents to the will of voters.

The House majority is, in no way, representing Alaskans on this issue. Instead, majority legislators have fallen in league with the cruise industry, its army of lobbyists and the almighty campaign dollar. From these legislators, you hear a chorus of, &#8220I respect the will of the voters, but…”

So for the governor, I'll go back to Will Rogers: &#8220Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.”

Alaska voters have been getting run over for years. But then, it's been a while since we have had a governor willing to step up and represent us.

The majority legislators have other masters beside the voters of this state. The Department of Environmental Conservation has long since abandoned us, starting when the prior governor put a former cruise industry representative, Ernesta Ballard, at the helm.

Although she has left the department, many of her old staff still hold positions there and appear to share the former director's industry-friendly positions. Instead of promoting the stated position of the governor, the DEC personnel involved have been very cozy with industry-friendly legislators who are carrying forth the cruise lobby wishes and the &#8220flexibility” the industry desires.

These types of problems will persist until some of those administrative holdovers have been identified and removed for more responsive and responsible replacements. The legislators, on the other hand, have to be dealt with by the voters themselves.

Voters have been too trusting of many of these long-term entrenched public officials, who love to peddle the silly notion that they are &#8220citizen legislators.” These career legislators, along with a few recently elected ones, are a great argument for term limits.

But in the end, it is the responsibility of voters to weed these compromised politicians out of office at election time.

Valley resident Myrl Thompson is a free-lance journalist and former independent candidate for state House in District 15. His &#8220Capitol Watch” column appears every two weeks in the Frontiersman. For information about receiving his weekly e-mailed Juneau Report, contact him at myrl@ak.net.