Kohring hears constituents at town meeting

WASILLA -- Town meetings generally give legislators a chance to touch base with their constituents, get updates on local issues and share what's happening in Juneau. Saturday, legislator Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla, held his first legislative town meeting of the session in Wasilla and, true to form, a mixed bag of topics and attendees carried the day.

The Alaska Court System was a primary focus of much discussion, with meeting attendees calling for an overhaul of the system from the ground up. Revisions of the court system, some said, would spark changes in other areas of government that would bring Alaska under constitutional law.

"What we're under is commercial law," attendee David Bartels said. "We need justice bad."

Kohring vowed to send letters on Bartels' behalf, and on the behalf of others who raised concerns with the state's court system. Others simply came looking for assistance with specific problems they or their family had -- help that may not take legislative action, but could be assisted with a letter of support from an elected official.

Others coming to the meeting had a few tips or ideas for Kohring to take back to Juneau. With Gov. Frank Murkowski's budget due out by the end of the week, money was a significant concern among those at the meeting.

While capping spending and the growth of government were two ideas that resonated with Kohring, other ideas dealing with usage of the Alaska Permanent Fund seemed more problematic. One attendee suggested using a portion of the inflation-proofing funding to pay for the workings of state government.

"It's all this big, nebulous pool of money that's in different pockets," the man said. "All this is just moving money around. There's no need for any new taxes -- there are all kinds of pools of money that could be tapped into."

Others suggested some decisions by Murkowski may be causing more money to be spent than necessary. Garvan Bucharia voiced his concern about the governor's decision to move permit approvals out of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office and into the Department of Natural Resources.

"Without that oversight, we lack the opposite view," Bucharia said.

Kohring asked Bucharia to write a letter to Murkowski voicing his views and keep him updated on the governor's response.

"I'm all for downsizing government and cutting back," Kohring said. "But only if it works. I don't want to lose services."

Bucharia said he was also disappointed in the House's decision to put $1.3 million toward a lobbying effort to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"I think it's a lobbying effort that's a waste of money," Bucharia said. "It will happen in its due time. Conditions are stacked in our favor."

Kohring said the money would, indeed, fund lobbying for opening ANWR -- an effort he said is crucial at this time. He said while support is gaining for the project in Congress, the votes to pass the measure have not yet surfaced. The money, he said, may provide enough of a boost to add a few crucial votes to the list of support.

Kohring said as chairman of the Alaska Special Committee on Oil & Gas he will be traveling to the nation's capital to lobby on behalf of ANWR opening as well.

After more than three hours of public testimony, an apparently weary Kohring wrapped the meeting up and thanked his attendees. As attendees filtered out, Kohring said he appreciates being able to hear his constituents' concerns, and enjoys seeing both supporters and critics who attend his meetings. One couple, he pointed out, had been faithful attendees of his town meetings since his 1994 election. While the meetings are a good way to validate he's moving in the right direction, Kohring said, they also help his constituents know he's willing to listen.

"They enable me to hear and kind of reaffirm my understanding of what my constituents want," Kohring said. "But it also conveys a message to the public that I'm here to be accessible."