Move the legislature, leave the lobbyists behind

Frontiersman editorial board

The opponents of Ballot Measure 2, the proposal to move the legislature to the Mat-Su Valley, seem to be largely focused upon what the move will cost. Of course, that is a critical question, and voters should have all the facts before they make big decisions. Still, the overriding question here is, "Is the move a good idea?"

Those who support the move site access to the legislature as the critical issue. As things stand, they say, the people with the most access right now are special interest lobbyists who, in essence, have the legislators cornered and all to themselves. The average citizen has neither the time nor the money to make trips to the capitol to check up on, or lobby, their representatives.

No system is perfect, and one of the flaws in our system of government is that it is so susceptible to pressure from special interest groups. A second flaw is that many citizens feel distant from their government. While in theory it is a government of, for and by the people, many of us feel it has become a government apart from the people. Indeed, in Alaska, this is even more true than in many other places where the legislature is not so isolated.

One argument made by those who oppose the move is that legislators are accessible by phone, e-mail and regular mail. While all of that is true, none of those things can replace the personal touch. When people feel the legislature is not responding to their needs, they can make a more potent point by traveling to the legislature and making their concerns heard -- in groups if it is warranted. That has a much greater impact than a slew of voice mails or a pile of letters. It's a visible demonstration of the relationship between representatives and voters. They work for you, and they should work where you can see them -- where you can reach them.

A legislature that is in a population center, and connected to the rest of the state by roads, also affords an opportunity for people to see how their government works. If you can witness the halls buzzing with paid lobbyists, and you can go to see who is attending sessions and who isn't, you are more likely to effect positive changes in the way your representatives do the people's business. If you are likely to knock on your representative's door, he or she may be more likely to think of you when casting votes. Maybe the best solution is to bring the legislature here and leave the special interests in Juneau. That may actually save money in the long run.