Scared to death

Shortly after taking office, Gov. Mike Dunleavy proposed three constitutional amendments that would go a very long way toward handing Alaska back to Alaskans.

The three, of course, drew little interest from the Legislature because each of the three would diminish legislative power and a vote would, once and for all, answer questions about who really is in charge of the state.

Dunleavy’s first proposal would protect the Permanent Fund dividend by ensconcing in the Alaska Constitution the statutory formula traditionally used to calculate the dividend. Neither a veto by the governor nor the legislature could reduce the dividend amount.

The second proposed amendment would bar new taxes or a tax increase without a vote of the people. Any voter initiative to raise taxes or increase a tax rate would need to be approved by the Legislature.

Third, a spending cap would be calculated using a three-year average of state spending. Increases would be governed by inflation and population increases. It would include a savings plan that would replace the Constitutional Budget Reserve.

It all sounds simple enough, but it would be transformational. Those three amendments would go a long way toward ensuring Alaskans control Alaska’s government rather than having a government that controls Alaskans.

A vote on those three constitutional amendments would resolve once and for all what Alaskans want from their government. It is no wonder lawmakers are scared to death of them.