Senators buck party pressure to do what’s right

We are a nation divided by partisan lines. From city halls to state Capitols to Washington, D.C., those lines have become sharper and more unbending in recent years.

When rigid ideology and party allegiance drive our legislative process, honest debate and the public interest are too often the casualties.

Such could have been the case with a misguided proposal being pushed in Juneau this legislative session that could have opened the door to public education funds being channeled to private schools. Hatched by Outside ideologues who have no concern for what’s best for Alaska, the idea was being pushed here under the feel-good misnomer “school choice.”

But it’s really a back door to a voucher system. And it’s such a radical proposal that it would require eliminating from the state Constitution the prohibition against public money being spent on private schools.

We have been steadfast opponents of the proposal, Senate Joint Resolution 9, sponsored by Mat-Su Sen. Mike Dunleavy because we believe public education is constitutionally mandated for good, valid reasons.

Public education helped make this country great. It levels the playing field by providing equality of opportunity to an education, which in turn nurtures a vibrant democracy and an informed electorate.

So we stand with the many Alaskans who were thrilled last week to see SJR 9 sent back to the Senate Rules Committee, where bills often go to die when they lack enough support for passage. We are equally thrilled to know that Sen. Click Bishop, who represents the portion of the Mat-Su up the Glenn Highway from Palmer, was instrumental in the apparent defeat of SJR 9.

Along with Kodiak Sen. Gary Stevens, who chairs the Education Committee that inexplicably was not allowed to vet SJR 9 by Senate President Charlie Huggins, Bishop refused to toe the party line and support the resolution. Without their votes, SJR 9 could not pass.

We are certain there was substantial pressure on Stevens and Bishop to support the measure. So, we applaud the courage of conviction displayed by the two senators.

Both men have long histories of doing just that.

Stevens began a distinguished tenure in the Legislature in 2001. In more recent years, he presided over a bipartisan coalition of senators who managed to put differences aside and work effectively together.

Bishop previously served the people of Alaska under two governors. As commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, he brought together diverse groups of people from around the state that worked together for the common interest of Alaska families and employers.

Alaskans are well-served by Stevens and Bishop. Their willingness to do their homework and listen to all sides of an issue sets a good example for the proper conduct of the people’s business.