Spectrum

Why I withdrew from the House Majority

In September, during the special session on subsistence, I withdrew my membership from the House Majority Coalition because of the philosophical direction it was taking, specifically, its decision to cave on the governors rural preference demands that would discriminate against my constituents. This proved to be the proverbial straw that broke the camels back.

During my five years as a representative in Juneau, I have witnessed one cave after another, one move to appease the liberal elements in our state, one vote after another which burdened the people with new taxes, fees, regulations and controls that only Democrats and liberals would applaud. Too often these votes have sold out freedom and the limited government philosophy the Republican Party is supposed to stand for.

In 1994, when Republicans were sent to Juneau in great numbers, when the Contract with America was engineered in Washington, and when government bureaucrats nationwide worried over the continued existence of their jobs. I was elected to represent the people of Mat-Su and Peters Creek/Chugiak. At the time, the Majority pledged no new taxes and spending cuts to balance the budget. It was a heady time for freedom and those who felt intimidated by the growth of government at all levels. We were tasked to give power back to the people.

Sadly, it hasnt happened quite that way. One by one, votes took place that, quite frankly, have embarrassed me. The tobacco tax was one example. I voted no, in part because I have pledged no new taxes, but also because I hold that a true Republican and conservative believes our economy should lie primarily in the private sectors hands and not manipulated by government through unnecessary taxation. I was also convinced that the tax would encourage a black market in cigarettes, which did in fact occur. But the Majoritys actions punished all for the sake of a few. This was a ominous trend that has continued.

New taxes, disguised as fees, would follow with regularity. Fees to help this industry, fees to help that special interest group. Then the Majority passed a bill (which I voted against) that gave the DMV and other state agencies permission to require a Social Security number of anyone wanting a license. It was intended to get Deadbeat Dads who fail to pay child support, and came with a $10 million lure from Washington. Fishing and hunting licenses now also mandate a SSN.

Instead of defending the permanent fund with all their might, the Majority once again caved by crafting purposely vague wording on the question of whether the Legislature should use a part of your dividend (unspecified) to pay for more government spending. Instead of biting the bullet by cutting the bureaucracy, the Majority passed the decision along to the public, hoping they could be convinced to vote yes.

When the people resoundingly said no the Majority still did not get the message and is now debating the meaning of the word no. This wholesale slide into, Government knows best and therefore has to spend your money against your will, was embraced. I was beginning to feel like a minority conservative within my own group.

The apartheid concept of granting select individuals a special right that no one else has, a rural preference, is abhorrent to all those who have read our constitution and understand the equality phrase. Indeed, the concept of equality before the law means that no one rich or poor, black or white, religious or not should be treated any differently than the next. It is a concept that embraces the best notion of justice imaginable, and its enshrined in our national ethos. Rural preference is a giant black mark against freedom and equality. Yet the Majority, instead of fighting for principle, decided to cave yet again.

Former Rep. Al Vezey told me and a friend once last year that in the Alaska Legislature, the Democrats vote like Communists, the Republicans like Socialists. Only the independents vote for freedom. We laughed when he said this, but unfortunately it often proves true. The four of us who bolted the Majority hold more basic ideals of freedom, that Alaskas government is still bloated, that we are overtaxed, that competition can best improve education and the economy, that the private sector is the place for progress, that social engineering (including taxpayer-subsidized radio, TV, and the arts) is best suited for other countries, not ours, and that the states operating budget can be cut by a fourth and a fourth again.

I cant in good conscience be part of a group that is moving in such a liberal direction and against the wishes of many of my constituents. If Im punished for following my heart and convictions instead of seeking political gain, then so be it. I stand resolute, and ask those who agree with me and my three colleagues to join us and pressure the House Majority members to start acting like true conservatives and demonstrate the courage to take our state back from the grip of big government.

Vic Kohring is a third-term Republican who represents Wasilla and Peters Creek in the Alaska State House of Representatives.