Legislative Update
From
Rep. Les Gara’s Office
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News by e-mail ($$$Governor’s Proposal Vastly Increases Influence of Money In Politics
In 1996 voters placed an initiative on the ballot to limit the influence of money in politics. In 1997 the Legislature, under the threat of this voter initiative, passed the voters’ proposals in to law. The rest of the nation is moving towards limits on financial donations to candidates, and we are going the opposite direction.
The Governor’s bill increases the following campaign donation limits:
Lobbyist Donations: Because of the 1996 voter initiative, most lobbyists are prevented from donating money to candidates today. The Governor proposes to allow lobbyists to donate $1,000 to any candidate. Thus, a single lobbyist would be allowed to donate $60,000 to all encumbent legislators if s/he wishes.
PAC Donations: Today a corporate or other PAC can donate up to $1,000 per candidate. The Governor proposes to increase this limit fivefold to $5,000 per candidate. In addition, the Governor wants to let any PAC donate up to $10,000 to any or each political party so they can pass the donations through to candidates. Today the limit for such donations is $1,000.
Double The Individual Contribution Limit: Today individuals can donate up to $500 to a candidate. The Governor wants to double this limit to $1,000.
APOC Supports Bill: A Gun To the Agency’s Head?
Earlier this session the Governor said he was going to eliminate the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC), the agency that oversees our campaign finance laws and that punishes violators. That’s what Senate Bill 119 originally proposed to do - until last week. Prior to last week, APOC never supported donation limit increases like the ones the Governor now proposes. However, when the Governor unveiled his plan last week, APOC officials suddenly stated they “enthusiastically supported” the proposed increases to the lobbyist, PAC and individual contribution limits. It was certainly odd to hear our campaign finance watchdog agency say that they believe lobbyists and PACs should be able to donate lots more money to candidates. The word around the Capitol is that APOC members were told they had to support the donation limit increases or their agency would be eliminated. The re-write of SB 119, from a bill that would have eliminated APOC to one that preserves APOC, but increases donation limits, supports that conclusion.
Whether APOC truly supports the Governor’s proposals or not, they are poor public policy. The voters did a great thing in signing the 1996 initiative. By lowering donation limits, candidates were forced to receive smaller amounts of support from more people. That, in turn, lessened the potential influence big donors could have in the political system. Also, it makes sense to prevent lobbyists from giving money to candidates. By allowing lobbyists to donate money, and to fundraise, they are given a new tool to threaten legislators with - vote their way, or they’ll fundraise against you.
Budget Debate Shows Differing Visions On Education, Senior and Children’s Issues.
After two long days of debate, the House of Representatives passed a budget I cannot say makes me proud to be a legislator. The House produced an exceedingly partisan budget. The partisan nature of the budget debate was almost as disappointing as the substance, which included education cuts, cuts that impact children and Alaskans with disabilities, and decisions that, in my mind, will make it harder for Alaskans to thrive in a truly diversified economy.
There are things this state must fund if we are ever to have a vibrant economy. I’ll always support cuts to wasteful programs and projects. But the failure to properly fund our schools, senior services, the University, and programs that help us create jobs and diversify our economy do nothing more than stifle the ability of Alaskans to succeed.
Partisan Politics:
This session I’ve voted with Democrats and Republicans when I felt an idea was worthy, and against proposals from members of both parties when I disagreed with them. I believe it is important to make decisions based upon a consideration of the merits, and not based upon party politics. That’s what you elected me to do. I’m sad to report that party politics ruled the day during the House budget debate this month.
Whenever a budget amendment was offered by myself or one of my Democratic colleagues, it was voted down, essentially along party lines, and even by majority members who agreed with the amendments. As you may know, there are 28 Republicans and 12 Democrats in the House this year. The majority party has implemented a new, disturbing party rule that requires 15 of the 28 majority members to agree before more than 2 majority members can vote with Democrats on a budget item. So, for example, if 9 Republican legislators wanted to join 12 Democrats on an issue to form a 21 vote House majority, they are precluded under their party’s rules from doing so.
This is the so-called “majority of the majority” rule. Unless a majority of House Republicans decides to allow it, no more than 2 of their caucus members are allowed to vote their conscience to join on a Democratic legislator’s budget proposals. Thus, while 9 Republicans would have agreed with 12 Democrats to adequately fund the University, and continue the Alaska Science and Technology Foundation, party rules prevented those legislators from voting for these Democratic budget amendments. Welcome to the 2003 version of party politics.
A
Partisan Budget:
Deep Cuts to Schools, Vocational Training, Children’s
Programs and More:
The following is a summary of budget cuts I felt reflected a poor vision for Alaska, and voted against. I proposed or supported roughly $60 million in what I considered responsible budget cuts. Those cuts would have offset budget additions I felt were needed to fairly fund our schools, University, Pioneers Homes and important programs for disabled and disadvantaged Alaskans.
Education Cuts: The Governor proposed roughly $35 million in school funding cuts. The House majority passed a budget that included roughly $10 million in cuts. In addition, the House plans to cut another $3.9 million from state kindergarten funding by the end of the session.
In contrast, I introduced an amendment to add roughly 3.5% to last year’s education budget. This would have increased school funding to account for losses to inflation dating back to 1998. The amendment tracks a bill I introduced in the House (HB 220), but failed on party lines.
Municipal Revenue Sharing: The House majority reduced the amount the State grants to Municipalities for police, firefighting and other local functions by 25%, or $7.4 million. This “cut” to money provided to municipalities simply transfers the tax burden to local taxpayers. The cut also harms our ability to hire adequate numbers of police and public safety officers to make our neighborhoods safe.
Pioneers Homes: The House proposed a flat budget for our Pioneers Homes. That budget leaves roughly 250 senior Alaskans on the waiting list for empty rooms. At the end of 2002 there were 138 empty rooms in our Pioneers Homes. That’s not acceptable, and it’s not fair to our senior community. I offered an amendment to provide the staffing to allow 23 additional residents to enter the Pioneers Homes.
University Funding: The University has made great strides over the past 5 years. Due to salary and cost increases, it needs roughly $10 million in funding over last year’s budget to avoid serious program and classroom cuts, and to continue its program to graduate more teachers and nurses in a time of shortage for both professions. House Democrats and the Governor joined across party lines in requesting this funding. The House majority, however, voted to flat fund the University, and ignore the reality of the University’s increased labor and other costs.
Other Cuts: The House budget also made cuts as follows:
- Elimination of funding for Community Schools ($500,000)
- Cuts to Trooper support of rural Village Public Safety Officers ($280,000)
- Independent Living Centers ($35,000)
- Adult Basic Education ($167,000)
- Developmental Disability Grants (eliminated)
- Family Preservation Grants (to keep families together, and avoid
loss of
children into expensive, ineffective
foster care system - approx.
$1 million)
- Alyeska Central School (eliminated at arguably no real cost savings)
- Inmate Substance abuse and Sex Offender Treatment
- Alaska Science and Technology Foundation (eliminated)
Governor Prevails On Controversial Fisheries Habitat Issue
 Les Gara speaking at Habitat Rally on April 15th |
Since Statehood the division responsible for protecting our fishing streams, the Habitat Division, has been housed within the Department of Fish and Game. Many believe that because of this stewardship Alaska has the most vibrant fish populations in the world.
On February 15th the Governor proposed to move the Habitat Division to the Department of Natural Resources. It is a move many in the logging and mining industry supported under the presumption that the Department of Natural Resources would enforce our fishery protection rules less stringently than fisheries professionals at the Department of Fish and Game. Fearing weakened fishing stream protection measures, over 35 fishing, outdoor, native Alaskan and other groups, including the state’s largest sportfishing groups, opposed the Governor’s plan. In addition, every Department of Fish and Game Commissioner for the last 30 years opposed the Governor’s plan. Testimony and letters from hundreds of Alaskans overwhelmingly opposed the Governor’s plan.
In February I introduced a resolution, HSJR 1, to reverse the Governor’s decision. On April 15th the Governor’s plan, failing a vote to stop it by the Legislature, took effect. We can only hope that everyone’s fears prove unwarranted, and that our fishing streams will be protected by the Department of Natural resources as well as they have been by the Department of Fish and Game. Time will tell.
Bills that make a difference:
Here are a few of the bills I’ve supported, and that have passed the House this session.
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Strengthening
Alaska’s Anti-Stalking and Protective Order Laws Strengthening Criminal Restitution Laws When Victim is a Non-Profit Organization Clearer Labelling Of Generic Drugs To Help Prevent Overdosing Cleanup of Illegal Drug Sites Limitation on Internet Pornography Strengthen Alaska’s Arbitration Laws. More efficient Transportation of Commercial Fish |
A few of the other bills I’ve filed or co-sponsored this session:
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Regulation
of Telemarketers; Do Not Call List. Increase Education Funding To Account For Inflation Requiring Open Meetings By Legislature Limits on Junk E-Mail Enhanced Consumer Protection Insurance Pooling/Group Health Insurance Breast & Cervical Cancer Prevention Small K-12 Class Sizes |
