From Barrow to Ketchikan

I started the week in Ketchikan, where pretty much everyone I met reminded me that Ketchikan is in Alaska. Ketchikaners – if that’s a word – are feeling unloved by their government and, as near as I can tell, by their governor over the vanished bridge and vetoed capital projects and maybe some other things I forgot.

The city itself remains the pretty, wet place I remembered from my previous visit nearly 30 years ago, except a part of the town has been torn down and replaced by tourist facilities since then.

I was there, of course, for another hearing on the proposal by Gov. Sarah Palin that the state award a license to build a gas pipeline to TC Alaska, a subsidiary of TransCanada. The hearing followed the familiar pattern: A presentation by TransCanada VP Tony Palmer, salted with questions from skeptics. A presentation by Commissioner of Revenue Pat Galvin, ditto. And a dozen-and-a-half statements from members of the public, the highlight of which was a couple of songs by Ketchikan Gateway Borough Mayor Joe Williams – a Tlingit and proud of it – who, I can tell you, has a fine singing voice.

And what did the road show prove?

If you’re talking about the decision in front of us, not that much. There was a lot of give-and-take, and a few new, not-very-central facts winkled out. But I’d be surprised if two votes were changed one way or the other.

But I think there was a value in the legislature getting out into Alaska, to see several parts of the big, far-flung state we represent. And to let people who live in those parts see their legislature. During the road show that took us to Fairbanks, Anchorage, Palmer, Soldotna, Barrow and Ketchikan, I talked with a lot of people about a lot of different things and, just as important, listened to them, too. Since, no matter where it is located, a legislative session is going to be in only one place, getting out to see other places and other people is important. I hope the legislature does more of it.

Meanwhile, back in Juneau

Today is Day 3 of the renewed hearings in Juneau. We are on a death march schedule: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. yesterday, for example. Some of what we’re hearing is, frankly, irrelevant. Some is same-old, same-old. And some is new, like Thursday morning rough going for a guy named Bud Fackrel, who is the head of what BP and ConocoPhillips claim is a real effort to build a gas pipeline of their own. Legislators are skeptical about what the companies call Denali, me among them.

So Fackrel was asked a bunch of questions about whether Denali is a real company, or some elaborate public relations scheme, as well as questions about why on earth the state of Alaska should go along with letting the producers own another pipeline. Unfortunately, for Fackrel, he didn’t have answers to a lot of questions.

I don’t know what the two oil companies are paying the guy, but I’m betting after he got off the hot seat, he called them up to demand more money.

Just as a side note, Thursday afternoon saw the return of Marty Massey, the smooth-talking Exxon executive. Naturally, his testimony revealed that Exxon really needs to own a big piece of any natural gas pipeline and, of course, really, really needs low taxes and a freeze, too. It’s always a pleasure watching Massey work, even if you aren’t very fond of his company or its positions. If I ever have to make a deal with the devil, I know who I’m hiring to negotiate for me.

More disappointing news

Events here were pushed aside for a while on Thursday with the announcement that the federal government has indicted state Sen. John Cowdery. The news that another Alaska legislator had been accused was disappointing but not really surprising. The feds are making a long, slow slog of the grand jury process, and for all I know they’ll be indicting people in the Veco scandal until the sun goes out.

Cowdery is the biggest fish so far: Still in the legislature and, until fairly recently, chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, a post with a lot of clout. He’s also a sick old man. I sat next to him in the hearings on Wednesday, and he was alternately asleep and wheezing like a steam engine.

Given his apparently poor health, I’d like to feel sorry for him. But I don’t. A jury will decide whether he’s guilty, but for me that’s beside the point. To me, the point is that another member of the Alaska legislature has been shown to have no regard for ethical behavior, and was comfortable talking about legislators trading their votes for money.

This makes me furious. I’d go on, but I’d just be ranting and there’s no reason you should have to listen to that.

What’s next?

More hearings on AGIA, plus a special session call that contains everything but the kitchen sink. I’m told Aug. 7 is the last day of this special session, and I won’t be at all surprised if nothing gets done until that day.

Hey, we’re the legislature. That’s the way we roll.

Later,