Republican state senators wasted no time in organizing themselves on Wednesday into a new caucus, giving themselves new titles and jobs for the upcoming legislative session and posing for the press.
You read that right: hustle from the Senate, folks.
However, a statement from the new Senate President Charlie Huggins — that the new body was a “reflection” of the voters’ wishes (read: Alaskans want Republican solutions) — is not entirely accurate.
True, voters selected more Republicans to fill seats in Juneau. But more than that, we think voters expressed their desire to see action from the Senate, a group that formerly moved like they had sandbags tied around their ankles.
To put it frankly, we think voters would like the Senate, regardless of affiliation, to move a little more like a thoroughbred and less like a pack mule.
That’s not to say these decisions we face — oil tax reform, gas pipeline, serious budget reductions — should be hastily considered. Rather, we’d just like to see them get past the hemming and hawing stage for once.
While most of the Senate is now comprised of Republicans and we’ve scrapped the coalition idea, perhaps we can get to some meaningful dialogue about the state’s problems, rather than just sending bills to the Senate to watch them die a slow, painful death.
So, if Huggins wants his troupe of Senators to be a reflection of voters’ desires, then they should keep with the tempo established Wednesday.
But, please remember some of you — including our local Senators Peter Micciche and Cathy Giessel — promised to work across the aisle with the Democrats and for the benefit of all constituents.
These issues are not partisan. Putting legislation in place to supply North Slope gas to the rest of Alaska as soon as possible is a long-time dream of all Alaskans. Cutting the budget a little now instead of slashing it in the future is our current Legislature’s responsibility. Adjusting oil taxes to a happy medium to allow our state to be competitive is an investment for future Alaskans.
To us, being a Republican or Democrat doesn’t have any bearing on those responsibilities. So where the bi-partisan coalition stagnated, let the new-look Senate provide some non-partisan answers. With a little giddy-up, too.
That is, Mr. Huggins, what voters really want.
Comments (12)
Add commentGerrymandering Worked
If it hadn't been for Republican gerrymandering of Senate districts, there would not be a Senate Republican majority caucus.
The Liberal Democrats Are Destroying Alaska
Obama, Begich, and the rest of the liberal Democrats are going to make life very difficult for Alaska.
Luckily, Republicans hold a majority in the House and Senate.
If the liberal press hadn't destroyed Bob Bell's campaign, there would be another Republican Senator.
Alaska is in for a rough ride; it's up to the Republican majorities to get major legislation passed quickly before Obama and Begich do more damage.
KenaiKardinal... congress is divided
You stated that the Republicans hold the majority in the house and the senate. That is incorrect. The republicans gained a a couple of seats in the house, but the democrats still hold the senate. More gridlock! Unless you are referring to state lawmakers, then you would be correct.
Where the difference will be in this presidential term will be the Supreme Court.
Riddle 11/10/12
Have a Riddle for You to solve :
Where is the largest populated area on the entire Kenai Peninsula but No One seems to know where that is located ?
Over 10,000 Residents live in this area.
Awaiting your answers please SPW "Airborne"
destruction
The only thing destroying Alaska.Well! it is the Alaskan themselves.Example-the 21 term individual .This is just one example.The Alaskan voters keep putting the same folks back in office.You keep voting for the same,and with expectant change to happen.IS absolutely the definition of insanity.The Republicans elected want to give YOUR monies to the oil industry in the form of BILLIONS of dollars in tax breaks.Now is this YOUR form of CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES.The monies come from YOU.The stubbornness of the Alaskan voter will keep each,and everyone of the voters blaming someone.or something else.While very little,or not anything is done to benefit the states citizenry.BLAME YOURSELVES.You keep saying this is a REPUBLICAN state.So the LIBERAL Democrats CAN NOT be the blame for destroying Alaska.It is YOU-The Alaskan citizen.
Big oil has it figured out.
Big oil has it figured out. Just provide money to sponsor an employee, ex employee, or future employee to run for state office, and voila....you soon have oil tax breaks in Juneau.
Gone are the bill allen days when you had to do dirty deals in hotel rooms. Now you can just pump money into a campaign without ever having to disclose it and bingo, you have filled the halls in Juneau with your own sock puppets.
Shame on Alaskans for being dupes. Thinking that big oil is somehow gonna do right to our state is like fondling a snake thinking it will not bite you.
We have just handed big oil all the representation they need to push their OIL TAX BREAKS agenda thru Juneau.
Now bend over Alaskans and say thank you, can we have some more....please.......
big oil big deals, chase em
big oil big deals, chase em off. let's get rid of the dividend checks, so the bums will take their rug rats and leave. let's add a state tax so the entitlement bums will move back to the city. let's cut all those oil related jobs so people will move to north dakota. problem solved. a nice quiet peninsula.
and even better for our chats
and even better for our chats in the clarion.
everyone has to go down and sign up in person with the clarion for commenting so the "big city RINGERS" will get off our party line. you know the slickers that don't live here.
State?
The state government has been going in a very peculiar direction. With so many outsiders still clogging offices (even though there are plenty of Alaska born people nowadays) and so much outside cash an ideas being pumped in, Alaska is looking more and more like a colony with a puppet state to make the masses feel better during a time of transition. Just like Manchuria was established to be in the beginning of the 20th century. Why do we have a governor at all when we can just call him a private sector CEO, and the senate the various VPs, etc. etc.? All working for Alaska, Inc.?
What's even more disturbing to me is that Alaska's population is growing faster than most small states, and yet our infrastructure and expectations are still that of the 1970's, just frozen in time. The state government needs a major transformation of goals and logistics, including a logical capital change to Anchorage.
Our state isn't even properly divided into local governments. Sure most people are located in boroughs, but without even those basic types of organizational precedence, what's the impetus for protecting Alaskan resources for Alaskans? There is none. In the end, there'll be a hodgepodge map as there's always been with regions set aside for Alaska, Inc. to sell off for one reason or another. You can label it anything you want, park, reserve, residential, whatever, as long as the map is crazy and the precedents are interpreted loosely, any type of land is labeled "cash" to the bosses of Alaska, Inc.
riddle
Is this the area that is known for its closely related people?
Riddle Answer
Fri. 11/16/12
The K-BEACH area now has a Population of over 10,000 Ak Residents. Per the 2010 U S Census
Senate District O House District 29 Soldotna Sports Center
Largest Population area for the entire Kenai Peninsula.
SPW "Airborne"
K-Beach
I came up short, only 7,850
Kalifornsky CDP, Alaska
Population, percent change, April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011 X 1.8%
Population, 2010 7,850