Wilson, a Republican, sponsored House legislation seeking to expand the Alaska Legislature by six seats, four in the House and two in the Senate. [She] hopes to slow the loss of rural Alaska's voice in the Capitol as Anchorage and its Mat-Su Borough suburbs grow while other areas shrink.
"We are going to have to convince [Railbelt] voters that this is crucial," Wilson said.
But opposition to the idea is bipartisan.
At the recent Republican convention in Juneau, some speakers made disparaging comments about legislative expansion. In some cases, references to more legislators drew jeers from the audience.
Opposition to legislative expansion crossed party lines as well, with Democratic Rep. Scott Kawasaki of Fairbanks voting against putting the measure on the ballot, saying it wasn't needed.
It's a matter of fairness, not dollars and cents, two Democrats argue.
"I don't know what price tag you can put on less voice," said Rep. Reggie Joule, D-Kotzebue.
"I don't think anybody ever said democracy was cost-effective," said Rep. Berta Gardner, D-Anchorage.
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