It seems that there are new signs daily that our governor and state Legislature are the most special interest influenced group of lawmakers in state history. From HB 77 to "streamline" the permitting process in the state, to allowing a decrease in the sewage treatment standards for the cruise line industry, to HB200/SB76 that strips the Alaska Judicial Council's ability to recommend retention/rejection of judges because Jim Minnery didn't approve of one of their recommendations during the last election cycle.
And of course, who can forget the current drive to give billions to the oil companies without so much as a nod toward some guarantee that the people of Alaska will receive something in return for giving up this tax revenue. Will the governor and Legislature, at any point, acknowledge who they truly are suppose to represent or will they continue down this path that appears to be bought and paid for by special interests?
— Dave Dodds
Anchorage