Anchorage Daily News

JUNEAU -- A bill that gives state watchdogs more time to investigate complaints against elected officials is gaining traction.

The House Judiciary Committee passed the bill on Wednesday, but the measure still has a long way to go with 25 days remaining in the session.

This worries bill sponsor Rep. Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage. He wasted no time in taking jabs at the committee, of which he is also a member.

Lynn has been concerned about the bill languishing in the committee since early February, when it had its last hearing.

"Thank you for hearing HB 281 once again; quite frankly, this is a bill we've come to know and love," Lynn said. "It seems to me that our Judiciary Committee is in fact in love with this bill because we've held it close and have not wanted to let it go."

Committee Chairman Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, wouldn't let his colleague's opening remarks go without a response.

"Representative Lynn, we only loved it long enough so it could be redrafted to be a better piece of legislation," Ramras said. "We are appreciative of your work."

Nevertheless, the bill must still pass the House Finance Committee, get the House's blessing, then receive support from the Senate.

If it survives, the Alaska Public Offices Commission and the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics will have five years from the date of an alleged violation to pursue a case under state law. Under current law, the two authorities have just one year.

Chris Ellingson, APOC's acting executive director, supported the committee's decision.

"It gives us the ability to investigate complaints because sometimes things don't come to light in one year," Ellingson said. "It give us some ability to do some enforcement."

If APOC had more than one year, it could have pursued an investigation into Jim Clark, the chief of staff to former Gov. Frank Murkowski. Federal prosecutors did get to Clark, however.

Clark pleaded guilty to hiding from state election regulators more than $68,000 in polls and consultants' fees he secured from the oil field services company Veco Corp. for Murkowski's failed gubernatorial re-election bid two years ago.

The Judiciary Committee also debated whether an elected official or candidate who lost a race should be forced to keep campaign records for six years.

"Five years and six years is a long time," Ramras said. "We should think that through carefully before we impose an unreasonable burden."

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