Anchorage Daily News

Vote for candidates who believe open meetings are mandatory

Do you think that the Alaska Legislature should conduct the people's business in public?

The League of Women Voters of Alaska is a strong proponent of open meetings and believes the Legislature should do all of its work where voters can observe and participate.

When the 1989 Legislature closed the door to public scrutiny of the budget process, the League took them to Superior Court and won. Victory was short-lived when the Alaska Supreme Court reversed the decision, ruling that due to the doctrine of constitutional separation of powers, the Court could not impose restrictions on the behavior of the Legislature. Then in 1994, a legislative battle over ethics resulted in a statute specifically allowing legislators to "meet in a closed caucus or in a private, informational meeting to discuss and deliberate on political strategy."

How then is the citizen's right to know, and our democracy, preserved?

As a voter, you have the power to create an accessible and accountable Legislature. Ask candidates for the Legislature their position on open meetings. Ask if they would support closed caucus meetings, or if they would boycott any attempt to close the doors to voter scrutiny. If a transparent legislative process is important to you, vote for the candidate who believes that open meetings are part of his or her ethical responsibility to the people of Alaska.

The League of Women Voters protects citizens' rights to know and encourages Alaskans to vote -- on Nov. 4 -- for those who believe in open meetings.

-- Marianne Mills, president

League of Women Voters of Alaska

Palin clothes flap seems unfair

I am 70 years old and can never remember any former VP elects being asked where he bought his clothes, how much he spent for clothes or what he will do with his clothes after the election.

Could this be because this VP elect is not a he? Sounds unfair to me.

-- Elaine Manning

Glennallen

And what happens if McCain wins?

If all of Gov. Palin's new clothes are being donated for charitable purposes after the election, then what will she wear if Sen. McCain wins?

-- Ann DeArmond

Palmer

It's time for Stevens to step down

Like most Alaskans, I have benefited from the representation of Ted Stevens as our U.S. senator. He has served us for many years and has served us well. It is time for us to give Sen. Stevens a well-deserved rest, and it is time for a new generation to lead the charge.

We are fortunate to have Mark Begich running for the U.S. Senate, giving us a real choice. He has a proven track record based on his service as mayor of Anchorage. In recent weeks I have come to appreciate his understanding of and support for the critical issues facing rural Alaska.

Supporters for Sen. Stevens say we need to support him because of his seniority. He will not be our senator forever -- in fact, this is probably his last run for office. In the 2014 elections I would prefer we have a U.S. senator with six years' experience seeking re-election rather than a new candidate with no experience. A vote for Mark Begich is a vote for that experience in 2014.

It is time for us to start the next session of Congress with a clean slate. It is easy for me to picture a new team for Alaska who will work well together -- Sen. Mark Begich, Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Ethan Berkowitz.

-- Sandra Borbridge

Juneau

Both Senate candidates corrupt

The upcoming U.S. Senate election is a travesty for all Alaskans as both political parties have knowingly put forward corrupt political candidates. Based on the eye-opening evidence that I saw five months ago during "Ray Metcalfe's Three-Hour Tour of Bribes and Political Corruption Through Real Estate," there is no doubt in my mind that Sen. Ted Stevens and Mayor Mark Begich will be in federal prison within three years for a mountain of crimes that are only now being brought to the public's attention.

-- Chris Lyon

Anchorage

Palin personally uses public funds

Tom Anderson. Pete Kott. Vic Kohring. Ted Stevens. Will Sarah Palin join the list? She has managed to collect $17,000 in per diem for staying at home (paid no taxes) and charged the state $21,000 for her children's nonessential travel expenses. All in 20 short months in office. Illegal? Maybe. Unethical? You betcha!

Oh, I forgot. She's a reformer. Never mind.

-- Pete Boehlen

Eagle River

Alaska needs new voice in Senate

As mayor of Anchorage, Mark Begich has encouraged eligibility increases to allow more of Alaska's hard-working families to access Denali KidCare for their children. Federal funding for DKC is as high as 70 percent. A modest investment by the state of Alaska with changes to eligibility requirements could allow more than 1,000 Alaskan children to access health care coverage. The state of Alaska is enjoying a surplus at a time when many Alaska families are not. Crippling travel, heating and food costs are straining household budgets. Geographic distances decrease access to quality health care; seasonal employment reduces access to quality health care insurance. Alaska's complex challenges require an innovative and practical Alaska voice in the U.S. Senate.

-- Jamie Allison

Palmer

Stevens deserves a grander house

I have watched with disdain the mockery of a trial against Ted Stevens. How is it that the government can make all the judicial errors they want and get away with it?

The complaint is about a house that Ted owned and the Veco chairman used all the time. I don't think it is any of the government's business who Ted Stevens' friends are or what they do for him. Frankly, Alaskans should build a mansion for Ted Stevens and furnish it at no cost to him. If they did that, it still would not repay the good that he has done for Alaska.

No one in the history of this great state has done as much for Alaska and Alaskans as Ted Stevens has done. No one.

-- Jim McFarlin

Wasilla

More oil refineries not the answer

A response to the latest call by political candidates on the solution to our high energy prices is in order. The focus of their solution is to build more refining capacity. There are numerous flaws with this notion.

To refine a gallon of product is not the same as a gallon of water. A lot of technology is employed. The hoops a refiner has to go through are enormous, the costs of which get passed on to the consumer. California is an example.

If there was any real money to be made in refining, Joe Oilfield would be building refineries. The independent refiners are struggling. Some may have to shut down as they are no longer viable. Oil companies that produce and refine their own oil have sold refineries to independents because of the poor return on their capital. Add to that the risk and regulations, getting out of that end of the barrel is a no-brainer.

The bottom line in refining is the same as any other business. Supply and demand rules. Large refineries can produce products cheaper, just like Ford did with the Model T. If the economics are there, other refiners will ship to Alaska. This does happen.

Certainly the cost of energy will force us to conserve and look at alternatives.

-- Keith Gerke

Kenai

Choice is to vote for bad or bad

Like Frank Gerjevic, I too remain in a quandary over whom to vote for, at least when it comes to the congressional races. The campaign rhetoric of Stevens, Begich, Young, and Berkowitz boils down to who is in the best position to "develop" Alaska, which is a euphemism for trashing it. As an environmentalist, which by Sen. Stevens' definition means that I am an extremist (yeah, I am), I would point out that none of them seems to have any comprehension of limits and carrying capacity. ... and, oh by the way, the planet is dying and the country is bankrupt, and they all will continue to do what has gotten us into the mess we are in now. If we elect Begich and Berkowitz, mark my word they will be as hard to get rid of as it will Stevens and Young. My question is who will be the least worst and the least effective because they are all bad. I will vote but with no hope that things will get better.

-- David McCargo Anchorage

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