The pattern of the governor’s veto actions are despotic, eliminating the roles of the two other co-equal branches of government, the Legislature and the courts. The governor has essentially taken vetoes such that the budget now reflects entirely the very one that he introduced prior to legislative action. The Governor also vetoed funding to the court system in retaliation for social decisions that are supported by the law.
Both the Legislature and the courts work hard to do their jobs. The governor’s use of the veto pen shows that this executive intends to wield absolute power to yield a massive Permanent Fund dividend check to all Alaskans at the cost of the constitutional protections owed them by all branches of government and a depressed state economy.
Stephanie Rhoades
Anchorage
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