The Crux of the Matter

Weather in our Capitol city, which has been problematic during the past few weeks, finally broke to crystal clear skies. The month of January gave Juneau about 80 inches of snow, a record.

Alaska Airline’s flights, and the frequent flyer state lawmakers on them, found it difficult to land at our airport and many overheaded to Sitka, forced to enjoy large wedges of the legendary pies at the Sitka airport while waiting out the weather.

Slowly melting four foot snow berms again line the streets, trapping curbed automobiles and choking storm drains as temperatures rose.  Now, with clear skies and colder temperatures, sidewalks are treacherous at best.  One must be cautious when forced to venture from the safe confines of a humble abode.

The place has been a mess.

Last year the legislature should have, but didn’t, pass a law requiring anyone forced to overhead Juneau and land in Sitka, to return to the Capitol City with a Sitka airport pie or be refused debarkation.

Because they didn’t pass the law, many over headers still arrive empty handed, blueberry stains on their shirts, but empty handed.  There really ought to be a law.

Like the battering winter weather, storm clouds have been brewing in the 26th Alaska Legislature.

The Stroller and the Sages had gathered after work one evening at the Baranof Hotel’s ‘Bubble Room’ lounge for refreshments concocted by Tony, the veteran mixologist who, for  40 years, has accommodated the beverage requests of legislators, lobbyists and constituents.  Like the Triangle Club’s ‘Jewels of the North’, Tony is a model of discretion, much to the relief of many past and present patrons.

Here are some of the observations discussed, the crux of the problem.

First there is the continuing and growing problem of Governor Sarah’s seeming myopic vision of putting herself and her ever expanding family in some pretty fancy public housing on the shores of the Potomac.

The Sages and the Stroller get the sense Governor Sarah doesn’t see that as a problem.  If handled responsibly, it wouldn’t be.

Even Governor Hickel, with all his national and international ambitions, kept his eye on the ball of Alaska.  He put us first.

The Stroller and the Sages do not begrudge Governor Sarah her national political ambitions nor her potential book deal.  In fact we wish her the very best.  Go girl.  But when the pursuit of those opportunities and ambitions conflict with the best interests of the State of Alaska, “Houston, we have a problem”.

During the past few weeks the Governor has retained an attorney (the one hired by President Clinton) to negotiate a multi-million dollar book deal.

She has created SarahPAC, run by her newly hired image consultant, that allows her to raise money and campaign around the nation on behalf of herself and other politicians with similar political views and in so doing build her own national base of support.  To her credit, and probably at the advice of her new image consultant, the Governor has curtailed reported plans to accept invitations to speak to national conservative political groups.  At least during the current legislative session.

After delivering her “State of the State” speech to the Alaska Legislature she immediately left the state to attend an exclusive political dinner/roast in Washington, D.C. that just happened to be attended by the President of the United States of America, Barak Obama (she stood on line so she could finally meet him).

Her original budget, submitted in mid-December, was based on an oil price estimate designed more to support her proposed budget as being ‘fiscally responsible’ than reflect reality.  She has now revised her estimates to more accurately reflect most international expert’s predictions but they are still $10-15 above current prices and may result in at least a $1 billion deficit this year and as much as $3 billion next year.

There is some serious debate as to whether the PFD is in jeopardy.

To accommodate the new revenue projections, the Governor has proposed reductions to her original budget that, according to many finance experts advising the legislature, are fiscal illusions.  Example:  Not having to pay out tax credits to oil companies they had expected to pay but because of the national and world economic downturn, weren’t earned.  She also proposed ‘unallocated budget reductions in current program spending’.

In other words the Governor wants the legislature to cut her current and proposed budgets by her suggested amounts of money to fit the new revenue projections but wants the legislature to decided what programs are cut.  That’s her job, not theirs, but sometimes, when those that should, don’t, you have to.

Governor Sarah is setting the legislature up to take the blame for program cuts, not her.  That’s an insult to the legislature.  There is no indication in these proposed cuts of her priorities or her values.  No vision for how Alaska is to fend its way through the current and future economic crisis, no indication of a willingness to govern or actually lead.

Just an obvious desire to get elected to the next office.

The Sages believe her initial stimulus package request was at best, too narrow and self serving, reflecting her own political ambitions and not the needs of Alaska.  Did she want Nancy Pelosi to get all the money?

The Sages are beginning to feel our Governor Sarah is using us for a prop for her new act, ‘candidate for POTUS’.

There is a major disconnect going on, unlike anything Alaska has experienced since statehood.

So who’s going to step up and take the lead?  Obviously it is going to have to be the legislature.

The Stroller and the Sages don’t expect the Senate Bi-Partisian Coalition to step out and do anything radical.  Confined by the myrid political views of its membership,  just to hold themselves together as a cohesive group they cannot charge off too far in support of dramatic financial or social program changes.

In the House, Speaker Chenault and his leadership team may be in the best position to lead us through these challenging times.  Although managing the House is much like herding cats, the Speaker and his leadership team, especially those on the House Finance Committee, seem to be on the same page.

But time is short.  With just over two months left in the 90 day session, pressure is mounting early.  Already members are expressing frustration that they simply don’t have the time to adequately address all the issues before them, especially the huge financial decisions that will dictate our state’s ability to survive as a viable political entity.

There are a huge number of very important decisions to be made in the next 60 days.

Who’s going to be the leader and point the way?

Even though Monday is a national holiday the grocery stores are open.

Go buy lemons.

Stroller