Editorial: An abdication of responsibility?

  • By Peninsula Clarion Editorial
  • Friday, November 17, 2017 9:44am
  • Opinion

Last week, the Alaska Senate passed an update to criminal justice reform legislation — then adjourned and headed home. The action prompted criticism from the House majority coalition and the governor, with House Speaker Bryce Edgmon calling the Senate’s action “an abdication of their responsibilities.”

We hope the speaker is aware of the irony in that statement. After all, the crime legislation passed during the most recent special session — which the House continues to drag out — was passed by the Senate back in April, during the regular session.

The House and Gov. Bill Walker have two gripes with the Senate. The first is that the version of Senate Bill 54 passed by the House contains a potential constitutional issue, which the Senate opted not to address. The measure would make presumptive sentence ranges for first-time Class C and Class B felonies the same, something that could potentially violate due process requirements.

The other complaint is that the Senate did not take any meaningful action on Gov. Walker’s proposed employment tax — though that should not have come as a surprise, as the Senate majority has adamantly opposed a new broad-based tax.

Edgmon and Walker both criticized the Senate for, as the Speaker phrased it, worsening “the ongoing recession and fiscal crisis by refusing to even consider a new revenue proposal.”

Again, we hope the speaker is aware of the irony in that statement. The proposed payroll tax would eventually collect $300 million to $325 million a year — putting a very small dent in a budget deficit that will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.7 billion. Lawmakers from the Senate and House have pointed to use of a portion of the earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund as the biggest part of a budget solution, and the measure on the table to do that, SB 26, would cut the deficit by about $1.8 billion. However, the House and Senate passed differing versions of the bill — the House version requires a broad-based tax be enacted for SB 26 to take effect — and a compromise bill never made it to the governor.

The issues with SB 54 can be fixed as soon as the next regular session starts — which at this point, is less than two months away.

As for worsening the fiscal crisis, the governor’s payroll tax would cover roughly 10 percent of the budget deficit, maybe a little bit more. Meanwhile, the measure that would address two-thirds of the shortfall has been ignored — or conveniently forgotten. Yet the House wants to pin the blame on the Senate for that, too.

The current special session hits its 30-day limit on Tuesday, and the Legislature’s next regular session starts on Jan. 16, 2018. Lawmakers know what needs to be done. Failure to do so will truly be an abdication of responsibility.

More in Opinion

Baisden family dog, Tug, is photographed in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy Rhonda Baisden)
Opinion: Ode to a good boy

The reality of saying goodbye hit us like a freight train

Alex Koplin. (courtesy photo)
Opinion: Why we’re not ranking Vance on the ballot

We will rank the other two candidates

Kenai Courthouse is photographed on Feb. 26, 2019, in Kenai, Alaska. (Clarion file)
Opinion: Seeking justice for our son

These state troopers need to be held accountable for their actions, and never let this happen again

Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski talks to supporters during a campaign event at Louie’s Douglas Inn on Oct. 12, 2022.
Opinion: Murkowski must get off the ‘none of the above’ fence

She needs to follow Cheney’s lead and endorse Harris

This November 2022 file photos shows Alaska Division of Elections Director Gail Fenumiai explaining the ranked choice tabulation for the 2022 U.S. House race. Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola prevailed over Republican former Gov. Sarah Palin by a final tally of 54.9% to 45.1% after lower-finishing candidates Republican Nick Begich III amd Libertarian Chris Bye were eliminated during the first two rounds of instant choice runoffs. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire file)
Opinion: Ranked choice voting and open primaries diminish political party control. That’s great for Alaska.

The fact that both private political organizations are opposed to open primaries and RCV should be a red flag for us all

Voting booths are set up at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A few votes can make all the difference

Because we are expecting a low voter turnout, your vote carries more weight

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, speaks during a debate with Rep. Ben Carpenter organized by the District 8 Alaska Republican Party at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: Legislation encourages professional development for teachers

This bill provides incentives to teachers to seek the most rigorous and effective professional development they can.

Alex Koplin. Photo courtesy of Alex Koplin.
Point of View: The 2020 election was safe and secure

How can so many voters be so misinformed?

The Kenai Safeway is seen on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: AG’s silence on Kroger-Albertsons merger is failing Alaskans

We are concerned for all Alaskan consumers and for Alaska’s food security.

AKPIRG logo. Photo courtesy of AKPIRG
Opinion: With the right regulations, the SAVE Act can unlock energy prosperity in Alaska

Since 2010, only homeowners have been able to invest in and earn monthly bill savings from rooftop solar

The Safeway supermarket in Juneau, seen here Oct. 4, 2023, is among those in Alaska scheduled to be sold if its parent company, Albertsons Companies Inc., merges with Kroger Co., the parent company of Fred Meyer. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Alaska’s attorney general flunks math test

One supermarket owner is less competitive than two, and more competition is good for shoppers

Jenny Carroll (Courtesy)
Opinion: Homer Harbor plays critical role in community, economy

This gateway to Cook Inlet fuels everything from recreation and food security to commercial enterprises