What others say: Sens. Coghill, Ellis bridging partisan divide to find solutions

  • Tuesday, October 20, 2015 3:44pm
  • Opinion

As partisan politics become more ingrained in American political life, not only in Washington, D.C., but in Juneau and even municipal government, it’s getting harder to find areas of genuine bipartisan collaboration. But there’s at least one such good example here in Alaska, and it comes at a time when the state could use as much of it as possible. Best of all, it’s tackling a big cost sink for the state — the overcrowded corrections system.

Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole, and Sen. Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, are the leaders of the Alaska Senate majority and minority caucuses, respectively. On the hallmark issues being debated in the capitol, such as oil and gas taxes, health care and education, the two aren’t often in agreement.

But on corrections reform, they’ve found a surprising amount of common ground, turning what is often a bitterly divided issue in other states into an opportunity to reduce system costs and provide for better outcomes.

Cost reduction is a big motivator to find a better solution for Alaska’s prison population. The Department of Corrections budget last year was $327 million, a substantial chunk of the state operating budget that’s in danger of growing even larger given the increasing number of inmates. Many of the state’s correctional facilities are near capacity, and with the state’s budget already $3.7 billion in the red, available funds for building new prisons are nonexistent.

Hearteningly, Sens. Coghill and Ellis not only recognize the corrections budget issue, they’ve turned to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trust for answers. The group has helped other states such as Texas deal with problems akin to Alaska’s, to a fair degree of success. Emphasizing reforms such as drug treatment and mental health programs, as well as other alternatives to prison, the trust says the reforms in Texas have not only helped cut incarcerated populations — three prisons in the state are on track to close due to reduced need for inmate accommodations — but also recidivism and overall crime rates.

That’s great news for Alaska, as state mental health trust officials say 60 percent of the state’s inmates are being treated in the mental health system.

Additionally, Sen. Coghill has expressed interest in giving responsibility on some matters to tribal courts where appropriate, to emphasize community justice and give residents in communities away from population centers a stake in the outcome of legal matters. While tribal courts won’t necessarily be the best option in all cases, making the process of rehabilitation more of a community effort than a top-down imposition by a justice system that can seem distant is a laudable goal.

Sens. Coghill and Ellis have co-sponsored a justice reform omnibus bill, Senate Bill 91, that would incorporate recommendations from the Pew trust and work done by state officials. In the furor over items such as Medicaid expansion, the state budget and marijuana regulations, SB 91 saw little movement.

But with diligent work, the senators can keep the ball rolling on corrections reform. Either reducing the state’s recidivism rate and prison population or saving money that could help ease the state budget gap would be welcome — to be able to do both with one bill would be a major accomplishment.

— Fairbanks Daily News-Miner,

Oct. 13

More in Opinion

President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia at a joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. (Doug Mills/The New York Times file photo)
Opinion: Mistaking flattery for respect

Flattery played a role in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Life is harder when you outlive your support group

Long-time friends are more important than ever to help us cope, to remind us we are not alone and that others feel the same way.

Deven Mitchell is the executive director and chief executive officer of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.)
Opinion: The key to a stronger fund: Diversification

Diversification is a means of stabilizing returns and mitigating risk.

A silver salmon is weighed at Three Bears in Kenai, Alaska. Evelyn McCoy, customer service PIC at Three Bears, looks on. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Opinion: Will coho salmon be the next to disappear in the Kenai River?

Did we not learn anything from the disappearance of the kings from the Kenai River?

Jonathan Flora is a lifelong commercial fisherman and dockworker from Homer, Alaska.
Point of View: Not fishing for favors — Alaskans need basic health care access

We ask our elected officials to oppose this bill that puts our health and livelihoods in danger.

Alex Koplin. (courtesy photo)
Opinion: Public schools do much more than just teach the three Rs

Isn’t it worth spending the money to provide a quality education for each student that enters our schools?

Gov. Mike Dunleavy speaks to reporters at the Alaska State Capitol on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Letter to the Editor: Law enforcement officers helped ensure smooth, secure energy conference

Their visible commitment to public safety allowed attendees to focus fully on collaboration, learning, and the important conversations shaping our path forward.

Laurie Craig / Juneau Empire file photo
The present-day KTOO public broadcasting building, built in 1959 for the U.S. Army’s Alaska Communications System Signal Corps, is located on filled tidelands near Juneau’s subport. Today vehicles on Egan Drive pass by the concrete structure with satellite dishes on the roof that receive signals from NPR, PBS and other sources.
My Turn: Stand for the community radio, not culture war optics

Alaskans are different and we pride ourselves on that. If my vehicle… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) delivers his annual speech to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: Sullivan, Trump and the rule of lawlessness

In September 2023, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan established his own Alaska Federal… Continue reading

UAA Provost Denise Runge photographed outside the Administration and Humanities Building at the University of Alaskas Anchorage. (courtesy photo)
Opinion: UAA’s College of Health — Empowering Alaska’s future, one nurse at a time

At the University of Alaska Anchorage, we understand the health of our… Continue reading

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Opinion: A noncongressman for Alaska?

It’s right to ask whether Nick Begich is a noncongressman for Alaska.… Continue reading

Boats return to the Homer Harbor at the end of the fishing period for the 30th annual Winter King Salmon Tournament on Saturday, March 23, 2024 in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Opinion: Funding sustainable fisheries

Spring is always a busy season for Alaska’s fishermen and fishing communities.… Continue reading