Alaska lawmakers cannot hold two taxpayer-funded positions at the same time. It says so in the Alaska Constitution. That means if you work for government entities, you can’t at the same time serve in elected office.
Sen. Roger Holland had to quit his job at Department of Transportation before he filed for office last year for Senate Seat N. So did Sen. Josh Revak, when he filed for the House of Representatives District 25 back in 2018.
But Rep. Liz Snyder, District 27, is serving in the Alaska House of Representatives and is advertising for enrollment for a class she will teach in the fall at University of Alaska Anchorage. Her class is advertised with her aka name, Elizabeth Hodges.
Snyder’s public official financial disclosure shows she was paid up to $100,000 last year by the University of Aalska.
Rep. Geran Tarr, District 19, who lists herself as adjunct faculty at UAA. Tarr’s public financial disclosure shows she made between $2,000 and $5,000 last year for classes she taught, while she also served as a legislator. She’s been teaching classes at UAA since 1999, and has been a legislator since 2013.
In 2018, Snyder was quoted in a news article saying she knew that she could not hold both an elected position and another state position. That’s why she wanted clarity about a sabbatical position she had taken with the university while running for office.
“You cannot hold two taxpayer-funded positions at the same time,” Snyder said at the time. But this year, she’s teaching an upper-level class between August and December.
Must Read Alaska has asked the University of Alaska Anchorage to clarify whether Snyder and Tarr are indeed still employed at UAA, as they appear to be on various official rosters.
The Alaska Constitution lays out the sideboards:
SECTION 5. No legislator may hold any other office or position of profit under the United States or the state. During the term for which elected and for one year thereafter, no legislator may be nominated, elected, or appointed to any other office or position of profit which has been created, or the salary or emoluments of which have been increased, while he was a member. This section shall not prevent any person from seeking or holding the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or member of Congress. This section shall not apply to employment by or election to a constitutional convention.
What don’t we Inforce the Law!
Rules and Laws do not pertain to them.
Seems very straight forward that both of these violated the law and should be evicted from office. Gee, I wonder which party owns them? Gee, it’s almost like laws for thee but not for me. Why even bother having laws when the elites can just ignore them? Think I’ll try pulling the privilege card next time 65 in a 55 zone. How did we the people end up so poorly represented?
Why to you keep harping about the constitution? That document is irrelevant to legislators.
Suzanne, perhaps you did not get the memo. If it is not about racial justice, the environment or covid it is not fit to print.
Oh man are they ever so fortunate to be Democrats!
Again, our elected officials applying their favorite motto: The laws apply to thee, and not me!
Give them the opportunity to resign (in disgrace), or prosecute them and Remove them.
Thank you, Suzanne for asking “hard” questions. The question isn’t hard, and neither is the answer. But the answer might be hard for Liz, from all appearances.
High Crimes and Misdemeanors aka Corruption!
They must certainly be doing this “teaching” on a pro bono basis. Right?
Pay attention – the laws are for thee, not for me.
It is possible to lose legislative immunity. APPLY Mason’s Manual. Having knowledge of maladministration CAN use the process that is due: a cover letter requesting an urgent inquiry of the episode of maladministration to the Juneau Sgt at arms requesting to be heard promptly on the floor. Along with the letter provide “Notice to Cure” stating what you know or observed, why it is unconstitutional. What you want done up to and including impeachment.
The legislators have a legal requirement to Calendar. If you sense your legislative members are insensitive to Constitutional law you should notice the Governor, the Federal Attorney General, Congress through Lindsey Graham’s Committee, (He can and will call for a “Congressional”). And up to the Secret Service who have taken an oath to protect our guaranteed republic form of government. All legislative. Not Judicial. Those who know and cleverly and humorously out thug the rules become complicit as well and the complainant must complain about their lack of integrity and the break down in due process.
This may likely be happening more often. It’s happened in Texas where an unconstitutional process was found and investigated. The entire family court was disbanded. Judges were removed and will not receive emolument stipends again. The family court cases were removed for federal court jurisdiction and hundreds of cases dismissed and resolved. Also know further “family courts” acting extraneously to Constitutional rights are still not available or functioning after abusive practices were absolutely documented.
Our form of government is not tyrrany.
That is absolutely positively corrupt! Here are another two examples why Democrats and their subordinate Republicans hate Must Read Alaska; this is the little blog that airs out the Democrats’ dirty laundry, tarnishing their fictional benevolent image.
Put this out on a billboard in their districts, so their constituents see while they are living poor especially Rep. Tarr district. these two are illegally living better than them and they don’t even care they are breaking law just so they keep their bread and creme butter.
Liz Snyder trying to fool the public again.
Fortunately, she’s not very bright.
Maybe Liz should enroll in Suzanne’s investigative journalism class, that is, if Liz knows how to sign her real name on the class application form. ?
Do as I say, not as I do. You caught me, but I am still going to double dip in the State coffers despite what the Alaska Constitution says. Remember, in their mind, the State statutes and Alaska’s Constitution don’t apply to legislators. They only apply to the little people: aka, the public. Time to vote Representatives Liz Snyder (Elizabeth Hodges) and Geran Tarr in the next election cycle.
While all of this does not surprise me in the least, the real question is: What can we do about it???
The cabal in Juneau treats the legislature as their private club and disciplinary actions, if any, are done in secret (beer pong anyone??). Those who rock the boat (Lora Reinbold) get blacklisted. If you work for the oil companies you get harassed, but the University is A okay. What a joke!
I am not a constituent in either district, but maybe Lance Pruitt can take this opportunity to file a complaint?
To Governor Dunleavy, may we request Alaska’s Attorney General: (a) sue Tarr and Snyder to recover money paid to them by UAA during their terms as elected representatives and, (b) determine what disciplinary actions may be appropriate against UAA managers who approved Tarr’s and Snyder’s employment during their terms as elected representatives.
.
Thank you.
The constitution is continually ignored by those on the left. The money grab by these criminals deserves prosecution and huge fines.
Grift and Graft. When they aren’t downright stealing from us, they are extorting money from the people and businesses they intimidate with the power we give them. It’s sick- but these are the people we put in.
Greasy girls, both of them. If they are this bad in their public life, imagine how immoral and illegal their private lives are.
Rules? We don’t need any stinking rules! That just for the stupid working class.
I am sure you are equally upset with Dave Donley. He serves on the Anchorage School Board and accepted a well-paid position as assistant commissioner of administration. in Gov. Donleavy’s office. Why do Republicans always ignore the law. Can’t we do something about it. The comment about greasy girls also applies to greasy guys. Just imagine…
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