By JIM CRAWFORD
Every 10 years, Alaskan voters are presented with a simple but critical question. Article 13, Sections 3 and 4 of the Alaska Constitution requires that a question to be asked of voters:
§ 3. Call by Referendum
If during any ten-year period a constitutional convention has not been held, the lieutenant governor shall place on the ballot for the next general election the question: “Shall there be a Constitutional Convention?” If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in the negative, the question need not be placed on the ballot until the end of the next ten-year period. If a majority of the votes cast on the question are in the affirmative, delegates to the convention shall be chosen at the next regular statewide election, unless the legislature provides for the election of the delegates at a special election. The lieutenant governor shall issue the call for the convention. Unless other provisions have been made by law, the call shall conform as nearly as possible to the act calling the Alaska Constitutional Convention of 1955, including, but not limited to, number of members, districts, election and certification of delegates, and submission and ratification of revisions and ordinances. The appropriation provisions of the call shall be self-executing and shall constitute a first claim on the state treasury. [Amended 1970]
§ 4. Powers
Constitutional conventions shall have plenary power to amend or revise the constitution, subject only to ratification by the people. No call for a constitutional convention shall limit these powers of the convention.
Alaska has been governed by special interests for decades. These special interests fund the election of legislators and the subsequent organization of the State Senate and State House. Then they control you.
The people of Alaska should have the last word in Alaska law.
If you believe, as I do, that the people of Alaska should be the ultimate decider of Alaska law, you might consider joining a growing coalition of voters who see the Constitutional Convention as the only remaining means of returning power to the people to curb the special interests.
Let’s deal with three issues that the public supports but the court or a majority of a respective legislative house has blocked: 1. the right to a corruption free government, 2. the right to determine the amount of your Alaska Permanent Fund dividend and 3. the right to life.
The most important issue that Alaskan’s must change is the corruption of our judicial appointees through the Alaska Judicial Council. The Alaska Judicial Council is governed by seven members, four attorneys and three non-attorney members. The four attorney members dictate whom the governor can appoint to their list of “qualified nominees”. A member of the Judicial Council should not be practicing law in front a judge they appointed. The Judicial Council should exclude those with a conflict of interest. For instance, excluding attorneys who could try a case after appointing their candidate.
The voters can correct this only through a Constitutional Convention.
The right to determine the dividend of the Alaska Permanent Fund must be resolved by a vote of the people. The Legislature has proved through Special Session after Special Session that it cannot come up with a dividend policy that is fair, consistent and sustainable. Convention delegates can and will.
The right to life can be on the ballot in Alaska in 2024. The U. S. Supreme Court could shortly rule that Alaskans, instead of the federal government or courts, can determine the length of a baby’s in utero life. Will Alaskans continue to be bound by an elusive mandate that the right to privacy and reproductive rights authorizes the taking of innocent life? The only way for the people to overrule that precedent is through a Constitutional Convention. Exempting babies with a beating heart could be passed by a majority of Alaskans.
Each of these examples could be added or excluded by elected members of the upcoming Constitutional Convention as outlined in the Alaska Constitution. The original authors provided the path to restrain out-of-control, special interests that practice conflicts of interests by controlling Alaska law.
Does Alaska have the Constitution it deserves? Are there glaring conflicts in need of correction? Are there issues that have been blocked by special interests who choose their own law above the public good?
The National Education Association opposes your right to a Constitution Convention. And we know why, the budget they hold hostage each year.
I’ve been a registered voter in Alaska since I turned 18 in 1966. I’ve opposed a Constitutional Convention each time since then. But I will vote for the Convention in 2022. Why? Because there is no other path that gives the control of government back to Alaskan citizens. The voters of Alaska are smart and can be trusted to study the issues prior to a vote. Each Alaskan will have the opportunity to weigh in on issues they feel are important. The power will be back where it belongs, with the people.
Those who oppose the Constitution Convention appoint judges to put their thumb on the scales of justice, scoff at the public’s right to set the dividend of the Alaska Permanent Fund and campaign with fear to advocate taking a baby’s innocent human life.
A Constitutional Convention is an opportunity to take back our government, to reclaim for the people good public policy in Alaska. We have a bright future if we do not forfeit our rights to a clean government, our right to healthy babies and our right to determine our earnings through our dividends.
Each of those three rights share a common ancestry. Each has been controlled for decades by special interests. A majority of Alaskans can change that.
Jim Crawford is a third-generation Alaskan entrepreneur who resides in Anchorage with his editor and bride of 38 years, Terri. Capital Alaska LLC is a statewide commercial lender which analyses and may sponsor projects of sustained economic growth for the Alaskan economy. Mr. Crawford, known as the Permanent Fund Defender, was a member of the Investment Advisory Committee, appointed by Governor Hammond to plan and execute the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.
