By REP JULIE COULOMBE
In coming to Juneau, I had every intention to approach the legislature with an open mind, build bridges, and work toward consensus. It is important to me to always keep what is best for Alaska at the forefront.
By and large, I have been satisfied with my experience and with my fellow House colleagues. I joined the Freshman Caucus early on to establish relationships so when the tough issues came to a vote, I had heard the other side of every bill and could make my decision with all voices represented.
The one thing that I counted on was the process; laid out in statute and the constitution. I assumed that the other body would also be working in good faith, but that has not been my experience.
In my estimation, the current Senate Majority considers the House as somehow inferior, rather than an equal partner in a bicameral legislature with simply a different role. The broken process began with the dubious legislature pay raise from the Compensation Commission.
The House voted the initial increase down, but it was clear we had been duped; and what the Senate wants the Senate gets.
Then, the House passed the Operating Budget to the Senate on April 17th with assumed promises that the Senate would pass over the Capital Budget in a similar matter. This is the tradition, where each body takes on a separate budget, and then passes the budget over to ultimately reach concurrence or go to Conference Committee.
Disagreement is expected, and there is a process for resolving it.
The Senate did not pass out the Capital budget and kept the Operating budget. Until this day, I have not had a voice in the Capital budget. Furthermore, the Senate reversed every amendment the House Majority rejected in the Operating Budget, including just about every change I — and others — made in subcommittee.
The looming special session lays at the Senate’s feet. They have little regard for the people’s House and have made every effort to insult the House Majority. When the Senate presented a significant PFD bill (SB 107) to the House Ways and Means Committee, it felt as though the Senate couldn’t be bothered to show up and make the case for a 75/25 PFD.
No bill sponsor came to introduce the bill, their reasoning behind it, or to show any amount of thanks for hearing the bill. They seem to have no connection to how it effects their constituents.
Career politicians believe there is no threat of not being reelected.
The Senate leadership have been publicly and privately disingenuous about their approach with both budgets. Even going so far as dictating how much the House can spend on Capital and then not giving it to us because our projects had to be statewide and listed for their approval.
What is the result of all this dismissive and disrespectful behavior? Disenfranchising the people of my district, and every House District. Not only are they ignoring the majority, but they also have no regard for the House minority either. They have broken the process so that 40 representatives have little to no say in either budget.
I have spent many hours analyzing and amending the budget, but now I see that the four months I have spent here, away from my family, was not necessary. I’m alright with compromising and taking my losses if I get a seat at the table in return.
In a final insult to injury, the Senate added $40 million into their budget for a government shutdown. Before we even get either budget, they are budgeting for a government shutdown. The Senate actions have had no spirit of compromise and no respect for the process nor constituents.
It’s difficult for those outside of Juneau to really see, but the House has made every effort to negotiate and get the budget back to no avail. There is no negotiating going on here, only mandates. This is not how the process was designed to work at the state or national level.
Misplaced arrogance based on hubris within the Senate is no way to legislate with respect for the constituency. If this is what the future holds, then there is little hope for responsible stewardship of fiscal resources in the execution of the people’s business. I, for one, will do all in my power to thwart such bureaucratic tyranny.
Representative Julie Coulombe (R-Anchorage) is serving in her first term in the 33rd Legislature. She is one of three freshman legislators from the Alaska House Majority to serve on the House Finance Committee this year.
