| August 18, 2006 GOP Head Ducks Debate by Rep. Les Gara, press release On Monday Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage) challenged Republican Party of Alaska Chair Randy Ruedrich to debate Ballot Measure 1, which seeks to limit political donations by lobbyists and wealthy donors. Ruedrich hasn't responded to the challenge. This issue has been a dividing line between Republicans and Democrats. In 2003 Governor Murkowski and the Republican-led Legislature weakened Alaska's limits on lobbyist activity and large campaign donations after a Republican Party lawsuit challenging the existing lobbying and donation limits had failed in court. The Republican Party head continues to support higher donation limits by wealthy donors, and weaker lobbyist donation and disclosure rules. Tuesday, voters will decide whether to re-instate the pre -2003 donation and lobbyist limits on a ballot initiative filed by Democrats Harry Crawford, Eric Croft and David Guttenberg. "The public wants to stop large donations to legislators, and doesn't want lobbyists to hide their activities. Mr. Ruedrich's opposition to those limits doesn't sit well with voters, and I don't think he wants voters to focus on how his party has fought these limits in court, in the Legislature, and now at the ballot box," says Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage). Gara helped craft the initiative, and helped get it on the ballot. Gara fought the Republican-led efforts to increase these donation limits in 2003. The 2003 law doubled the amount donors could give to legislators and other candidates from $500 to $1,000, and doubled the amount lobbyists and others could give political parties from $5,000 to $10,000. It also allowed lobbyists more leeway to operate in secret. Until 2003 lobbyists who spent 4 hours or more in a month in direct face-to-face or phone lobbying with legislators had to reveal their name and who was paying them. The 2003 legislation allows most paid lobbyists to avoid registration until they spend 40 hours per month lobbying legislators – the equivalent of 160 15-minute meetings – before they have to register. The changed rule effectively allows lobbyists to sidestep the ban on lobbyist donations to legislators. Current and prior law prevents paid lobbyists from donating to candidates outside their districts. By making it easier for corporate executives not to register as lobbyists, they can spend up to 39 hours per month lobbying legislators, and then reward every legislator they lobby with a donation – the very result the 1996 voter initiative tried to prevent. Gara is still willing to debate Ruedrich on the issue. Les Gara is a Democrat, and serves in the Alaska House of Representatives. |
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It's Not Too Late Alaskans Should Share In Record Oil Company Profits Democratic Priorities |
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Reserved. in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership. |
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