Wished more Moms served in the state senate

During the waning days of the legislative session, the telephone calls would be more frequent. The frustration of watching bad ideas being rushed through as adjournment neared was usually too much to handle without help from one of my favorite constituents. And as she’s done for the last thirty-nine years, my mother always answered the call.

I’d say, “Mom, these people are from another planet”. She’d reply, “Don’t criticize, condemn or complain Andrew, offer constructive advice”. I’d then explain to her about how constructive advice was received during closed-door caucus meetings. She’d close by saying, “Every morning I say a prayer for you before I get the newspaper, knowing you might be on the front page”.

One thing is for sure; we need a lot more than just one day to celebrate mothers.

And now as Gov. Murkowski fights for a fiscal plan in the waning days of the legislative session, he comes face to face with the greatest frustration to growth and prosperity in Alaska. Welcome to the Alaska State Senate, or as we’d call it in the House, the dark side. A place where leadership, courage and fairness are in short supply, bad ideas prosper and solutions go to die.

Harsh words? Actions speak louder than words.

Weakening lobbying laws and campaign finance reforms? Senate bills. Taking health care coverage away from pregnant women and children? Senate bill. Overturning the will of Anchorage voters? Senate bill. Subsistence? In 1999 the house passed a constitutional amendment to put a solution before Alaskan voters. Died in the senate. Fiscal plan? The house has proposed three in the last five years. Died in the senate.

In a bi-cameral legislature the senate is supposed to be the place where statesmanship reigns supreme. Where a four-year term is designed to insulate politicians from fear of reprisals for making tough decisions. Senators are supposed to be the leaders. Able to take a longer view than their counterparts in the house and show courage to always do what’s in the best interest of the state. But history shows us different.

The State Senate has become a playground for partisan politics. Bi-partisan cooperation is a language not spoken. In John F. Kennedy’s book “Profiles in Courage”, he might as well been writing about Juneau rather than Washington D.C. “I place but little dependence on the honesty and truthfulness of a large portion of the Senators. A majority of them are small lights, mentally weak, and wholly unfit to be Senators.”

And this baggage is proudly carried not only by current senators but some alumni as well.

Former State Senator and now U.S. Senate candidate Mike Miller is busy promoting his record as a true conservative while serving in the senate. Looking at his record, true conservative must mean two decades of cashing a legislative paycheck then leaving Alaskan’s with a crippling budget deficit. According to Miller, his senate leadership is defined by how many times he attacked the constitutional rights of Alaska’s women instead of how many times he balanced the state budget.

Currently the average length of legislative service in the Senate is eight years, which should afford the necessary experience to meet Alaska’s challenges. But the reality is Alaskan communities are struggling, the economy offers little sustainable growth and the brain drain of young Alaskans continues to increase. Meanwhile the biggest economic development discussion in the senate is whether to build a private or public prison. If only senators understood that a healthy education system and a growing economy we’d need less prison beds not more.

And while I’ve been critical of the governor, his current efforts to solve the fiscal gap have been admirable. On three historic occasions he has interrupted legislative proceedings to plead for action. To paraphrase Keynes, “When the facts change I change my opinions.”

But some facts will never change. The State Senate is a den of failed leadership and mothers are amazing miracle workers. It’s just too bad we can’t get more moms elected to the state senate.

Happy Mother’s Day to every mom, and thanks for always answering the call.