Hopefully Lessons Have Been Learned: January 26, 2005

Talking points re investigation by Mr. Bundy

The circumstances that led to the allegations and investigation of our Attorney General are unfortunate. I think the investigation by Mr. Bundy was appropriate. Hopefully, lessons have been learned by all concerned.

The matter of trust of public officials is more important than the technicalities and wording of ethics statutes. While no statute can make a person ethical, properly constructed laws can – and should – make officials accountable.

Based on the Bundy investigation, I will support legislation that specifically sets a dollar amount of an investment above which would be a “significant” conflict of interest. Several states use minimum dollar amounts ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. I would recommend $10,000.

Additionally, I would recommend that any person who violates a conflict of interest law that spurs an investigation, be required to reimburse the state for the cost of the investigation, in addition to any other fines imposed by an administrative or judicial process.

Brave Candidates and Brave Voters: January 28, 2005

Comments on House floor about the upcoming election in Iraq

Mr. Speaker, my topic is :Campaigns and Elections.

All forty of us in this chamber just went through the election process. Some of us had, what we thought, was a very tough contest, and some had a fairly easy contest, and some of us were unopposed – but all of us campaigned in one way or another.

In August and November, voters went to the polls and cast their precious votes their candidates, for better or for worse. Now, too many didn’t vote, but that was their choice. They could have voted if they wanted to.

Candidates campaigned, and Americans voted, and we had an orderly democratic process from the presidency to the US Senate, the Congress, and to the forty of us honored by election to this body. When we campaigned door to door, maybe someone who had a bad day slammed a door in our face, or we may have complained about a nasty mailer sent by our opponent, but that probably was the worst of it. What a Blessing it is, Mr. Speaker, to be an American, and an Alaska, and campaign without fear and vote without fear.

I know of a place, on the other side of the world, where 7,471 candidates are afraid to campaign, and they certainly aren’t knocking on doors. And voters are afraid to vote, because they could be killed by terrorists. Candidates are being assassinated, and polling places being blown up by terrorists who fear the threat of a free people.

The name of that place is Iraq, and their election is this coming Sunday. I have a prediction to make. The winner is of the election in Iraq going to be democracy itself. I hope we all say a prayer for the brave candidates and brave voters in that emerging democracy. God Bless those candidates and those voters.

Next time we think we are having a tough election here in Alaska, think about the election in Iraq this coming Sunday, and count our Blessings.