WE’RE SUING THE GOVERNOR

I’m proud to be part of the Legislature's law suit to bar Governor Murkowski from signing the gas pipeline contract he negotiated with three major oil companies, without first getting the Legislature’s approval

Sixty legislators were elected to represent, for better or worse, the people of Alaska. If the governor were to sign his proposed gas pipeline contract, without legislative approval, it would be a spit-in-the-face to the Legislature. And that’s akin to a spit-in –the-face of every man, woman, and child in Alaska – whatever one thinks of the governors proposed contract. Not only that, it would raise constitutional questions of separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

The governor has been delivering a string of not-very-vague hints that he might very well bypass the elected representatives of the people and, once again, “do his own thing.” Ergo, the court action to prevent Governor Murkowski from committing such an incredible act. Better to institute legal action before the fact than after.

I want an appropriate gas pipeline contract to be signed, and the gas pipeline to be built, as soon as possible. However, there’s a proper way to do it, and we must guard against the improper.