I'm slightly confused. Okay, majorly confused. We elected our Legislators (both State and Federal) to represent us, the people. As I understand it, their job is to say "this is what my constituents want" and vote that way. Now I get it that not everyone wants the same thing. Some want more handouts, some want smaller government invasion of privacy, and others want something totally different. We don't all agree. That's normal, that's okay; that's why there is chocolate, vanilla and tutti fruity. What I don't get is why it is okay for our elected representation (at the State level) can decide to break the laws that THEY THEMSELVES WROTE, because they don't WANT to follow the Governor's decree. How is this okay? They couldn't get their jobs done in the 90 days they are supposed to get it done, and they couldn't even get it done in the 120 days that are constitutionally mandated. They had to go into special session, and EVEN THEN they could not and would not get their work completed. So, the Governor called them into YET ANOTHER special session. This time, however, he called the session for someplace outside Juneau, someplace where access to the session is less prohibitive than our capitol, which is only accessible by air. He even chose a place that is not currently overrun by tourists. 22 of our Legislators followed the Governor's decree and reported to Wasilla Middle School. Of the remaining Legislators, 38 decided that they have the authority to override this decree. Mind you in order to call their own special session, they need 40 votes. Last time I went to school, 38 was less than 40. I think these folks invented Common Core mathematics. (There are 3 or 4 Legislators with excused absences, so they did not vote.)
These Legislators have one job to do during this special session. Approve the amount of the Permanent Fund Dividend. For the past 3 years, our former Governor decided to change the way the PFD is paid out. He decided the constitutionally mandated formula was incorrect, and he took half of each PFD to supposedly pay for government. He also spent our savings account down to almost nothing. Now here's the thing. HE NEVER TRANSFERRED THE MONEY FROM THE PFD FUND TO THE STATE COFFERS. THE MONEY WAS STILL THERE. More and more Alaskans figured this out, and became more and more vocal. We fired that Governor in the election, and brought in someone who wants to balance the budget, pay back the non-appropriated dividend, and make the State start living within its means again. The 38 or so Legislators heard the outcry of the people, so they quickly transferred the unpaid dividend into the protected principal account from the earnings reserve account, which is what is used to pay the dividend. Now, all of a sudden, the money isn't there. It was NEVER spent, but now it constitutionally cannot be withdrawn. All of a sudden, the money that was supposed to be paid out to the people is locked away from the people.
Did I mention that they are breaking the law by not convening in the location declared by the Governor. Did I mention that they are breaking the law by taking their per diem during the special session instead of after. They voted that little law into effect last year. They obviously believe that they are above the laws that they enacted for themselves.
I don't know about you, but I sure as heck do not want representation by people who refuse to follow the laws they themselves enacted. It reminds me of my childhood - do as I say, not as I do. I didn't do so well with that either.
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