Alaska 2010 Ballot Measure 1 Proposes Constitutional Amendment To Increase The Number Of State Legislators From 60 To 66; Expected To Cost Around $6 Million

Three statewide initiatives on the November 2010 ballot in Alaska continue to be overshadowed by hot political races. These initiatives include Propositions A and B (a pair of bonding propositions), and Ballot Measure 1 (reorganization of state legislature). I previously discussed Proposition A HERE, and Proposition B HERE; this post is designed to provide some background and publicity on Ballot Measure 1. Primary information source is the Alaska Division of Elections website.

Ballot Measure #1 - Increase Number of Legislators and Districts. Specific ballot language given below:

"This Act would amend the Alaska Constitution to increase the number of state legislators from 60 to 66.  The Act would increase the number of senate members from 20 to 22.  It would increase the number of house members from 40 to 44.  Six new legislative districts would be created as a result – 4 in the House and 2 in the Senate.  The changes proposed by the Act would go into effect on or after January 1, 2011, after a new redistricting plan based on the 2010 U.S. Census is adopted.

Should this constitutional amendment be adopted?"

This ballot measure was enabled by SJR21. The specific language of SJR21 outlines the provisions and parts of the Alaska State Constitution to be amended:

-- Article II, Section 1, Membership: Increases the number of senators from 20 to 22 and the number of representatives from 40 to 44.

-- Article VI, Section 4, Method of Redistricting: Simply tasks the Redistricting Board to increase the number of seats to accommodate the increase of lawmakers.

-- Article VI, Section 6, District Boundaries: Tasks the Redistricting Board to establish the new size and boundaries of each district. Same methodology as before, except now the population of Alaska will be divided by 44 instead of 40 to establish the new house districts. Each senate district will continue to overlie two house districts.

-- Article XV: A "housekeeping" amendment stating that the 2010 amendments apply only to any redistricting plans adopted on or after January 1st, 2011, and to the membership of legislatures subject to those redistricting plans.

Alaska Senate Candidate Joe Miller Being Misrepresented On His Position On Minimum Wage; Opposes Its Federalization Rather Than Its Existence

Once again, the misrepresentation of Alaska Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller continues apace. This time, detractors and the media alike are hinting that he opposes the idea of a minimum wage.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The fact is, Miller merely opposes the Federalization of the minimum wage. He has no objections to states setting their own minimum wage laws. According to ADN Alaska Politics, the issue came up when Miller sat down with Jonathan Karl of ABC News and Mike Allen, the chief political correspondent for Politico.com. In response to the question “Should the federal government be requiring a minimum wage?”, here's what Miller said:

“That is clearly up to the states. We believe — in fact the state of Alaska has a minimum wage which is higher than the federal level because our state leaders have made that determination. The minimum level, again should be the state’s decision...There should not be, that is not within the scope of the powers that are given to the federal government. And again, let me make it clear, this is not just a simple checklist this is, let’s think of this pragmatically as well — even if you disagree with the constitutional approach which I think is the No. 1 thing that we ought to be following — it still makes far more sense to have those kinds of decisions made at the level closest to the people where there is more accountability, less inefficiency, where there is more understanding of where the people ought to be and what the state role of government is. We’ve said this many times, if you like big government, move to Massachusetts.”

Maybe not necessarily less inefficiency, but certainly more accountability. It is easier and less expensive to change an onerous local or state law than it is to change a Federal law. But clearly, Joe Miller's objection is NOT to the concept of the minimum wage, but to its Federalization. The majority of us who support Joe Miller do not hate government; we simply think the Federal government has grown too intrusive, invasive, and oppressive. And with a $13 trillion national debt, it's too damned expensive. We believe that states are limited sovereign entities in their own right, and not mere appendages of the Federal government.

Michael Gottesman, a Georgetown University constitutional and labor law professor, defends the Federalization of the minimum wage, saying “One [effect] is avoiding a ‘race to the bottom’ in which states that allow substandard wages attract industry away from states that have a higher minimum wage. Another, frequently cited by the Court, is that higher wages increases purchasing power of employees and thus increases the volume of goods sold in interstate commerce.” But what Gottesman ignores is the fact that a state losing industry because of high wages could counter that effect by offering industry lower taxes or less bureaucracy as an inducement to stay.

Gottesman also fails to note that by permitting outsourcing of industry outside the United States, we've already been engaged in a race to the bottom for years.

You can read a transcript of the entire interview at ABC News. This is the same interview in which Joe Miller said that Sarah Palin was one of the good names for President, any of them better than Obama. This triggered a temporary spat between Miller and Todd Palin which was quickly resolved.

Pew Research Center Survey Indicates Only 48 Percent Of Americans Oppose Gay Marriage, The Smallest Plurality In 15 Years Of Polling

Support for gay marriage continues to grow

Americans are starting to wear down under the incessant barrage of pro-gay propaganda. For the first time in 15 years of Pew Research Center polling, fewer than half of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, although the opposition still outnumbers supporters. The latest survey shows 48 percent oppose gay marriage, while 42 percent support it. Additional demographic breakdowns indicate that while an older Protestant Black man with a high school diploma living in the South is most likely to oppose gay marriage, a younger Jewish woman with an advanced degree living in the Northeast is most likely to support it. Read the full Pew report HERE; CNN story HERE.

Opinion varies according to age, sex, religion, race, and section of the country. The findings:

-- Older people much more opposed to gay marriage than younger people.
-- Men more opposed to gay marriage than women.
-- Blacks significantly more opposed to gay marriage than the other races.
-- Jews overwhelmingly supportive of gay marriage (76 percent).
-- Democrats much more supportive of gay marriage than Republicans.
-- College grads much more supportive of gay marriage than high school grads.
-- Northeast most supportive, South most opposed.
-- Catholics more supportive of gay marriage than Protestants, but there's a distinct split between White Mainline Protestants who support it vs. White Evangelical Protestants who overwhelmingly oppose it. Black Protestants also oppose gay marriage.

But the same poll indicates that gay marriage will be on the back burner with most respondents. Only 32 percent say same-sex marriage will be very important to their vote, while 90 percent say the economy is most important.

Unfortunately, support for gay marriage is likely to increase as the gay rights lobbies continue to play the "equality" card, the "safety" card, and, most despicably, the "suicide" card. Gay activists are milking this latest outbreak of gay suicides for all they're worth, particularly the Tyler Clementi suicide. They're well on their way towards transforming Clementi into another Matthew Shepard-type icon. Now Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) intends to introduce a bill that will require colleges and universities who are recipients of federal funds to adopt a code of conduct that prohibits harassment and bullying. Leave it to a Democrat to grow government once again.

Meanwhile, a Christian group is retreating from the fight against homofascism. Exodus International announced it will no longer sponsor the annual Day of Truth, originally conceived to counter the annual pro-gay Day of Silence. "All the recent attention to bullying helped us realize that we need to equip kids to live out biblical tolerance and grace while treating their neighbors as they'd like to be treated, whether they agree with them or not," said Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International. Chambers claims the group has not changed its position on homosexuality, but has reevaluated how best to communicate its message. In contrast, Candi Cushman, education analyst for Focus on the Family, says her group will continue to support the Day of Truth.

North Pole, Alaska Voters Shut Down Effort To Recall Mayor Doug Isaacson In October 5th Fairbanks Borough Election; Dianne Lindhag Perceived As Opportunistic

The October 5th Fairbanks area elections are now history, and, as expected, 60.1 percent of voters approved FNSB Proposition A, which revoked the Borough's authority to ban, prohibit, or fine residents for the use of any home heating devices deemed to be "excessively polluting". The remainder of the Borough's pollution control program, which includes tax incentives for trading up to more efficient systems, and public education programs, remain in effect. The Borough's pollution control program was conceived in response to EPA pressure over "fine particulate" air pollution, but it disproportionately targeted wood stoves, and Fairbanks voters wanted to send a message that they're more qualified to regulate their quality of life than a bunch of bureaucrats in far-off Washington. A key proponent of Proposition A benefited as well; Michael Dukes was elected to Seat D of the Borough Assembly.

In addition, 53.2 percent of Fairbanks city voters decided to "fire" incumbent Mayor Terry Strle and hire Councilman Jerry Cleworth to replace her. The issue wasn't really "good vs. bad"; most voters simply decided that Cleworth was a better choice, although Strle was perceived by some to be too friendly towards public employee unions. Other News-Miner election stories available HERE and HERE.

-- Complete Fairbanks election results HERE.

But also of interest was the fact that North Pole voters authoritatively rejected an effort to recall Mayor Doug Isaacson which had become increasingly perceived as opportunistic with the passage of time. 60.6 percent of voters rejected the recall. The recall effort was spawned by a group with the unwieldly name North Pole Community Coalition Effort to Recall North Pole Mayor Douglas W. Isaacson, and two of the key players were North Pole City Councilwoman Dianne Lindhag and insurance agent Tammy Randolph. The group accused Isaacson of using city money to buy meals, not disclosing a loan made to his now-shuttered Gold Coast Mortgage company by a lender Isaacson later appointed to head the city's economic development corporation, costing the city tax revenue by failing to enforce sales tax regulations on the now-defunct Dahlmann's Restaurant, and disposing of steel sidewalk shelters without City Council approval. Furthermore, Isaacson had previously faced two ethics complaints filed by the police chief; the first complaint was rejected by an ethics board, and Isaacson and the chief settled before the second complaint went forward. This entire package provoked the recall group to launch a petition campaign and they got enough signatures to put the recall on the ballot. A June 1st, 2010 Alaska Dispatch article provides more background.

Alaska Senate Candidate Joe Miller's U.S. Army Service Record Is On The Level; Accepted Early Discharge Prompted By Post-Desert Storm Drawdown

Too many simple-minded ignoramuses continue to question the U.S. Army service record of Alaska's Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller. They point to the fact that Miller did not serve the full five-year active duty stint as a commissioned officer customarily required after obtaining an education at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Here's a typical ignorant comment regurgitated by an anklebiter named AKGasman on Alaska Dispatch.

I would like to see Miller’s DD 214; all of the Vets know to what I am referring. I do not see how Miller got out the military service 2 years early. This question was raised by a Vet with 30 years service who looked up the law. Nor do I see how Miller would have medical expenses problems if Miller has Defense Department form 214. That is an Honorable Discharge from the Military Service which would entitle Miller to full medical coverage.

{snip}

Did Miller obtain a psychiatric discharge from the military service and that is how he got of the military service two years early?

Back on September 30th, 2010, Joe Miller addressed this issue through his campaign spokesman, Randy DeSoto. DeSoto, a fellow member of the West Point class of 1989, said Miller decided to leave the Army when an early release program was offered in 1991. The Army offered the program due to an oversupply of officers at the end of the first Gulf War (Desert Storm). “When we graduated, we all thought we’d be serving at least five years active and then three years on reserve status,” DeSoto wrote in an e-mail. “The Army drawdown changed that.” DeSoto further explained that Miller received an honorable discharge when he left active service in September 1992.

An LTE from Alan Simmons published in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner expands upon this account. Simmons points out that during every war, the country increases its military strength far above normal peacetime levels. At the conclusion of every war, the military draws back down to stay within its peacetime budget. This has always been approved by Congress just like it was after Desert Storm. Specifically, Simmons wrote:

I graduated from West Point, served in Desert Storm with the 101st Airborne Division, and was offered an early separation under USC Title 10, Sec. 1075; Voluntary Separation Incentive. Joe received the same offer.

This law was passed by Congress and signed by the president to facilitate a drawdown and minimize or eliminate involuntary separations. The military was ordered to cut, and Joe, like thousands of others, was given the option to transfer to the reserves.

So the military services can waive retainability requirements at any time for the good of the service. Thus the U.S. Army had the power to waive the five-year service requirement for Miller after West Point -- and they offered Miller the opportunity to take advantage of it. And so he did.

Alaska Proposition B To Provide $397.2 Million In General Obligation Funds For Education-Related Projects In November 2010 Election

Three statewide initiatives on the November 2010 ballot in Alaska have been overshadowed by hot political races. These initiatives include Propositions A and B (a pair of bonding propositions), and Ballot Measure 1 (reorganization of state legislature). I previously discussed Proposition A HERE; this post is designed to provide some background and publicity on Proposition A. Ballot Measure 1 is now addressed HERE. Primary information source is the Alaska Division of Elections website.

Bonding Proposition B - State General Obligation Library, Education, and Educational Research Facility Bonds, $397,200,000. Specific ballot language given below (where available, links to project descriptions supplied):

"Shall the State of Alaska issue its general obligation bonds in the principal amount of not more than $397,200,000 for the purpose of design and construction of library, education and educational research facilities?"

This proposition was enabled by Alaska HB424. The specific language of HB424 outlines the intended purposes:

-- Department of Education and Early Development: The amount of $38,500,000 is allocated for the following projects:
---- Mount Edgecumbe High School aquatic facility, $20,000,000
---- State Library, Archives, and Museum facility, 18,500,000

-- Department of Education and Early Development: The amount of $128,500,000 is allocated for the following projects (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner story provides more background):
---- Replacement of Alakanuk K-12 School, Lower Yukon: $46,500,000
---- Renovation/addition for Kipnuk K-12 School, Lower Kuskokwim: $49,900,000
---- Renovation/addition for Kwigillingok K-12 School, Lower Kuskokwim: $32,100,000

-- University of Alaska system: The amount of $128,500,000 is allocated for the following projects:
---- Valley center for art & learning, UA Mat-Su campus: $23,500,000
---- Community arena and athletic facility, UAA: $60,000,000
---- Life science classroom and laboratory facility, UAF: $88,000,000
---- Student housing, UA Kenai campus: $16,000,000
---- Career and technical education center, UA Kenai campus: $14,500,000
---- Campus renovation & renewal, Prince William Sound Comm. College: $5,000,000

-- Department of Fish & Game: The amount of $20,000,000 has been allocated for the Near Island Research Facility in Kodiak.

-- Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development: The amount of $3,200,000 has been allocated to the City of Klawock for Prince of Wales Island Vocational Education Center.

Legislative History: On April 12th, 2010, the House passed HB424 unanimously, 40-0. On April 18th, the Senate passed it 20-0, but with amendments. On the same day, the House passed the amended version 40-0.

Update October 11th: A group called Yes On Prop B has been formed to advocate in favor of the bond. One of the primary players is Arliss Sturgulewski

, an ardent supporter of Lisa Murkowski. Note that this bond will NOT affect local property taxes.

Alaska Voters To Weigh In On Proposition A To Authorize $600 Million To Guarantee Veterans' Residential Mortgages In The November 2010 Election

While the buzz about the upcoming November general election in Alaska has been dominated by the U.S. Senate race between Joe Miller, Lisa Murkowski and Scott McAdams, as well as the gubernatorial race between Sean Parnell and Ethan Berkowitz, three statewide initiatives on the ballot have received very little attention. These initiatives include Propositions A and B (a pair of bonding propositions), and Ballot Measure 1 (reorganization of state legislature). This post is designed to provide some background and publicity on Proposition A; information of Proposition B is HERE, and on Ballot Measure 1 HERE. Primary information source is the Alaska Division of Elections website.

Bonding Proposition A - State Guaranteed Veterans Residential Mortgage Bonds, $600,000,000. Specific ballot language given below:

"Shall the State of Alaska unconditionally guarantee as a general obligation of the state the payment of principal and interest on revenue bonds of the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation issued in the principal amount of not more than $600,000,000 for the purpose of purchasing mortgages made for residences for qualifying veterans, as defined by law?"

This proposition was enabled by Alaska SB217, which also authorizes the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) to acquire the building that it occupies at 4300 Boniface Pkwy in Anchorage for an amount not exceeding $14,500,000 and to authorize the AHFC to acquire a building or purchase an undesignated site for the relocation of its public housing client intake and assisted housing center for an amount that does not exceed $3,500,000. The final text of SB217 indicates that the additional $17.5 million has already been appropriated and is separate from the $600 million specified in the proposition.

The text of SB217 references AS 18.56 and also defines a "qualifying veteran" as a person who is a "qualified veteran" as that term is defined, or may be subsequently defined under 26 U.S.C. 143. The latter reference, in defining a "qualified veteran", states "For purposes of this subsection, the term 'qualified veteran' means in the case of the states of Alaska, Oregon, and Wisconsin, any veteran who served on active duty, and who applied for the financing before the date 25 years after the last date on which such veteran left active service, and in the case of any other State, any veteran who served on active duty at some time before January 1, 1977, and who applied for the financing before the later of the date 30 years after the last date on which such veteran left active service, or January 31, 1985". Other terms and conditions, to include the value of the property and its intended use, are also set forth. The required character of service (Honorable vs. Undesirable) is not specified.

Legislative History: On March 31st, 2010, SB217 passed in the Senate with 18 Yes votes. There weren't any No votes; one was absent, and the other excused. Then on April 14th, the House passed it with 38 Yes votes, with two members excused. While the state legislature is hardly "inerrant", such an overwhelming vote of approval indicates the measure is sound.

Recommend a Yes vote on November 2nd.

LDS Apostle Boyd K. Packer Reaffirms That Homosexuals Are Not Born Gay During The 180th Semiannual LDS General Conference

The 180th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wound up in Salt Lake City with the usual complement of speeches by the Church's General Authorities and Auxiliary Leaders (Primary, Young Women, and Sunday School) calling upon members to live up to their divine potential. While most messages were faith-affirming, to include reminders not to live in fear during these difficult economic times, there were also talks focusing on the dangers of today's technology. A number of Church leaders spoke out strongly against the corrosive effects of pornography. KSL news video embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

And here's a news video from KSTU Channel 13 that focuses on Boyd Packer's speech:

 

But the one speech likely to attract controversy, even within the LDS community, was delivered by Boyd K. Packer, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during the Sunday morning general session. In this speech, President Packer basically states that homosexuals are not born gay, although he does not address the Church's past involvement in the Proposition 8 campaign. Both the Deseret News and KSL Channel 5 published stories about the speech, and you can now listen to the audio archive embedded below (archives of all sessions being put up HERE):



The full text of the address, entitled "Cleansing The Inner Vessel", is now available HERE. There are some minor differences between the final text and the spoken version.

President Packer spoke about marriage and the power of procreation, saying there are moral and physical laws that cannot be changed despite current political trends. "To be entrusted with the power to create life carries with it the greatest joys and most dangerous temptations," President Packer said. "Whether we use this power as the eternal laws require or reject its divine purpose will forever affect who we will become." In addition, President Packer pointed out that pure love presupposes that only after a pledge of eternal fidelity — a legal and lawful ceremony — and ideally after the sealing ordinance of the temple, are those life-giving powers released for the full expression of love. "It is to be shared only and solely between man and woman, husband and wife, with that one who is our companion forever. On this the gospel is very plain," he said.

But it was in his statement when he said God designed that power only be used in a legal and lawful marriage between a man and a woman that he denounced the emerging "conventional wisdom" that homosexuals are born gay. First, he explained that the gospel teaches a standard of moral conduct that will offer protection from Satan's many substitutes or counterfeits for marriage. He wanted the audience to understand that any persuasion to enter into any relationship that is not in harmony with the principles of the gospel must be wrong. Then came the money shot: "Some suppose that they were pre-set and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and unnatural. Not so. Why would our Heavenly Father do that do anyone? Remember He is our Father", said President Packer.

President Packer also went on to criticize those who would legalize practices considered to be immoral. "There are those today who not only tolerate but advocate voting to change laws that would legalize immorality, as if a vote would somehow alter the designs of God's laws and nature," he said. "To legalize that which is basically wrong or evil will not prevent the pain and penalties that will follow as surely as night follows day," saying there are moral and physical laws that cannot be changed.

Reaction by LDS rank-and-file is somewhat mixed. Some comments on the By Common Consent open thread were critical, like this one:

#132 Tracy M Says:
October 3, 2010 at 10:06 am

If we’re supposed to have the spirit and the still small voice be our guidance, and if our personal relationship with God is how we know who we are and what path we must follow, then when the talk from Pres. Packer caused my stomach to lurch and my heart to feel heavy, what am I to do with it? In any other circumstance, I would read that feeling as a departing of the spirit, and that I should get the heck away from whatever is causing me to feel that sorrow and heaviness.

Packer came under sharper criticism on Feminist Mormon Housewives. But some were simply concerned that lost in the shuffle was the fact that the LDS Church allows membership to those who merely have a homosexual orientation, so long as they don't actually practice it. The 1995 "Proclamation on the Family" still applies.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Laura Compton, who directs Mormons4Marriage, a group of Latter-day Saints who opposed Proposition 8 and support marriage equality in California and elsewhere, was also troubled by Packer’s sermon. “So many Mormons have worked hard to increase understanding of what homosexuality is and what it means to be faithful,” Compton said in a phone interview from her California home. “Now we have this [anti-gay] message coming from the pulpit in General Conference by the president of the Quorum of the Twelve. It seems like hitting a brick wall. Hopefully, this won’t make people stop and say, ‘It wasn’t worth it.’“

The fact that Compton considers Packer's remarks "anti-gay" shows the mindset of these people. Tolerance of the existence of homosexuals is not enough for the pro-gay lobby; they want celebration. And that ain't gonna happen. It's good to see Boyd Packer standing frim for tradition and refusing to cave in to political correctness.

LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson Announces Plans For Five New Temples At 180th Semiannual General Conference In Salt Lake City

The highlight of the 180th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taking place in Salt Lake City from Oct. 2-3, is the announcement by Church President Thomas S. Monson of plans for five new temples to be constructed. The chosen locations are Hartford, CT; Indianapolis, IN; Tijuana, Mexico; Urdaneta, Philippines; and Lisbon, Portugal. The LDS Church currently has 134 temples in operation, with another seven under construction; Alaska's lone temple is located in Anchorage. KSL Channel 5 news video embedded below:

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

President Monson made the announcement during his address to the congregants, which opened up the Conference. Over 100,000 Mormons are in Salt Lake City for this event; 20,000 attend personally at the Conference Center, while the remainder are scattered amongst several overflow locations in downtown Salt Lake City. Millions more are watching or listening in worldwide. Senior leaders of the Church, most of them designated as General Authorities, provide informational and inspirational wisdom to the congregants. Primary Utah media coverage is provided by KSL Channel 5 and the Deseret News, both owned by the LDS Church. The Deseret News also provides short summaries of each address at their link. Unofficial LDS blogs providing additional information include Mormonism Unveiled and Times And Seasons; live-blogging provided by By Common Consent.

The Conference is also useful to non-Mormons; it provides an opportunity for them to find out more about Mormonism at the source -- without a couple of missionaries attached. The Saturday Morning session has concluded; remaining sessions are scheduled for Saturday afternoon (2 P.M. MDT) and Saturday evening (6 P.M. MDT), as well as on Sunday (9:30 A.M. and 2 P.M. MDT). For those who want to tune in, here are the various options:

-- Watch live video stream at the official LDS website.

-- Cable and Satellite Broadcasting: Current information available via Bonneville Communications. Click HERE, then select either Cable/Broadcast or Dish/DirectTV/Satellite TV, depending upon which applies. Follow subsequent instructions to find out the information for your area. In Alaska, cable TV coverage is exclusively available on GCI Channel 124. DirecTV coverage is available on BYU-TV Channel 374, and Dish Network coverage is available on BYU-TV Channel 9403.

-- Church Broadcasting System: Audio and video options for Conference outlined HERE Seven-page broadcast schedule available HERE.

-- LDS Media Talk also contains an organized list of all the ways one can receive General Conference material.

For those with kids and teens, the LDS Church has created General Conference activity packets to make the proceedings even more relevant to them:
-- Eleven-page activity packet for kids and teens HERE.
-- Activity packs for younger children HERE.
-- Junior Primary Activity Packet from a different source available HERE.
-- LDS.about.com lists a host of different games and activities for kids HERE.