On the very last day of the Alaska legislative session, Sen. Mike Shower (R – Wasilla) attempted a procedural vote to move House Joint Resolution 14 out of Rules Committee and onto the floor for a full vote. The resolution would have helped Alaska apply for federal grant money to complete the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension and the Northern Rail Extensions, and was requested by Alaska’s federal congressional delegation to help get approval for the grant in Washington, D.C.
The binding caucus of the Senate Majority, however, voted no – despite the resolution having bipartisan support in the Senate and passing unanimously through the House 40-0. The Senate’s failure to pass the measure effectively killed it and failed to support the federal delegation prior to the June 30 deadline for the grant application.
In a statement following the failed effort to pass HJR 14, the Senate Minority Republican Caucus noted that $184 million has been spent on the rail extension, and there are only 32 miles of track (and even less railbed) left to be completed.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
By blocking the resolution, the Senate majority has caused what will be “the loss of thousands of good paying jobs including union workers, billions of dollars of investment into Alaska, and decades of economic growth,” the GOP minority stated. “These rail lines are the lynchpins for numerous statewide economic development projects”
The minority noted that the vote “exemplifies the weak governance caused by binding caucuses being employed by the Democrat-led Majority. Despite multiple Majority members supporting and wanting to vote for the resolution and saying they would vote for it once it reached the Senate Floor, due to their own binding agreement they were forced to go against their conscience, constituents, and what is ultimately good for Alaska.”
Senator Minority Leader Mike Shower has long opposed the idea of binding caucuses, which often require legislators to vote against bills that they would otherwise support, and vice versa. Failure to toe the line typically results in a loss of committee assignments and legislative staffers.
“Today’s vote is a perfect example of how dangerous it can be to consolidate power into the hands of one or two people who can control the entire process of passing or killing vital policy,” he stated.
10 Comments
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I love how the party of progress does everything they can to hinder progress for anything that does not directly benefit them.
Time to Dump the D party.
Aren’t conservatives keen on lowering the federal mega trillion deficit? Don’t Alaskan conservatives work without breaks to resist federal overreach?
Lol. Manny, again, thinking anyone outside of his cult is a “Conservative”.
Still stuck in that little thought box with your label maker. “eVeRyOnE i DoNt AgReE wITh Is RIGHT WING! REEEEEEE”
Manny, so insignificant, yet so damn noisy. Don’t you get tired of chasing your own strawman tail? Go get a hobby, dude.
Agree 100%
julia,sophie,and frauds, go lay yourselves down on the railtracks!
its been 35 years I have been here watching the small minds with little vision take over our State.
NO VISION
MEDIOCRE INTELLECT, and barely literate people are shaping your future…
I really don’t like to call anyone sheerly stupid, but this is it, if anything is. Not making available (32 miles of track?) by a grant? This is so ridiculous, I can’t tell you how ridiculous it is! Gray matter is missing something like a connect!