Last week, we saw the dissolution of an historic idea in Alaska’s unique political landscape when the Alaskan Independence Party ceased to exist. The AIP may have passed away but allow me to assert that the ideas it embodied did not. They will live on in many of us who believe that Alaska has not been well treated since our creation as the 49th state.

We are all aware, to one degree or another, that the federal government has betrayed Alaska over the years by failing to honor the Statehood Compact, declaring roadless rules, disregarding the 90/10 resource split on federal lands, leaving incomplete ANCSA land transfers, imposing harsh EPA treatment, administering disastrous game mismanagement,  locking-up oil and gas projects, and on and on.

Given this list of federally sponsored wrongs, you would think that independence is the only path to wealth, liberty and of fulfilling Alaska’s rugged spirit of individualism and conquering or living off the land of The Last Frontier. We all know, however, that when one door closes, another undoubtedly opens. That is exactly what happened as the AIP breathed its last breath. With my Alaskans for Hughes campaign team, I began the process of delving into the topics to be covered in the Resource Development Council’s (RDC) Gubernatorial Questionnaire, and something came alive.

The RDC questionnaire itself was a thoughtful request for the prospective chief executive of Alaska to outline their plan and make their case. After completion, however, it turned out to be much more than that. It was a modern rewrite of the ideals of the AIP. With every word I wrote, it was clear that a responsible and realistic rebalancing of our entire relationship with our current federal landlords is necessary for Alaska to take its rightful role as a strong state so that Alaskans can be successful.

The theme of my response to the questionnaire was not that Alaskans declare our independence as a state, but that based on our 67 years of lived experience and maturation since statehood, that we insist upon a responsible partnership with the federal government, an equal one.

Alaska has spent nearly seven decades as a junior shareholder in her own destiny. The RDC response became more than a series of answers to resource-related questions. Instead, it documented a platform and policy declarations that demand immediate implementation of ideals reminiscent of the AIP:

— Our state’s perspective: Alaska first

— Our state’s birthright: resources

— Our state’s right: management of our resources, living and non-living

— Our state’s lands: federal lands promised, federal lands transferred

— Our state’s role in US: primary resource partner

— Our state’s strategy: swift, responsible permitting

— Our state’s task for US: energy independence, rare earth independence  

— Our state’s help to US: strategically located solutions to trade deficits

Like the AIP once did, I now do. I demand justice for Alaska and for all Alaskans. This list of ideals is the foundation for the explosive growth that we need now to bring down the cost of living in Alaska, to keep our young people here, to avoid income taxes, and to rebuild our PFD.

We do not call for independence; we call for the federal government to accept our proper role as equal and trusted partners. This is the path forward that will take Alaska into the latter part of the 21st century: wealthy, strong and free.

In closing, this is not a new issue for me as I was the lead champion in the legislature during my years of service promoting federalism, pressing for the rebalancing of power between the federal government and the states as the framers intended. My service as the Vice Chair of the National Federalism Commission, an organization representing the 50 state legislatures on this issue, has prepared me well to be your next governor and lead Alaska into its rightful role – calling on the federal government to recognize and accept our equal partnership.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

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