The Legislature will gather in Juneau on July 11th for its second special session this year. But, it might not be there for long. Lawmakers are talking about adjourning in Juneau and calling the Legislature’s own special session in Anchorage. Some say it will be convenient and save money. But it will also pose an obstacle for Anchorage legislators running for re-election. That’s because state law bars them from raising campaign funds in the municipality where there’s a special session.
Gov. Bill Walker wanted lawmakers to return to Juneau, to address legislation restructuring Permanent Fund earnings. The session could also address raising taxes and changing oil and gas taxes.
After having failed to address some of these issues in the last special session, many lawmakers aren’t eager to spend another 30 days in the capital city, but wherever lawmakers convene will impact local campaigns.
The law says legislators and legislative employees can’t solicit or accept election contributions in either Juneau or any other municipality in which a special session is held.
West Anchorage Democrat Rep. Matt Claman questioned whether the law is constitutional. He faces Republican Marilyn Stewart in the general election.
“We should not be making fundraising calls from the Capitol building, but I’m not certain that constitutional freedom of association and freedom of speech protections make the regulation that’s saying if you’re in one city you can raise money but if you’re in another city, you can’t” fundraise unconstitutional, Claman said.
Claman, who’s a lawyer, said he may seek legal counsel and ask the Alaska Public Offices Commission and the attorney general’s office about the law. He hasn’t made fundraising plans for the July 11th to August 11th.
Some legislators who support moving the special session in Anchorage are resigned to the effect it will have on their fundraising.
Rep. Craig Johnson is running against Jeffrey Landfield and Natasha von Imhof (VAHN-ihm-HAWF) in the August 16th primary to replace Lesil McGuire in the Senate district stretching from Midtown to South Anchorage. He supports holding a special session in Anchorage and doesn’t object to the fundraising ban.
“It’s much easier to have people come down and testify,” Johnson said. “So, I think access to the process outweighs anything as it comes to my re-election, or my ability to raise money on a personal level.”
It’s a view shared by Eagle River Republican Rep. Lora Reinbold, who faces Crystal Kennedy in the primary. She notes that holding the session in Anchorage would still allow more time to campaign, even if she can’t fundraise.
“It’s the peak election time, which would also be … in combination with the legislative time, so it would definitely inhibit our ability to fundraise in our key community,” Reinbold said. “However, I still think it’s worth it, to not be able to fundraise, so we can be in our communities with our people, and sleeping in our own beds. That is worth a lot to me. “
Rep. Bob Lynn faces Chris Birch in the Republican primary to represent the area of Huffman and Lower Hillside. He said having the special session in Anchorage would both improve public access and save transportation and per-diem expenses for more lawmakers.
“Of course it’s a concern on … being able to raise money during these periods of time, but the first concern has to be trying to deal with what the governor’s put before us,” Lynn said.
Senate President Kevin Meyer, who represents part of South Anchorage, doesn’t face an election this year. He said there are enough votes in the Senate to move the location. And he says the fundraising ban could actually help the session, adding that legislators’ first concern must be on representing voters.
The law is “a concern but my hope is that maybe we would be able to get down to business and get done sooner, if that prohibited folks from getting money,” Meyer said.
It’s not clear if there are enough votes in the House to change the special session’s location.
Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
