A ballot initiative that would make it a felony for legislators to vote on bills that would financially benefit themselves, their families, or their employers has received state approval for the collection of signatures.
The proposed initiative, sponsored by former state legislator Ray Metcalfe, reads as follows:
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Alaska: Public officials who regulate or legislate competitive advantages for, or direct appropriations to themselves; business partners; clients; immediate family; past, present, or sought-after employers or contributors; donors to independent expenditures supporting their election; and persons profiting from inducing public officials to violate this statute, commit a class A felony.
Like many initiatives, there is debate as to whether the language achieves the author’s intent. In August, Metcalfe seemed to tell Alaska Dispatch News (ADN) that his goal was simply to eliminate quid pro quo contributions and votes. “This is about you getting $1,000 from me and me showing up in your office and saying, ‘Give me something that’s for me,’ he said.
But the initiative language is quite broad and unlike what Metcalfe described to ADN. A reading of the initiative suggests that a legislator would not be able to vote on any bills that might benefit a campaign contributor. In a post-Citizens United world, there would be few legislators able to cast votes under this reading of the initiative.
Metcalfe acknowledges the language is broad and writes it “leaves much to the discretion of judges and juries which is likely to scare an otherwise reluctant Legislature into a compromise.”
He is already prepared for such a compromise. If the legislature accepts a 2,757-word alternative that “The Bribery Stops Here” has drafted, Metcalfe says he will withdraw the initiative.
For Metcalfe’s initiative to reach the ballot, “The Bribery Stops Here” must collect about 28,500 petition signatures within one year. He says they will pay signature gatherers $1 per signature.
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