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.
The initiative application was certified by former Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell on November 26, 2014, five days before the expiration of his term in office, upon recommendation by the Alaska Department of Law.
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.
See Full Story at AlaskaCommons.com
image credit APEonline.org
