News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog,Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Knowles’ Veto Denies the Voters’ Choice

Bill Ensured U.S. Senate Seat Appointees Would Reflect Alaskans’ Will

For Immediate Release: May 7,1998 Contact: Bill Stoltz, Assistant to Senator Rick Halford, at (907) 465-4958.

Juneau – Legislation requiring Alaska’s governor to appoint a U.S. Senator of the same political party in the event a senate seat becomes vacant was vetoed Thursday. Senate Bill 307, sponsored by Senator Rick Halford (R-Chugiak), was introduced to protect the will of the people.

According to Halford, as current law stands, Alaska’s governor can disregard the will of the voters from the previous election and chose whomever he or she pleases. "It’s reasonable to believe Alaskans, given a choice, would prefer to have a vacant Senate seat in Washington filled by someone who shares the political philosophy of the person they originally elected for the position," said Halford.

Under current law, when a United State Senate seat becomes vacant before the term is served, there is no requirement that the vacancy be filled by a person of the same political party as the previous occupant. SB 307 would have amended state law to bring the conditions for filling a vacancy for the United State Senate seat in line with the requirements for filling vacancies for the offices of the state representative and state senator. Congressional vacancies, as established in federal law, are filled through a special election.

"When people vote for a candidate to represent them, they are also voting for a philosophy. When a governor appoints someone from a different party, he’s voting for his own philosophy, not the voters," Halford said.

Other states including Hawii, Arizona and Utah have already changed state law to ensure this fundamental right to their residents.

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