Senate committee takes the ‘automatic’ out of Alaska’s voter-created automatic voter registration system
The state warns the amendment would effectively unconstitutionally repeal the 2016 automatic voter registration initiative.
john coghill
Senate Republicans promise Gardner they’ll give her a pro-pot resolution–but do the exact opposite
Senate Democrats wanted to tell the feds to respect Alaska’s marijuana vote. Republicans gave them a watered down resolution that sides with the feds.
Coghill planned bill to ban late-term abortions, it would have been the 14th abortion bill of his career
Opponents of a similar bill argued it would force women to give birth against their will, even in cases of rape or incest.
Despite warnings, Senate approves constitutionally flawed crime bill and goes home
The Senate refused to fix a last-minute amendment that could leave a key provision at risk of being overturned.
Key provision of SB 54 put in jeopardy by tough-on-crime floor amendment
The constitutional guarantee to due process requires sentences match the severity of the crime.
The House passed SB 54, the rollback to criminal justice reform. Now what?
After a three-day marathon floor session, dozens of amendments and one threat of retaliation on social media, the House has passed Senate Bill 54, legislation…
Four questions legislators should be asking themselves about crime
Things could quickly get out of hand in Juneau, but the situation could be helped if legislators keep a few basic questions in mind.
The Midnight Sun Podcast for May 28, 2017
On our May 28 episode of Alaska’s most listened-to political podcast, Casey Reynolds and Forrest Dunbar discuss Trump’s new budget and more White House scandals, Sen. Dan Sullivan’s town hall, and the legislature’s voting down Drew Phoenix’s nomination to the Human Rights Commission because he’s transgender. Casey and Forrest also talk with Rep. Jason Grenn about his first legislative session and Matt Buxton about taking over the helm of The Midnight Sun.
Coghill Keeps Promise and Delivers
Senator John Coghill emerged victorious in last November’s election. Coghill won reelection by a solid margin, but it’s also true to say that his campaign was a bruising affair. Most of the bruises came from combined criticism over his criminal justice reform bill, SB 91, and the state senate’s failure to pass the Police & Fire Survivorship bill.
The 2016 Soapy Smith Awards For Dubious Achievement In Alaska Politics
To start things off we’re going to resurrect the Soapy Smith Awards, once given by our delightful forerunner The Alaska Ear in the old days of the Anchorage Daily News. As the Ear would describe it, “Soapy Smith Award — a citation for dubious achievement, named in honor of Skagway’s Gold Rush con man and all-around scoundrel.”