A last-minute deal in the state Legislature to restore donation limits to Alaska’s political campaigns collapsed Wednesday, allowing wealthy donors to spend unlimited sums on state elections this year as good government advocates contemplate a citizens initiative to reimpose the caps.
“I think the consequence will be that we’ll have a system that’s more responsive to the voters, and more transparent,” said attorney Robin Brena, whose firm represented the conservative activists who sued to remove the donation limits. “And I think those are good for our democracy.” Their idea was combining campaign finance caps, which tend to enjoy stronger support from liberal-leaning legislators, with a batch of election reform proposals that have bipartisan buy-in.
Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, with staff member Sonja Kawasaki in the Senate Finance Committee earlier this week. Alaska Senate President Peter Micciche, second from right, speaks to, from left, Sens. Tom Begich, Bill Wielechowski and Gary Stevens before the start of a Senate floor session on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Juneau.
Dunleavy, at a news conference Thursday, said the appeals court was responsible for eliminating Alaska’s donation limits; he added that “it was the Legislature that had discussions on that situation.”
Ack—the shock! Alaska akleg