In a recent compass piece published by Jim Whittaker, president of the Alaska Port Authority, the procedure of the House of Representatives and the actions of three of its members are called into question. I would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight and inform the public, and Mr. Whittaker, that the members of the House of Representatives adhere to the procedural rules in Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure and the Uniform Rules adopted by the House of Representatives.

It is a general requirement that members declare a conflict of interest when voting on a measure that could impact a personal or financial interest. This rule is self-governing, and it is the member's responsibility to declare a conflict of interest. I consider this to be one of the most important governing rules of our body.

On legislation ranging from hunting and fishing, tort reform, public accountancy, hospitality, transportation and construction, our members, from both sides of the aisle, have stood and declared their conflicts of interest and why they should be excused from voting. Each time a member rises, there is an objection from other members of the body and they are required to vote. This ensures that a member cannot avoid voting on issues; hiding from making tough decisions. It allows our members to truly represent their districts and be accountable to their constituents.

In considering the oil and gas tax legislation, which has appeared twice before the House for passage, Representatives Mike Chenault, Mike Hawker, and Kevin Meyer have stood and declared their conflict of interest. Each time, they were required to vote by the other members of the House of Representatives.

When the House Finance Committee was considering the legislation, Representatives Chenault, Hawker, and Meyer declared their conflict of interest, and asked their committee members to excuse them from voting on legislation committee members that they be excused from voting on the legislation. Objections, which any member can make including the chairman of a committee, were voiced and all three members were required to participate.

They declared their conflict even though it is not required at the committee level. These members made sure that their conflict of personal interest was noted for the record and before the public. In order to avoid even the question of impropriety, Representative Meyer, who is employed by ConocoPhillips Alaska, turned the gavel and control of the proceedings to Representative Chenault.

I believe that it is necessary for all of the members of the House to vote on the passage of the oil and gas tax legislation. This is one of the most important issues to come before the legislature and the impact it will have on our future will effect generations to come. The elected members of the House would be doing a great disservice to their constituents if they were not engaged in the debate, if they were not working to develop sound public policy and if they were not required to vote.

Representatives Chenault, Hawker, and Meyer were elected to office by informed constituencies; constituents who knew that each candidate had a job in the private sector and what that job entailed. They voiced their confidence in each of these representatives by electing them to serve, knowing that they would serve with honesty, integrity and diligence. In return to their constituents, each of these members has strictly adhered to the procedures of the House of Representatives and their own personal integrity.

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2000 Mason's Maual of Legislative Procedure

Using Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure
- The Advantages to Legislative Bodies

Uniform Rules