Our polling shows that the majority of Alaskans prefer to contact their legislator by email, phone, teleconference, or letter. Most areas in the state have teleconference sites set up for legislative hearings. Most people don’t feel a need for face-to-face contact. But if they do, there are plenty of opportunities for it. Legislators visit their home districts regularly during the session and don’t forget, they are only scheduled to spend 90 days in session – the rest of the time they are in their home districts. The other reason most people don’t feel the need for face to face contact is that many of us are represented very well by various affinity groups, employer groups, or other organizations that have elected or designated officials that meet with legislators on a regular basis to make their views known. You can call them special interests – but we are talking about teachers, truck drivers, senior citizens, and small business owners, for example – just regular people. This system actually serves an important and useful function for legislators - allowing them to communicate with far more constituents that they would otherwise have the time to do. This makes the Legislature more efficient – not beholden to special interests.

Actually access to the Capital has never been better. Since 1994, when Alaskans last voted against moving the capital, the community of Juneau has significantly increased physical and electronic access to the capital. Most people don’t know this, but the community of Juneau has committed several million dollars in the last 10 years to fund various initiatives that improved access to the capital.

• Sponsorship of Gavel-to-Gavel TV Coverage of the Legislature ($300,000 annually – CBJ is major sponsor – KTOO and corporate sponsors also help)
• Internet streaming of the cable signal and all committee hearings (Cost approximately $150,000 to start (CBJ) and about $50,000 annually from KTOO)
• Expanded and improved airport facilities and landing systems (Juneau and Alaska airlines teamed up to implement GPS approach and better airport)
• And with Alaska Airlines – implementation of the popular constituent fare program during the Legislative Session (CBJ contribution $30,000 annually)

The Community of Juneau also donated several buildings providing tens of thousands of square feet of office space to the Legislature with no strings attached. They have also provided funding for land for expansion, if necessary, in the future. This demonstrates, at the very least, Juneau’s commitment to being a responsible capital city.

Current proposals to move the Legislature disguise their real intent by talking about moving only the Legislature. But, this will eventually result in the entire capital being moved as well. There is no way to conduct government business efficiently when the Legislature is in one city and the other functions of government are in another. Don’t forget, what would move is an entire branch of state government – the Alaska State Legislature – that has 500 employees – and occupies hundreds of thousands of square feet of office space. This is a back door capital move since, inevitably, the rest of the capital will move with it. Move proponents say it will not cost much money. Yet a new building will need to be constructed and completely furnished and equipped. The operational costs will continue and be borne by the State - all while existing buildings in Juneau remain underutilized or abandoned. This idea is bad for voters and bad for Alaska.