ANCHORAGE — At least one-fifth of the Alaska Legislature attended a conference in Hawaii this month, at a cost so far of nearly $35,000.
The Anchorage Daily News reports the final tab is still being tallied from the Council of State Governments-West conference, a nonpartisan policy group comprised of lawmakers from Western states. Its annual conferences are rotated among states. This year’s event was at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.
Hotel bills for each of the lawmakers have ranged from $729 to $1,276, excluding charges for Republican Bert Stedman, of Sitka. He was in a suite with a bill averaging more than $900 a night, but he said he didn’t realize the cost until he got the bill at check-out. He attributed this to a mistake by his office but said he didn’t consider paying the bill himself because “I didn’t really mess it up, it’s an internal screw-up within the office.”
Stedman, a leader of the powerful Senate Finance Committee and a frequent traveler on state business, said he had asked his office to inquire about a free upgrade. He said he was embarrassed by the cost of the suite and that it wouldn’t happen again.
For Alaska lawmakers, summer and fall are busy travel seasons, coming between legislative sessions. So far this year, travel has included a trip to Greece for the Special Olympics for Sen. Lesil McGuire and Rep. Bob Lynn, both Republicans from Anchorage, and a meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council in New Orleans, attended by Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, and Rep. Wes Keller, R-Wasilla.
Ten lawmakers are expected to attend a “Norway policy tour,” from Aug. 27-Sept. 4.
For the Hawaii trip, Alaska lawmakers also received a state meal per diem that totaled more than $750 apiece for most of them. The state also paid the $350 conference fee for most, plus shuttle bus and taxi costs in Hawaii.
Those attending, who had state-paid travel to the conference, according to the Legislative Affairs Agency, included Sens. Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage; Bettye Davis, D-Anchorage; John Coghill, R-North Pole; Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage; Charlie Huggins, R-Wasilla; Linda Menard, R-Wasilla; Stedman and McGuire. House members who attended included Reps. Lynn, Alan Austerman, R-Kodiak; Carl Gatto, R-Palmer; Craig Johnson, R-Anchorage; and Mark Neuman, R-Big Lake.
The newspaper reported at least two others, Rep. Lindsey Holmes, D-Anchorage, and Rep. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks, were seen at the event.
Meyer, the Senate majority leader and a leader of the Senate Education Committee, said that CSG-West conferences are good for exchanging ideas on issues like budgets and the economy. He said his conference fee was waived because he served on an education panel, and that he appreciated a conference training session on making effective political presentations.
“That’s a problem that I have personally, is that I tend to give speeches and not relay the messages,” he said.
Stedman, who also didn’t submit a conference fee for state reimbursement, said he gave a presentation on Alaska’s fiscal position and pressed Hawaii legislators about why Hawaii wasn’t trying to buy Alaska natural gas.
Last year, Alaska’s 60 legislators spent more than $710,300 on state-paid travel, both in Alaska and out of state, according to Legislative Affairs. That figure doesn’t include relocation to Juneau for the legislative session.
Comments (29)
Add commentThanks, Bert
On behalf of your office staff, thanks for throwing them under the bus. You're a shining example of legislative largesse. The only way to ensure "it won't happen again" is for the good people of Sitka to vote you out of office. I hope they do.
We need to make sure "it won't happen again."
There is one way to make sure these things don't happen again: replace these representative by voting. When we have a thirty or fifty percent voter turnout on elections, then eligible voters who don't vote, leave the choice to special interests.
For the trip to Norway (which may be of value ) all ten legislators should be required to 1) provide an accounting of the total cost for each individual and 2) require that they submit a written report on what they learned that may benefit Alaska, and make both public and available to the media. Then let the voters decide if was a good investment for the State.
Good points
Wally, couldn't agree with you more...and while we on the topic of state travel, what the heck is up with upper administration appointees always managing to be on state travel when their children happen to be playing sports all around the state? What a coincidence?? This perk is abused all the way to the top and throughout several past administrations...it is theft, pure and simple.
I would like to see reports of what they accomplished while attending football, baseball, soccer, etc on the state's dime.
You add that sort of stuff up and the Legislators costs are minor for these recent junkets.
Excelent point Wally! We
Excelent point Wally!
We should also be voting on the legislators' raises and benefits....I don't understand how they are allowed to determine and vote on those!?!!
Can you do the same where you work?
I can't.
I would support an Examining Board to license politicians.
It would probably take a Constitutional amendment.
Elected officials like senators and representatives would be required to fulfill periodic educational requirements to maintain office in good standing, not unlike every other licensed profession in the state.
The curriculum for such educational requirements might include courses in economics, law, ethics, political science, etc., just to throw a few out there. Competitive eating in Norway would not be among the classes. Disclaimer: I am not saying that occurred in this instance, just making the point.
The Board could then require proof of education, receipts, etc., or deny them the ability to legislate until they met their requirements or some other penalty.
Personally, I would love to see an amendment to the US Constitution that required politicians to perform continuing education while maintaining office.
Mike
I like Mike's idea. It sounds
I like Mike's idea. It sounds great in theory to have a political system where anyone can become an elected official, but in practice it all too often results in ignorant politicians who make poor decisions.
Persnickety Persimmon / license politicians
I wouldn't necessarily change the constitutional requirements to be elected. I would just support licensure and maintaining it through education after being elected.
Boards are set up precisely to govern and police their own professions because no single politician can be expected to have the education to understand every single licensed occupation. That said, if a Board becomes corrupt, they are then answerable to a legislature. It's not a perfect system, but in principle, it's not bad.
In a sense, We The People are the supreme licensing board for elected officials because when they screw up, we can fire them.
So, I'm not looking so much as a way to reprimand, as to simply propose a way for politicians to maintain a level of education while in office not unlike the professions they themselves regulate.
Mike
That sounds like a lot of
That sounds like a lot of work. Let's just cut up Daddy's credit card.
or...return to a citizen
or...return to a citizen legislature!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_legislature
It would bring about a much higher level of accountability to the office.
State Per Diem Rates???
Why do ANY of our legislators and government officials have the ability to spend more than any other state employee traveling for business???? You bet your sweet a*&@ Joe Blow wouldn't be authorized anywhere near $600/night for a hotel room. I call for an eithics review!! Error or not, Bert Stedman owes the State of Alaska some money!
As well, when training or meetings take place, YOU ALL CAN'T GO!!! Send a few. I am so tired of paying for these people's vacations when I can't afford one for myself and family.
In response to Mike Dzuiba
Many years ago, someone pointed out to me that in teaching, government, bureaucracy that there is a huge difference between "twenty years of experience and learning, " and "one year repeated nineteen times.
Whether we can require people to grow from experience and new knowledge is very questionable.
Maybe the answer is not to try an educate those in office, but to educate the people who elect others to office to represent them.
Everyday working people, students in high school and others all have to "grow up" and learn to read the "fine print" in contracts and policies, to become aware that candidates for elected office are not like candidates for "dancing with the stars," that to be a good citizen, a voter, a good teacher, a good business person, we can't just repeat one year's experience nineteen times and think that we or others who do so have grown up in life.
We need to have people willing to accept and try and understand what is happening. Whoops! to many that's one of those dang "liberal ideas" and we must conserve and preserve all the ignorance and mistakes of the past to survive.
In response to responsible_alaskan
I think you're right. When you send ten people to a conference and they all come back with no information to share with others, it just seems to prove that ten times zero always ends up as zero.
Anyone funded by state money, whether they be students, teachers, administrators, elected officials, staff workers, should all be required to provide and make public two things when they travel in state or out of state.
First a full accounting of the the cost to the people.
Secondly, a report of what they learned at others' expense and how it may or may not benefit those who paid for their travel.
And both of those reports should be public information, available to the media or anyone else.
If they can't do that, they are free to travel wherever they want, attend any conferences or meetings, do whatever they want and perhaps enjoy but they can't send the bill to others, they have to pay their own way.
Prof. Olson / education
You make a compelling argument. Trickle up rather than trickle down education as it were. Perhaps both methods could acheive their objectives of having both an educated electorate and an educated elected official.
Afterall, I know a professional oath that requires the lifelong pursuit of continual education and professional competence. Through no fault of their own, politicians probably don't have such an oath. Perhaps they should?
Mike
In response to Mike Dzuiba
Maybe as Alaskans who know the history of our State, we may have to go back to the days of preparation for the Constitutional Convention. At that time, thanks in a great part to Tom Stewart and others, they asked people from all mining districts to give up part of their lives, time and careers to come together and write a constitution so that we might become a new state.
It was completely apart from political parties, special interests, it was asking people to select a few to represent them, and be "public servants." Once the convention was over, the delegates returned to their communities and careers. They went back to their lives.
Today we don't see that kind of "public service," of giving up time, opportunities for other things to do what they think is best for all Alaskans.
Now we see people who campaign to be elected seeking to find a career in life in "politics," and government. Then they have to raise thousands, and on the national level, even millions of dollars in campaign contributions to be elected. Once elected they keep raising funds for re-election, do what they can to build their new "career" even make that new career more lucrative for themselves.
At times I feel very incompetent because I can kind of envision what needs to be done, but don't have good answers on how to do that. The possible answers?? Term limits, limits on campaign financing, asking really good people to give up part of their life to serve us? Or, perhaps just "give up" and complain until we are gone from the scene.
Once again, as I used to tell students, "I just don't know the answer."
Term limits would certainly
Term limits would certainly help, but I dont see the politicians voting to enact a rule that pulls them off the teat.
politician payment chart....
Pay them per bill passed. This'll keep them on the 'straight and narrow' to help out who they're suppose to represent.
Give them the same health care the veterans get, no more, no less.
They, and only they pay into a retirement, like most of the middle class they represent.
Training dollars for politicians? I'm at a loss....perhaps the same as a doc gets for continuing medical education = $4,000 a year. They are to use this for their registration, travel, food, and (mr stedman) hotel. This'll remove the blame game and perhaps make them responsible adults....imagine that.
I really hope the Anchorage Wasilla area saw this article, time for reps we can afford.
'for profit' representatives
Alaska cannot afford the 'for profit' representative.
Shame on the politician who 'creates' a trip to attend a personal event.
It gets WORSE!
Aside from the fact that the suite was hardly anything you could "mistake" for a regular room, they have photos on their website (and who the heck is he to ask for a free upgrade anyway, that kind of carp makes me sick...) It didn't say how long the conference was - so I looked it up. July 30-Aug 2. Even given a travel day in each direction, that's only 6 days - 750.00 makes that 125.00 in per diem a day. No one I know has EVER gotten that much perdiem. Also, when I've traveled for the state, if there is a continental breakfast or a 'lunch session' (meaning lunch is included) - YOU DON'T GET perdiem for those meals.
Someone is cheating - a lot!
Aside from that, the conference itself would never be allowed for anyone I know who works for the state, there are only 2 full days, all others end at 1pm and are pretty 'light' - consisting only of cocktail parties. A normal state traveler would never be allowed to even go on a trip with this kind of agenda - -
http://conference2011.csgwest.org/schedule.shtml
They all make me sick.
Knowing a little Latin
I thought that the term "per diem" meant that a person was given a sufficient amount to pay for their daily expense, or in translation "through the day."
And so if legislators are paid a "per diem" expense, that should cover their expenses for the day - lodging/housing, meals and local travel. If a legislator travels within or outside of Alaska, they should justify their travel expense. But once somewhere else, working on government business, they should have to rely on their "per diem" benefits. If their "per diem" is insufficient, then we as people whom they represent, should be asked to vote and increase their "per diem." They should not decide that on their own. As someone living as a household, you or I can't say "I'm going to increase what I spend each day, and someone else will have to pay for it." Those paying need to decide.
Its very simple. Out of our State income from selling our resources, our elected representatives, government administrators and workers, traveling outside of their assigned work areas need to justify any increase in "per diem" and what it is intended to cover.
True, Wally. But keep in mind
True, Wally. But keep in mind also that in latin, poly means many and that ticks are small blood sucking creatures. ie poly-ticks are many small blood sucking creatures.
$900/night????
How could anyone NOT know that they were staying in a $900/night suite???
C'mon Burp, I mean, Burt...we're not as stupid as the typical republican.
BTW, did you notice how many were republicans (10) versus Democrats (3).
Typical.
recall?????
maybe steve menard from wasilla can join you on the next trip? Costa Rica maybe? Only one thing to do now. Pay it back!!! Next conference in Adak maybe? Lots of free housing there.
I printed out the article so
I printed out the article so I will remember who NOT to vote for! What a bunch of #@$%^!@#$%^&I^&*!!
Anyone know how to start a
Anyone know how to start a PAC Call it leash your legislature babysitting Alaskan politicians. Fund Citizen initiatives till we regulate them strait, or at least until that act like a mediocre private employee.
3 hours on whether to tweet?
3 hours on whether to tweet? Give me a break.
wally, it's been a while....
but as far as I remember, Perdiem was for meals and incidentals only - and the rates were different in-state and say, in D.C. Hotel rooms were paid separately. But if it was an out of state trip, you were (and still are, even more so my friends tell me) grilled as to the "meaty-ness" of the proposed conference. Training for the ordinary state worker has apparently been cut drastically in the last couple of years, as the 'worker bees' are allowed fewer and fewer training and collaborating opportunities. (which as I remember were quite helpful)
And I was not wrong about the provided meals - if your conference agenda says breakfast is included, you don't get to claim that meal (which I think is around $9-12 of the daily perdiem) for the day.
Which means that not only did Stedmen dupe the state into buying him a suite (if you think he didn't know I have a bridge to sell you) he and all the rest collected perdiem for meals that were included in the conference rate, thus they were paid twice to have breakfast and lunch while in Hawaii.
I wonder how loudly some
I wonder how loudly some would be complaining if this conference had been held in Juneau. An event such as this would likely be worth several hundred thousand dollars in revenue to our community. Juneau's per diem rate ($248) is a bit lower than the rate in Waikiki ($293), but this event probably had probably had 150-200 people in attendance over 4+ days. Figure a good number of the people attending brought spouses and maybe even children, and you're talking about some pretty significant money being dropped in Hawaii. Maybe somebody from the Alaska delegation can help us out by bringing this event to Juneau sometime.
guru......is that rate
Including hotel? It seems like it should be. And if it is, then why would the state be paying thousands for each hotel plus the perdiem? $750 divided by 6 days would be around $140, not $293.....where did your numbers come from?
I still say they are all double dipping - hotel and food, or food twice.
$293 includes lodging, which
$293 includes lodging, which is valued at $177/day in Oahu. $93 for local meals and $23 for incidentals. http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287
However, I believe travel regs allow for some kind of variance in the rate. I looked at the host hotel online and their average daily rate for a room this time of year is $380/night at the low end. Often times the per diem rates can be out of whack depending on the hotels that were sampled in the last per diem study. Imagine if they did a per diem study in Juneau and they picked Breakwater, The Alaskan, Driftwood and Super 8.