Alaska political writer Jeff Landfield has been pursuing a lawsuit against Speaker of the House Cathy Tilton that could change the way the Alaska Legislature handles vetoes by governors. The suit asks for a confirmation that the Legislature must vote on whether to override a governor’s veto, as required by the Alaska Constitution. The court ruled that they couldn’t consider the case due to a paperwork error, but Landfield can refile the lawsuit. Landfield offered to drop the lawsuit if the House hears a resolution declaring the Legislature must meet on veto overrides, but Tilton did not respond.
The resolution, passed by the Senate, hasn’t received a hearing in the House. There are only eight days left in the Legislature’s regular session, and the Chairman of the committee holding the resolution bill isn’t familiar with the request for a hearing. Senator Matt Claman, the bill’s sponsor, thinks the lawsuit has merit but is unsure if Tilton is immune from the lawsuit. Landfield, who operates the Alaska Landmine website, kept quiet about the lawsuit for months.
The Legislature has historically not been consistent in handling vetoes, but Landfield believes lawmakers should vote in the first days of the second legislative year following a governor’s veto. He filed the lawsuit because he didn’t think anyone else would do it. The case could potentially establish a new rule, known as the “Landfield Rule,” for handling veto overrides in the future.
Source
Photo credit alaskapublic.org
