Rep. Kevin McCabe from Big Lake, Alaska, has raised concerns about the integrity of the fiscal note process in the Alaska legislative bill process. Fiscal notes, which outline the cost of proposed bills to the state, are required by law and are meant to provide legislators with the facts they need to make informed decisions. However, recent developments surrounding HB78 and HB173 have raised red flags for McCabe.
McCabe is questioning whether the proper agencies are drafting the fiscal notes, as required by law, or if there is bias at play in the process. He has expressed concerns that the fiscal note for HB78 may have been generated by a legislative staffer, rather than the appropriate state agency. He also questions whether the fiscal note for HB173, which raised the threshold for public construction projects under wage regulation, may have been influenced by union ties within the Department of Labor.
McCabe warns that compromised fiscal notes can lead to budgetary surprises down the road, personal or political bias in decision-making, and a lack of trust in the legislative process. He calls for the enforcement of existing laws requiring fiscal notes to come from state agencies, as well as increased transparency and guidelines to prevent conflicts of interest.
Overall, McCabe emphasizes that fiscal notes are crucial to honest government and responsible decision-making. He urges his fellow legislators to take action to ensure the integrity of the fiscal note process, in order to protect the interests of Alaskans and maintain public trust in the legislative system.
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Photo credit mustreadalaska.com
