Alaska House Tables Citation for Conservative Commentator Suzanne Downing
In a rare move, the Alaska House of Representatives on Friday voted 21-17 to table a citation honoring conservative commentator Suzanne Downing, which was proposed by Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River. Rep. Zack Fields, D-Anchorage, spearheaded the opposition, citing Downing’s "long record of outright dishonesty," asserting that her presence in the discourse was detrimental.
Rep. Allard defended Downing, expressing her contributions to Alaska were significant enough to warrant recognition, noting an entire page in the U.S. Congressional Record dedicated to her achievements. Allard criticized Fields’ stance, suggesting that his objections were personal, stemming from Downing’s critiques of him.
Downing, who founded the conservative news outlet "Must Read Alaska" in 2016, recently sold the site to a Republican donor. Her work has aimed to amplify conservative voices within the state.
The unusual action taken by the House raised questions among legislators, who could not recall the last instance of a citation being collectively rejected. The event recalls a 1994 incident where a proposed citation honoring conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh was initially supported by multiple lawmakers before its true nature became known, leading to its dismissal.
The rejection of Downing’s citation stands out as an anomaly in a legislative process typically marked by bipartisan courtesy in recognizing individuals, regardless of their political affiliations. Fields elaborated on his decision, claiming he could not endorse someone he deemed "willfully and repeatedly dishonest."
The House’s action has sparked debate about the standards for legislative honors and the intersection of truth and politics in Alaska’s governance.
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Photo credit alaskapublic.org
