Ballot Measure 1 would kill Alaska’s economic recovery

We have probably all heard the famous line, "politics makes strange bedfellows."

This campaign season, that certainly applies to Ballot Measure 1.

Much of the time, the business community and labor unions are on opposite sides. But there are a few things on which we see eye-to-eye, and Ballot Measure 1 is at the top of that list. Ballot Measure 1 is so poorly written, so overreaching, so unnecessary — and, frankly, such a threat to jobs and our economy — that the Alaska AFL-CIO and the business community have joined together to strongly oppose it. If that does not send a message to Alaskans about the threat this measure poses, I don't know what will.

The coalition opposing the measure — which also includes Alaska Native corporations — must be among the most diverse in recent Alaska political history. For my part, the Alaska AFL-CIO, representing more than 50,000 hardworking Alaskans from Ketchikan to Nome, is proud to be part of that coalition.

Alaska is just starting to turn the corner on a tough recession. Thousands of Alaskans lost jobs in the last few years. Friends and neighbors moved out of state to find work. Recently, our members have been encouraged by several promising, large-scale projects on the horizon, including Alaska LNG, which will build a pipeline to bring our natural gas to market (and to more Alaskans). This project will create tens of thousands of family-sustaining jobs, and the flurry of recent positive news about that project gives our members cause for optimism.

Ballot Measure 1 would kill that optimism. Dead. A simple reading of the ballot measure's language shows our fears about its impacts are well founded. Just months ago, the head of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. said that if Ballot Measure 1 were to pass, it would "darn near kill" the gas pipeline project because it would be impossible to permit. That project is vital to Alaska's economy and the jobs it could create will employ the next generation of Alaska workers. Under Ballot Measure 1, those opportunities vanish.

Alaskans need to go into the voting booth with eyes wide open about who is really behind Ballot Measure 1. While a handful of Alaskans, some of whom I consider good friends, pose as the face of the Yes campaign, behind them are deep-pocketed Outside funders who could not care less about Alaska's economy or jobs, and they are pouring buckets of money into this ill-conceived job-killing initiative. I am an avid, some would say rabid, fly-fisherman. Protecting our fish resources is a top priority for me. But this initiative reaches way too far, and is being advanced by the most extreme of Outside environmental interests. Whether or not it is their goal, make no mistake, if Ballot Measure 1 were to pass, it would shut down Alaska's economy.

Alaskans have a lot at stake in the November election, and the Alaska AFL-CIO will be fully engaged in letting our members know who has their best interests at heart. Our commitment is to protect and promote good-paying jobs, and a healthy economy in Alaska. We will work hard to defeat Ballot Measure 1, and we relish the opportunity to work side-by-side with our coalition partners to advance our shared commitment to Alaska's future.

Vince Beltrami is the president of the Alaska AFL-CIO.

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