Power of cruise industry money will be a test for voting Alaskans.
If Steve Frank is right, the cruise ship industry will spend about $1.2 million between now and Aug. 22 to defeat a ballot initiative that would impose a passenger tax, corporate income tax, gambling tax and tighter pollution rules on cruise ships in Alaska waters.
Mr. Frank, a Fairbanks hotel and RV park operator, chairs Alaskans Protecting Our Economy, a group of businesses and individuals opposed to the initiative, Ballot Measure 2. His group argues that the initiative would hurt the Alaska businesses and people that prosper from the tourist trade the cruise ships bring.
Gershon Cohen, one of the initiative sponsors and a longtime cruise industry critic, expects opposition but doesn't like the fact that his Alaska opponents are bankrolled by Outside money while presenting themselves as an Alaska group. All of the $593,300 in contributions so far to Alaskans Protecting Our Economy comes from the North West Cruise Ship Association, a Vancouver, British Columbia-based industry group.
First, Mr. Cohen is right to flag for voters who's paying the bills to battle the initiative. The cruise association isn't trying to hide anything here, but people don't ordinarily browse campaign contribution reports. Alaskans Protecting Our Economy's Web site says nothing about its financial backing, but Mr. Frank, to his credit, was clear about what the cruise industry will spend through his group.
If you're going to be a player in Alaska politics, stand up and be counted -- by name and contribution.
Outside money is always a hot-button issue in Alaska campaigns. The standard claim is that Outsiders are trying to impose their views on Alaskans, to use media and mailing blitzes to buy the results they want. Unfortunately, whether bought with Outside or in-state money, campaign advertising will never win awards for fairness. It's a game of one-sided hype, with no claims to even-handedness.
The North West CruiseShip Association is trying to protect its interests here. So are a lot of Alaskans who make a good living off the cruise industry. Those interests align. So the association is spending big? So what? It's legal, and what would anyone expect? If Alaska decides to limit such contributions or ban outside participation, then we'll keep it all homegrown. But until then, heavyweight special interests are part of the ugly rough and tumble of democracy.
That means citizens must see their way through propaganda to the substance of the arguments.
As for Alaskans Protecting Our Economy, their greatest fault appears to be a lack of substance. Their Web site talks about the number of jobs and businesses the cruise industry supports, and it warns of economic damage if the initiative passes, but it doesn't say what that damage will be. Will cruise lines cut their Alaska trade? Will passengers go elsewhere rather than pay a head tax? How do they know? And why shouldn't foreign-based cruise lines pay taxes?
On the other side of the debate, why should cruise passengers pay $50 a head to see Alaska when bus passengers can cross the border for free? And why is the state entitled to one-third of the cruise ships' take from casino gambling? And will tighter pollution permitting and onboard monitors give us cleaner air and water, and not just more regulation?
Alaskans Protecting Our Economy has a long list of Alaskans signed on. The cruise ship initiative can counter with more than 23,000 Alaskans' signatures that put the issue on the ballot. Neither list is conclusive of the final vote.
Voters will make the call in August. Alaskans should demand substance, facts and proof of claims by both sides. If they do, they can show their votes can't be bought.
BOTTOM LINE: Money talks. That's why voters have to be critical listeners.
