Alaska Politics Blog : Green pressures Palin on abortion

Green pressures Palin on abortion

Posted by Alaska_Politics

Anchorage Daily News

Posted: June 27, 2008 - 5:25 pm

From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage--

Senate President Lyda Green may not be running for re-election but she's not leaving quietly. Green wrote a letter today pressuring Gov. Sarah Palin to include a pair of abortion bills on the agenda for the gas pipeline special session.

Green's letter suggests there's been "backroom deal making" on the issue.

Here's the letter (I've also posted Palin's response right below it, where she says there's been no deals and she's disappointed the bills failed to pass in the regular session under Green's leadership -- they stalled in the judiciary committee, chaired by Democrat Hollis French in the bipartisan coalition):

Dear Governor Palin,

The end of the third special session is only days away. Alaskans are still waiting for you to decide if you will add the partial birth abortion and parental consent bills to the call.

You and I have already discussed my plan that will get both bills to the Senate floor for a final vote. We have also discussed the fact that there are not enough votes in the House or Senate to call itself into special session. The only chance these bills have to pass this year is if you include them in the call of the fourth special session tentatively scheduled to start on July 9th.

Rumors persist that there is some connection between TransCanada's AGIA license and these pro-life bills. I hate to think anyone would commit to vote for TransCanada's AGIA license application (SB 3001, HB 3001) in exchange for leaving the parental consent and partial birth abortion bills off the call. The gas pipeline is our economic future and it should not be subject to this kind of backroom deal making.

The two of us have had our public policy differences but the sanctity of life has always been the one issue on which we completely agree. So with all due respect, I must ask that you tell legislators, pro-life groups and Alaskans if you will add the two pro-life bills to the call or not.

As always, I am available at any time to discuss this issue. I look forward to hearing your decision in the near future.

Regards,

Lyda Green

Senate President

I've contacted Palin's office for a response. I'll post it when I get it.

UPDATE-- Here's the response that came over from the governor's office:

Governor Palin has made it quite clear that she is disappointed that this legislation did not pass under Senator Green’s leadership. She is disappointed by Senator Green’s mischaracterization that any deal making has occurred.

The Senator is well aware that this administration does not engage in backroom deals. The Governor purposely did not include these bills as part of the special session call to avoid any appearance of gamesmanship.

It is the Governor’s desire that these bills are given the respect they deserve. The Governor refuses to play political games and hopes to work with Senate leadership as we consider all options.

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