Roe v. Wade<\/em>, giving the U.S. Supreme Court the 5-4 vote necessary to do so.<\/p>\nThe Alaska Constitution currently supports a woman’s right to choose, but if Roe is overturned, decisions on reproductive rights will be decided by the states. If Alaska has a governor who does not support a woman’s right to choose, and if Democrats do not retain control of at least one house of the legislature, we will see an onslaught of legislation that will further limit or change our constitution in order to ban abortions in Alaska.<\/p>\n
During his election bid in 2014, Walker said that although he respects all people, his Christian beliefs are that marriage is between a man and a woman. He said he supports traditional marriage, but he will follow the law in place regarding same sex marriage.<\/p>\n
In September, 2016, Walker allowed then-Attorney General Craig Richards to join the state of Louisiana and other conservative states, in a friend-of-the court brief supporting same-sex marriage bans. According to a statement emailed to the Anchorage Daily News, Walker said: “Had it been solely my decision to join the amicus brief, I would have declined the invitation. However, I fully respect the role of the attorney general on matters defending Alaska’s constitution.” The thing is, Walker is the boss. Unlike some states, Alaska’s attorney general is not elected, but works at the pleasure of the governor. There is no way a strong governor would allow an attorney general to file such a brief unless he agreed with it.<\/p>\n
With an extremist U.S. Supreme Court, it is not implausible that the court will overturn marriage equality laws and legislation that guarantees LGBTQ rights.<\/p>\n
We need a strong governor who will fight attempts by a conservative legislature’s attempt to take Alaska back to pre-Obergefell and Windsor days. Mark Begich has a clear record of supporting civil rights for LGBTQs.<\/p>\n
Begich also has a plan to constitutionally protect the Permanent Fund Dividend, to guarantee a sustainable dividend, protect the health of the corpus of the fund, and secure long-term educational funding. Walker slashed the PFD that so many Alaskans depend on to meet the high cost of living here.<\/p>\n
In the dire political climate we find ourselves in we need a tough, experienced governor who will protect and defend our rights. That candidate is Begich.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Kimberly Metcalfe is former chair of the Juneau (now Tongass) Democrats, former Democratic National Committeewoman, and a retired union business agent. My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire.<\/b><\/p>\n
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