Lawmakers say Capitol visitors won't see enhanced security ...

yesterday

KTVA

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The Alaska Legislative Council has halted the addition of another layer of security at the state capitol building in Juneau.

Opponents of the proposed security measure believe it is unnecessary and would impose burdens on those who value the openness of the Capitol. Others view recent incidents – such as this week’s school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin – as evidence that more must be done before disaster can strike.

Data from the National Council of State Legislatures shows seven state capitols, including Alaska’s, do not have any security screening processes for visitors.

Last Thursday, the legislative council decided to keep its name on that list, after a 14-member bipartisan panel – comprising state senators and representatives – tabled a security screening measure that would have established an airport-style security checkpoint in the building.

The proposal, if approved, would’ve mandated that all visitors undergo screening with a magnetometer. However, visitors would have the option to opt out of magnetometer screening if they instead opted for a pat-down. All items being carried by any visitors would have to be screened with an X-ray device.

Legislative council member Sen. Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau) said Wednesday that he does not support the proposal, categorizing it as unnecessary. He added that lawmakers must be “very careful” about any measures that could restrict Alaskans’ access to the Capitol, as it is the “people’s building.”

“We just need to remember that Juneau is a relatively small town,” Kiehl said. “Anything that gets here has come on a plane or a barge or a state ferry. It’s been screened at some point. We don’t need that level of security to protect ... the state capitol, located in Juneau.”

ALC chair Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, D-Anchorage, said Alaska is not immune to issues that are affecting the rest of the country.

“I like the idea of having metal detectors, not just to protect us, but to protect our staff and to protect our constituents,” she said. “It’s the ‘people’s house,' and we want the people to be safe in their house.”

Kiehl said the issue could be taken up again when the Legislature convenes in January but doesn’t expect anything to be put into place during the approaching session.

Mailroom relocation

While the committee tabled the proposal for additional security for visitors upon entry to the Capitol, it did approve relocating the building’s mailroom – choosing to move it to an off-site location with advanced screening capabilities – to the tune of about $617,500.

Kiehl described this proposal as “reasonable” and based on known risks. He noted a recent increase in the use of mail to send both real threats and harassment threats in recent years.

“White powder that turns out not to be dangerous, but it’s designed to disrupt,” Kiehl said. “It’s designed to lock everybody down while somebody tests it.

“In fact, some years ago, the governor’s office – which has a separate mailroom – received a letter with white powder," he continued, “turned out to be harassment. This was a previous governor. I was in that building doing something unrelated, and was locked in there for several hours.”

The governor’s office has since moved its mailroom to a place where a lock-down would not affect the whole office building, he explained.

“That’s a smart move,” he said, “for the Legislature to take our mail room and our mail screening off-site.”

Gray-Jackson agreed, saying she was glad the mailroom proposal was one that council members could push forward.

“It’s one measure of security that we can put into effect right away,” she said.

According to a council memo from Legislative Affairs Agency Executive Director Jessica Geary, work will be conducted incrementally to be fully operational off-site by the next session.

The Alaska Legislative Council conducts the business of the Legislature as a whole and is responsible for conducting the business of five of the six floors at the Capitol. The governor has responsibility for the third floor.

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