Dear Neighbors,

The Senate Finance Committee will hear from members of the Conference of Alaskans regarding their resolutions for a fiscal plan next week. We will also hear bills that would affect the fiscal future of Alaska. Those bills would:

• implement a spending limit,
• constitutionally guarantee the dividend,
• allow for some limited use of surplus earnings of the fund and
• switch to a percent of market value management approach for the permanent fund that will automatically inflation proof the principal.

If you would like to find out more about the bills that the committee will consider, you can read them and previous committees’ hearing minutes at www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/.

The Finance Committee will take statewide public testimony on Wednesday, March 17th, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., then again from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. reserved for legislative off-net sites.

If you would like to testify, you can do so at the Anchorage Legislative Information Office at 716 W. 4th Avenue.

If you cannot get to the LIO, please contact Senator Gary Wilken’s office to arrange to testify from your home via off-net. He can be reached at 907-465-3709. As there are very few off-net lines available, priority will be given to those in rural areas who do not live near an LIO and to those who are physically incapable of getting to an LIO.

Alternatively, you can send written testimony to the committee to Mindy Rowland, the Finance Committee Secretary, via e-mail at Mindy_Rowland ''at'' legis.state.ak.us, or by fax to 465-2187. She will distribute it to all committee members.

You will also very likely be able to watch and/or listen to the hearings on Gavel to Gavel on cable Channel 18 or on your computer at www.ktoo.org/gavel/. All hearings, except for Wednesday's public testimony hearing, will be teleconferenced as listen only.

Some in Senate District P have indicated their interest in former Governor Hammond’s plan to institute an income tax offset by the PFD. I had his plan reviewed by legal counsel and was advised that the plan is likely a violation of both the state and federal Constitutions.

The hearing schedule is as follows:

Monday, March 15, 2004
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

• State's Fiscal Picture - Looking Forward Presentation by Ms. Cheryl Frasca, Director, Office of Management and Budget
• Conference of Alaskans Presentation by Mr. Mike Burns, Chair
• Comments by Senator Ben Stevens, Conference of Alaskans ex-officio member, and Senator Kim Elton, ex-officio member designee

1:30-4:00 p.m.

• SJR 18 Constitutional Amendment: PF Appropriation/Inflation-Proofing
• Bills Previously Heard or Scheduled

Tuesday, March 16, 2004
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

• HB 233 Increase Education Funding
• SJR 19 Constitutional Amendment: Permanent Fund Income
• SJR 32 Constitutional Amendment: Permanent Fund Income for Dividends
• Bills Previously Heard or Scheduled

1:30 - 4:00 p.m.

• Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund Presentation by Mr. William Corbus, Commissioner, Department of Revenue
• SJR 24 Constitutional Amendment: Guarantee Permanent Fund Dividend
• SJR 3 Constitutional Amendment: Appropriations/Spending Limit
• Bills Previously Heard or Scheduled

6:00 - 8:00 PM

• Continuation of the afternoon hearing, if necessary
• Bills Previously Heard or Scheduled

Wednesday, March 17, 2004
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

• Additional Legislative Proposals Offered by Senators
• Bills Previously Heard or Scheduled

1:30 - 4:00 p.m.

• Statewide Public Testimony (testimony may be limited to no more than 2 minutes, if necessary).

6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

• Statewide Public Testimony - Legislative Off-Net Sites Only
  (testimony may be limited to no more than 2 minutes, if necessary.)

7:00 - 9:00 PM

• Statewide Public Testimony (testimony may be limited to no more than 2 minutes, if necessary.)

Thursday, March 18, 2004
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

• Senate Finance Committee Discussion/Action
• Bills Previously Heard or Scheduled

1:30 - 4:00 p.m.

• Continuation of Senate Finance Committee Discussion/Action, if necessary
• Bills Previously Heard or Scheduled

Friday, March 19, 2004
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

• Continuation of Senate Finance Committee Discussion/Action, if necessary
• Bills Previously Heard or Scheduled

Saturday, March 20, 2004
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

• Continuation of Senate Finance Committee Discussion/Action, if necessary
• Bills Previously Heard or Scheduled

HB 233, “Increase Education Funding” is also scheduled to be heard on Tuesday from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

I hope you will take a few moments to look up the bills, watch or listen to the hearings, and either testify or send your written comments to the committee. Representative democracy does not work well if legislators only hear from a few people.

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