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Hello and thank you for tuning in. I appreciate this opportunity to speak to you with a message from Juneau. Today I will speak about Children's Library Records and the PFD.
Senate Bill 269,
Parent Access to Children's Library Records:
When I introduced SB 269 to clarify parent access to children's library records I did not anticipate the tremendous press this bill would garner. Right now parents have access to the library records of their children at public school libraries but the statute has been interpreted to restrict their access to the library records of their children at public libraries. This requires public libraries to keep information confidential-even from the parents of school age children. I certainly agree with the message at the heart of many of the editorials I have seen in response to this bill; namely that parents should just ask their children what they are reading if they want to know. Encouraging communication between parents and children is wonderful and this bill does nothing to interfere with the responsibilities of parents.
What this bill does is require public libraries to let parents know the same information about children that the libraries know. The state has no business obstructing a parent who is trying to learn the title of a book so they can pay a late fee, or locate an overdue book in their house, or even pick the book up for their child. Not surprisingly, none of the opinions arguing against the need for this bill have said that parents are not entitled to know what books are being checked out, they merely imply that there are better ways for parents to learn this information.
Even more ironic in the debate is the fact that the Alaska Library Association has argued against this bill in part because parents can obtain information about books that are currently checked out by logging onto their library's website. This makes the policy of not releasing the information over the telephone or in person to a parent even more absurd. Why is it appropriate to have this information accessible on-line but to say it is infringing on the privacy rights of children for the library to reveal the information directly to the parent?
The bottom line is that libraries should not be prohibited from answering questions asked by parents. There should be no disconnect between the current ability to access this information on the internet and the lack of an ability to access this information in person. Parents should be entitled to ensure that materials their children check out are returned, fines are paid and replacement books purchased.
The Permanent Fund Dividend:
The Anchorage Daily News recently published an opinion piece by Governor Murkowski under the headline: "Session should resolve budget issues" and ending with a statement that, "It is my job as governor to solve the major problems facing the state..."
Both the Governor and I promised not to use the Permanent Fund earnings to solve the state's fiscal woes without a vote of the people during the last campaign. That promise was important in the 2002 election.
In the meantime the Alaska Permanent Fund Board of Trustees has endorsed a constitutional change to managing and identifying earnings of the Permanent Fund (POMV), but does not guarantee the dividend.
The Governor created the Conference of Alaskans to review this issue. The Conference memorialized their belief that "a Permanent Fund Dividend should be annually distributed to Alaskans and recommended the dividend be protected in the constitution." The Governor's opinion piece says that, "this important detail will have to be worked out with the Legislature."
Only after the dividend program is guaranteed, will I consider supporting changes, such as changes recommended to the investment plan for the principal of the Permanent Fund. This is the point the Conference of Alaskans came to very quickly in their discussion. The public is entitled to reassurance that a dividend is protected before alternative uses can even be considered.
I will not support the currently proposed changes to the Permanent Fund or the Permanent Fund Dividend program until a dividend program is guaranteed.
Additionally, guarantee of a dividend program should be combined with a constitutional spending limit that provides additional assurance that every effort will be made to carefully scrutinize and contain spending.
In 1997, I introduced Senate Joint Resolution No. 18 to constitutionally guarantee the annual dividend and require that the fund be increased each year to keep up with inflation.
In 1999, an advisory vote was proposed to use Permanent Fund earnings with no guarantee for the dividend; that plan received a resounding 80%+ NO vote from the people.
In 2000, I introduced SJR 35 to assure the future of the PFD, inflation proof it, and require a vote of the people to make any changes to the PFD. This year I have again supported legislation to protect the dividend.
I invite the Governor and other legislators to join in support of a protected dividend. Give people the assurance they want, put a control on spending and then talk about principal investment techniques.
Everyone should support a guaranteed dividend so that every Alaskan can continue to share directly in the natural resource wealth of Alaska. We Republicans are not out to take anyone's dividend. We Republicans have taken the lead for over twenty years in protecting the dividend. I invite Governor Murkowski to join me now in letting all Alaskans know that for today and tomorrow the dividend is safe, secure and guaranteed.
I would love to hear from you on any of these topics or anything else we are working on in the capitol.
For information on legislation I am working on, to read district updates, or to send me an email, please find my office on the internet at
You can also call the office directly, 907-465-6600 or toll free in state 1-877-465-6601. Please let me know if you would like to be included on my email distribution list for updates from the office.
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