Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As the New Year begins, my wife, Gayle, and I hope you enjoyed a happy holiday season, and we want to extend our best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year. As the 2001 Legislative session starts, Alaska again faces many important questions: what to do about repeat drunk driving offenders, natural gas, tribal sovereignty, and the budget are a few of the many issues we will concentrate on this session. This questionnaire is part of my continuing effort to stay in touch and learn what's on your mind. Please take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire to me by March 7, 2001. Thank you for your help.

The 20th & 21st Alaska Legislatures, despite many hours of public hearings and other discussions, did not "solve" the subsistence dilemma. This issue may face us again this session.

Do you want a subsistence constitutional amendment on the next (2002) general election ballot?

Yes
No

Do you support a "rural priority" in any proposed amendment?

Yes
No

Do you feel that subsistence for all Alaskans should be a priority?

Yes
No

Do you believe that the ANILCA legislation (federal law) should be changed to agree with Alaska's Constitution rather than changing our Constitution to accommodate federal law?

Change ANILCA
Change Alaska Constitution

In times of shortage (as determined by the Department of Fish & Game), should Alaskans who depend on fish and game resources for food have a priority?

Yes
No

Should legislative sessions be held in Anchorage rather than Juneau?

Yes
No

Should the Legislature delay implementation of the high school competency exam, which is currently scheduled to be used for students graduating in 2002?

Yes
No

If "yes", why:

How long a delay?

During the past year, Alaskans have experienced many instances where repeat offender drunk drivers have caused death or injury to other Alaskans.

Do you support lowering the legal blood alcohol content from the current .10 to the federally mandated .08?

Yes
No

Alaska law currently provides that a third drunk driving charge within five years is a felony. This allows some repeat offenders who do not have a DWI charge in five years to escape a felony charge when they are charged a third time outside the five-year period. Should this provision in law be eliminated thus making a third or subsequent DWI charge a felony?

Yes
No

Should fines and jail sentences be increased for repeat drunk driving offenses?

Yes
No

Should a first-time drunk driving charge where the offender's blood alcohol level is .20 or over automatically be a felony?

Yes
No

Should Alaska establish a special court to deal more closely with drunk drivers?

Yes
No

Should public funds be spent to provide free legal assistance in civil cases to low income Alaskans (such as services currently provided by Alaska Legal Services)?

Yes
No

The state Department of Transportation has suggested realignment of the Alaska Rail-road tracks to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to accommodate the new railroad depot. Should the alignment disrupt existing traffic patterns?

Yes
No

Or

Should any alignment be designed to accommodate access to Northwood both north and south of International Airport Road?

Yes
No

Do you think the Department of Natural Resources should sell to Alaskans more than 20,000 acres per year (current average is 5,000)?

Yes
No

Alaska used to have a pioneer road program. The purpose of this program was to build basic roads to open up an area for community or resource development and for settlement. These roads were not standard two-lane paved highways but gravel roads sufficient for travel. Should Alaska reinstitute such a program?

Yes
No

Over the last few years children needing special education have been "mainstreamed" and brought into classrooms. Do you think that this program is working to benefit both the child needing special education and the other students in the classroom?

Yes
No

Should the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) be open to environmentally-sound development?

Yes
No

Should the length of the legislative session be shortened from 120 days to 90 days?

Yes
No

Should the length of the legislative session be shortened from 120 days to 60 days?

Yes
No

Alaska's Constitution mandates that 25% of oil and mineral leases, royalties and bonuses are deposited into the principle of the Permanent Fund. In 1980, the Legislature increased this to 50% on all new leases. If we repealed this law and went back to the original 25%, an extra $29 million a year would be generated to help close the fiscal gap and the impact on the dividends would be minimal. Do you support changing the law back to the Constitution's 25%?

Yes
No

The Governor is asking for an additional $16.9 million for the University of Alaska budget for the next fiscal year. Do you support this increase?

Yes
No

Should the State ask voters to consider general obligation bonds to fund construction of roads, schools and buildings and deferred maintenance at the 2002 election?

Yes
No

One of my top priorities is the development of a long-range financial plan for Alaska. Do you agree that this should be accomplished by the 22nd Legislature?

Yes
No

Should any long-range financial plan include multiple revenue sources and a "trigger" of a $1 billion balance in the Constitutional Budget Reserve fund (CBR) -- the trigger would then put in play the collection of funds from the multiple revenue sources?

Yes
No

What revenue sources should be considered?

Should the people vote on the plan before it is put into effect?

Yes
No

Should the Permanent Fund Dividend program be phased out in a manner similar to the Alaska Longevity Bonus (i.e., establish a certain date and everyone qualifying by that date will continue to receive a bonus while those establishing residency after that date will not)?

Yes
No

Should the amount of the Permanent Fund Dividend be capped?

Yes
No

The Governor has made it a policy of the State to recognize the 227 "tribal governments" in Alaska. Do you believe that this is good policy for the State?

Yes
No

The Governor and Alaska Native leaders are currently working on an agreement setting forth the recognition of tribal sovereignty in Alaska. Currently the parties seem to be at a stalemate as some of the Alaska Native leaders do not want to recognize the State of Alaska as a sovereign entity.

Do you feel that the State should enter into such an agreement?

Yes
No

If the State is going to enter into such an agreement, should each of the tribal entities recognize the State as a sovereign entity itself?

Yes
No

Before the final signing of such an agreement, should all the people of Alaska be made aware of and have a chance to comment on the agreement?

Yes
No

Should Alaska follow the lead of other states in amending our Constitution and/or laws to eliminate race-based preferences?

Yes
No

Do you support a constitutional amendment to allow a voucher system for schools in Alaska?

Yes
No

If constructed at its current location, should any replacement facility for Alaska Psychiatric Institute include a wing for mentally ill prisoners?

Yes
No

Should any gas pipeline route for North Slope natural gas provide for a spur line to the Cook Inlet area?

Yes
No

What do you think is the most important issue or problem facing Alaska and/or our district?

How would you address this issue?

I will be working on an e-mail legislative newsletter. If you would like to receive a copy of this, please indicate your e-mail address here:

Have you visited the Republican Majority's web page before reading this survey?

Yes
No

Comments: Use this space to send me your additional comments:

How many voters are in your household?

What is your name?

What is your physical address?

Click Only Once

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