January

(Due to equipment problems all of this month's audio clips have not been digitized yet. As time allows I will finish them. Ken Erickson, Webmaster)

01-12-98

1. Task Force Co-Chair, Representative Eldon Mulder, discusses the report the Deferred Maintenance Task Force presented to the Governor and Legislature today.
2. Senate President, Senator Mike Miller, welcomes the opening of the second session of the 20th Alaska State Legislature. He discusses the fiscal goals of the Majority and the impact of world oil markets on Alaska's economy.
3. House Speaker, Representative Gail Phillips, discusses two of the Majority's goals for this session. She says the legislature will focus on child health and safety issues and education reform.
4. Senator Rick Halford comments on three bills he has introduced this session. One would form the Office of Victim's Advocates. It would provide professional legal help for victims. The second would provide for civil commitment for violent sexual preditors. The third would mandate a minimum 20 year sentence for the death of a child when the child died from felony conduct.

01-13-98

1. House Special Committee on Oil and Gas Chair, Representative Mark Hodgins, talks about today's hearing. The North Slope Gas Commercialization Team for a Natural Gas Pipeline told committee members that work needs to be done before a natural gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope could be economically feasible. Committee Chair Hodgins says the next step is for the producers to begin the formation of a project structure. Proposed legislation to facilitate the project is expected by the end of the month.
2. House Speaker, Representative Gail Phillips, comments on the Governor's State of the State speech televised statewide Tuesday evening.
3. House Speaker, Representative Gail Phillips, responds to the Governor's budget cut comments in the same speech.
4. Senate President, Senator Mike Miller, comments upon the Governor's State of the State speech televised statewide Tuesday evening.

01-14-98

1. Representative Jeannette James, the original sponsor of Alaska's Concealed Carry legislation, comments on today's successful override vote of the Governor's veto.
2. Senate Resources Chair, Senator Rick Halford, comments upon today's successful veto override of the Governor's veto of Alaska's Concealed Handgun Carry legislation. The bi-partisan vote was 45-13.
3. Senator Lyda Green also comments upon the veto override.
4. Senator Robin Taylor also comments upon the veto override.
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6. Senator Rick Halford responds to the Governor's State of the State speech last night. Senator Halford invites the Governor and his administration to participate in an upcoming budget revenue summit meeting next week.

01-15-98

1. House Finance Co-Chair, Representative Mark Hanley, responds to the Governor's State of the Budget speech.
2. Senator Finance Committee Member, Senator John Torgerson, gives his response to the Governor's State of the Budget speech.

01-16-98

1. Senator Jerry Ward relates when and where he first heard about Martin Luther King's death.
2. Representative John Cowdery introduced HJR 47 today and discusses why he feels public oversight of judicial appointments would be better for Alaska.
3. Representative Pete Kelly discusses the legislation he introduced today to provide free University of Alaska tuition to the spouses, sons, and daughters of Alaska police officers slain in the line of duty.
4. House State Affair Committee Chair, Representative Jeannette James, announces a public hearing to discuss the performance of Alaska state employee's new insurance provider.

01-20-98

1. House State Affairs Chair, Representative Jeannette James, discusses HB 264, "Negotiated Regulation and Rule Making." This bill, which passed out of her committee today, encourages state agencies to include those parties who would be affected by proposed rules and regulations changes early-on in the regulation or rule making process. The measure seeks to achieve consensus on some or all aspects of new rules and regulations before they are formally proposed.
2. House Health, Education & Social Services Committee Chair, Representative Con Bunde, comments on HB 335. This legislation, filed in his committee today, makes technical amendments to bring Alaska into compliance with revisions to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. The act reduces the incentive for kidnapping by non-custodial parents.

01-21-98

1. Representative Fred Dyson talks about a bill he has filed which would make it a crime to endanger the welfare of a child by drinking or taking drugs while caring for the child. House Bill 333 would also outlaw knowlingly taking a child into a place where a controlled substance is being used or illegally possessing a controlled substance while caring for a child.
2. Senator Bert Sharp, who sponsored legislation to authorize the Gold Rush Commemorative License Plates, comments on the significance of the program to Alaska and its rich history.
   
   "The gold rush brought so many Alaskans to this great state. This attractive license plate is a true symbol to celebrate a hundred years of gold mining activity in Alaska. The plates can be purchased at any Department of Motor Vehicle establishment and are available through 2004. They are a good investment to bragging rights about Alaska and about our heritage," said Sharp.
3. Senator Dave Donley is the sponsor of and comments on legislation that will prevent HMO's from placing gag orders on physicians which prohibit them from discussing alternative treatment options, financial incentives or second opinions. The bill moved out of the Senate Health, Education, and Social Services Committee.
4. Senate President, Senator Mike Miller, comments on U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski's decision to run again for his U.S. Senate seat in next year's election.
5. Representative Bill Williams talks about his HJR 49, which he introduced on Wednesday. This bill opposes a proposed two-year "interim" forest service policy which could halt development in roadless areas of national forests. Any new administratively created wilderness in Alaska would violate the spirit of the 'no more' provision of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) which prohibits federal agencies from establishing new wilderness areas in the state without an act of Congress. It also runs counter to the National Forest Management Act which requires the public be allowed to participate in the development, review, and revision of land management plans for national forests.
   
   "We do not need any more wilderness areas on the Tongass, especially wilderness created in the shadows of the White House" Representative Williams said.

01-22-98

1. Senator Jerry Mackie talks about the reasons he sponsored SB 110. The Senate voted 16 to 3, Thursday to pass a measure to ensure that Alaskan landscape architects can compete for federal jobs in Alaska. 45 states currently require licensing for landscape architects and Alaska has no such requirement. As a result, Alaskan landscape architects are excluded from participating in securing federal jobs within Alaska and these moneys are going to companies located out of State.
2. Senate President, Senator Mike Miller, comments on U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski's speech Thursday before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature.
3. House Speaker, Representative Gail Phillips, comments on U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski's speech Thursday before a joint session of the Alaska Legislature.

01-23-98

1. Senator Drue Pearce talks about the reasons she introduced SB 256 in the Senate, Friday. This legislation would spur gas production in Cook Inlet and encourage gas companies to develop new sources of natural gas to offset potential shortages and declining production in the Inlet. New gas reserves developed as a result of this legislation will be instrumental in maintaining economically priced gas supplies. SB 256 provides a short window of opportunity for lease holders to take advantage of reduced State royalties. The lease holders qualify if they own leases that overlie previously discovered oil or gas fields in Cook Inlet which have remained undeveloped or shut in from at least January 1, 1988 through December 31, 1997
   
   "Cook Inlet has not been a hotbed of new activity for many years," said Pearce. "Providing responsible incentives might result in increased activity that will greatly benefit our State, specifically the Anchorage bowl and Kenai Peninsula residents."
2. Senator Drue Pearce discusses her legislation that passed the Senate, Friday. This bill establishes incentives to attract business ventures that would increase year-round jobs for Alaskans, diversify the economy and broaden the state’s economic base. The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 159. Senator Drue Pearce suggested her incentives will help offset Alaska’s competitive disadvantages. In Anchorage, for example, the higher cost of site preparation, moving equipment and personnel compared to other states presents a significant barrier to corporate decision makers.
   
   "Offering business incentives to companies that are comparing locations for new manufacturing or value added business ventures will help tip the scale in Alaska’s direction," said Pearce. "At the very least, these incentives will give our state a fighting chance in competing for new industries that will bring jobs to Alaskans and a broader corporate tax base."

01-26-98

1. Representative Scott Ogan discusses his HB 232, which is based on a national model designed to give fair and impartial hearings to those who take exception with government regulations.
   
   "We can not afford to have hearing officers who are making public judgement calls on regulations promulgated by the agency they work for. Until we get the agency cops separated from the agency judges the public will not be afforded due process." said Ogan.
2. House Majority Leader, Representative Brian Porter, talks about legislation introduced by the House Leadership Monday that would obligate the State of Alaska to help cover costs generated by the 2001 World Special Olympics Winter Games in Anchorage should the Special Olympics organizing committee fall short of its goal. Representative Brian Porter talks about the statewide community support for these games.
3. Senator Lyda Green talks about legislation introduced by the Senate Leadership Monday that would obligate the State of Alaska to help cover costs generated by the 2001 World Special Olympics Winter Games in Anchorage should the Special Olympics organizing committee fall short of its goal. Senator Green discusses the organizing committee's funding goals and the fact that $1 million has already been raised towards a total goal of $4 million.

01-27-98

1. House Resources Committee Co-Chair, Representative Scott Ogan, comments on the Governor's Subsistence Task Force plan that is before the Committee.

01-28-98

1. Representative Eldon Mulder discusses Anchorage Mayor Rick Mystrom's plan to replace the 6th Avenue Jail.
2. Senator Jerry Ward discusses the State's overcrowded jail problem.
3. Senator Dave Donley talks about the reasons why he introduced his SB 202. This legislation would level the playing field between injured Alaskans and insurance companies.
4. Senator Dave Donley comments on the details in his SB 202 legislation. SB 202 requires an insurer, within 15 days after a filed claim, to make an estimate of covered claims under the policy. The insurer has 30 days to pay this undisputed amount of the covered claim. If a disputed claim is decided in court and is 10% greater than what the insurer offered to pay, the insurer would be required to pay attorney fees and actual costs incurred by the claimant. The insurer would also be required to pay a penalty equal to at least 20 percent of the damages awarded. This system would discourage insurance companies from withholding payment of legitimate claims until injured parties agreed to their offer.
5. Senator Dave Donley discusses the reasons he sponsored his SB 157. This legislation creates the Alaska Children’s Trust License plate and allows individuals to voluntarily support a trust fund that will help improve the lives of Alaska’s most needy children. The plates cost $100 and the funds to towards the Alaska Children's Trust Fund.

01-29-98

1. Senator Rick Halford's Crime Victims’ Rights and Advocacy Act has passed out of Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday. This legislation will establish the Office of Victim’s Advocacy. The new office would help implement the rights guaranteed to victims under our constitution.
2. Senator Jerry Ward comments on his Government Privatization legislation passing the Senate Thursday. This bill would establish a task force that would review functions and services of state government that can be better delivered through the private sector.
3. Senate President, Senator Mike Miller, comments on legislation he introduced Thursday. This compromise legislation would amend logging practices on private land in Alaska strengthening upstream fish habitats and water quality protections found in current State law.

01-30-98

1. Senator Dave Donley comments on why he introduced his SB 63. This legislation passed the Senate last year and moved out of the House Finance Committee Friday.
2. Senator Dave Donley describes the details of this legislation. It would waive minors to adult court when they:

• use a deadly weapon to commit a class B felony crime against a person;
• are 16 or older, and
• were previously adjudicated delinquent or convicted as an adult of using a deadly weapon to commit a crime against a person punishable as a felony.

3. House Speaker, Representative Gail Phillips, comments on legislation (HB 373) she has introduced into the House that is identical to a forest protection measure introduced in the Senate. This legislation will amend logging practices on private land in Alaska strengthening upstream fish habitats and water quality protections found in current State law.
4. Representative Norman Rokeberg comments on the reason behind his introduction of his real estate legislation (HB 33). This bill would increase consumer protections by requiring property and community association managers to be licensed.