February

02-26-99

1. Senator Jerry Ward seeks an alaska native voice on the Pacific Salmon Treaty Commission. Senator Ward discusses his resolution asking the United States State Department to initiate a reorganization of the Pacific Salmon Commission to include an Alaska Native representative.
   = Jerry Ward, 110 K
2. Senator Leman expresses concern about costs in the Supplemental Budget allocated for judgements and claims against the State. He believes the Administration doesn't have adequate systems in place to hold those individuals accountable who caused the problem in the first place where the State is now having to pick up the tab.
   = Loren Leman, 42 K
3. Senator Donley comments on the millions of dollars in lawsuits against the state the Legislature is asked to authorize each year. He wants the Executive Branch and the Governor to be more accountable for that money and devise ways to avoid the same problems happening in the future. He also discusses the Alaska Supreme Court's policy of awarding full attorney's fees to public interest plaintiffs against that state that lose the majority of their claims and how this policy encourages false litigation.
   = Dave Donley, 54 K
4. House Majority Leader, Representative Joe Green discusses his upcoming trip as part of an official delegation from the Alaska Legislature that will attend the The Energy Council's annual Federal Energy and Environmental Matters Conference Feb. 27 through Mar. 2 in Washington, D.C. Representative Green further comments that the combined influence of each Energy Council's congressional delegation can be used to help position Alaska's concerns in the national discussion on energy and environmental policy.
   = Joe Green, 90 K
5. Former House Speaker, Representative Gail Phillips explains that this year's upcoming Energy Council's "Environmental Matters Conference" is extremely important to Alaska. This forum gives Alaskans a voice at the national level and it is imperative that Alaska's voice be considered in these deliberations as these policies will ultimately affect individual Alaskans on a daily basis.
   = Gail Phillips, 44 K
6. Representative Scott Ogan, House Resources Committee Chair, says The Energy Council meeting held in Washington D.C. is an ideal opportunity for Alaskans to again press its case to congressional members that Alaskans support opening ANWR and would oppose presidential efforts to permanently place more lands off limits to oil development.
   = Scott Ogan, 36 K
7. Representative Masek comments on her resolution asking the United States State Department to initiate a reorganization of the Pacific Salmon Commission to include an Alaska Native representative.
   = Beverly Masek, 57 K

02-25-99

1. Representative Vic Kohring discusses his school voucher measure. HB 5 was waived out of House HESS and next goes to the House Judiciary Committee.
   = Vic Kohring, 95 K

02-24-99

1. Senator Dave Donley discusses his "Regulatory Reform Act", SB 24. The measure would give Alaskans greater access to government and an increased voice in how government conducts its business
   = Dave Donley, 22 K
2. Senator Pete Kelly responds to the passage of his SB 74 out of the Senate Resources Committee Wednesday. The measure would allow the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to engage in aerial shooting for the purpose of predator-prey management. It next goes to the full Senate for consideration.
   = Pete Kelly, 97 K
3. Senator Jerry Mackie comments on recent contract negotiations between the Administration and the Public Safety Employees Association Union.
   = Jerry Mackie, 64 K
4. Representative Scott Ogan comments on his Administrative Hearing Officer Legislation. HJR 18 would separate the administrative hearing officer functions away from the State bureaucracies that now employ them.
   = Scott Ogan, 91 K

02-23-99

1. Representative Carl Morgan explains the impacts his HB 93 would have on rural housing costs. The measure would permit refinancing of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation rural home loans in the same manner any conventional mortgage allows. It also extends the definition of the term "housing" so that owner-occupied 4-plexes could be financed.
   = Carl Morgan, 55 K
2. Representative Scott Ogan discusses his motivations for introducing HB 109. The measure would add new language, to an existing state law, affirming state sovereign jurisdiction in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and the navigable waters within or adjoining the park and preserve.
   = Scott Ogan, 80 K

02-22-99

1. Rep. Bill Hudson describes his HB 108. The measure estables a comprehensive boating safety program in Alaska. Under HB 108's provisions, the State would assume vessel registration responsibilities and regulatory authority over boat safety equipment.
   = Bill Hudson, 77 K
2. Senator Jerry Ward comments on his motivations for introducing his measure to require a supermajority vote before any tax plan is approved.
   = Jerry Ward, 43 K
3. Senator Gary Wilken comments on the results of the Y2K Senate Finance Budget Subcommittee hearing.
   = Gary Wilken, 56 K

02-20-99

1. Representative Jeannette James comments on Saturday's hearing on the Governor's budget bills. While commenting that these three specific bills are unlikely to pass she believes the ideas embodied in the bills will likely resurface later in the session.
   = Jeannette James, 52 K
2. Representative Bill Hudson, who attended the Saturday hearing mentioned above, relates that he learned the public is far more aware of the impacts various proposed tax schemes will have on them than he previously believed.
   = Bill Hudson, 36 K
3. Representative Scott Ogan, who attended the Saturday hearing mentioned above via teleconference, also comments on the Governor's proposed budget proposal.
   = Scott Ogan, 160 K

02-18-99

1. Rep. Jeannette James comments on three bills heard in her State Affairs Committee Thursday, that were proposed by the Governor. HB 89 would authorize a public vote on a transfer of $4 billion from the Permanent Fund Earnings Reserve to the State's Constitutional Budget Reserve Account. HB 90 would make that transfer. HB 91 proposes a state income tax.
   = Jeannette James, 66 K
2. Senator Gary Wilken comments on his SB 82. The bill would require insurance carriers in Alaska to cover prescribed contraceptives and related health care costs.
   = Gary Wilken, 53 K
3. Senator Rick Halford talks about his motivations for introducing HB 3. The measure will establish more severe mandatory minimum sentences for those who murder society's most vulnerable members.
   = Rick Halford, 12 K
4. Senator Pete Kelly announces the introduction of his bill giving Fish and Game more flexibility in handling predator-prey management programs. Senator Kelly points out SB 74 will not allow aerial sport hunting. It is designed to restore a vital management tool effectively eliminated by an initiative passed in 1996.
   = Pete Kelly, 59 K

02-17-99

1. Senator Jerry Mackie comments on the unanimous passage of his Forest Practices Act from the Senate Wednesday. SB 12 sets steam buffer standards in Alaska's logging industry. "This bill is the result of a cooperative effort by timber, commercial fishing, and environmental groups with a vested interest in the sustained health of our renewable resources," said Sen. Mackie.
   = Jerry Mackie, 40 K
2. Rep. Norman Rokeberg describes his latest measure, HB 96. The bill proposes a "Painless" Revenue source. It would revert the percentage of royalties on new leases established on or after July 1, 1999, to the constitutionally mandated 25 percent. "As we continue to get our economic house in order, we can and should still make budget cuts," Rokeberg said. "But this is a virtually painless revenue source in what is proving to be a critical time for Alaska. It would not have a significant impact on the dividend program and we would be foolish to ignore it."  02-17-99
   = Norman Rokeberg, 90 K
3. Rep. Vic Kohring explains why he introduced HB 5. The measure would enact a school voucher program that would give parents more choice in their children's education.
   = Vic Kohring, 111 K
4. Representative Bill Hudson comments on his appointment to chair a special subcommittee on Southeast Alaska's transportation needs. "The subcommittee will be taking a comprehensive look at the Southeast Transportation Plan and how it addresses the unique transportation needs of Southeast Alaska," Hudson said. "Additionally, we'll look at the Marine Highway system."
   = Bill Hudson, 47 K

02-16-99

1. Senator Pete Kelly describes his motivations and announces his intention to file legislation to forestall frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturors.
   = Pete Kelly, 118 K
2. Rep. Scott Ogan relates a constituent's experiences, that ultimately motivated him to sponsor HB 22. The bill unanimously passed the House of Representatives Tuesday 38 to 0. The measure requires that tax assessors gain clear permission from property owners before entering private dwellings.
   = Scott Ogan, 63 K
3. House Finance Co-Chair, Representative Eldon Mulder, comments on Governor Knowles supplimental spending request, publicly released Tuesday. 02-16-99
   = Eldon Mulder, 83 K

02-12-99

1. Senator Jerry Ward details the reasons behind his introduction of SB 69. The measure would enact an advisory vote. The result would tell policy makers whether Alaska's prefer to make the Attorney General's post subject to election or if they prefer the current system of allowing the Governor to appoint individuals to the position.
   = Jerry Ward, 60 K

02-11-99

1. Rep. Carl Morgan details how his HB 93 makes two changes to the Rural Mortgage loan program that will greatly benefit rural Alaskans. The measure would permit refinancing of Alaska Housing Finance Corporation rural home loans in the same manner any conventional mortgage allows. It also extends the definition of the term "housing" so that owner-occupied 4-plexes could be financed.
   = Carl Morgan, 85 K
2. Rep. Scott Ogan discusses his legislation, HB 74, that would save over $3 million by decreasing top salaries in the Governor's administration to levels paid in the Legislative branch for similar positions.
   = Scott Ogan, 15 K
3. Rep. Scott Ogan discusses his motivations for introducing HB 74.
   = Scott Ogan, 16 K

02-10-99

1. Representative Vic Kohring discusses the Governor's proposed tax plan, 02-10-99
   = Vic Kohring, 97 K
2. Representative John Harris comments on his motivations for introducing HJR 8. The measure asks the President to select an Alaska site for the deployment of the intercept vehicles for the national ballistic missile defense system.
   = John Harris, 59 K
3. Senator Rick Halford goes on record in opposition to the National Park Services' recent closure of 2 million acres in Denali National Park and Preserve to snowmachine access, 02-10-99.
   = Rick Halford, 44 K

02-09-99