Juneau -- The Second Session of the 21st Alaska Legislature opened Monday, January 10, 2000, with leaders of the Republican-led Majority vowing to complete their 5-year Commitment to Alaska.

"Four years ago, we made a commitment to the people of Alaska to reduce State spending by $250 million over five years," said House Speaker Brian Porter (R-Anchorage). "Since that time we have kept our word. We have reduced State spending by approximately $220 million dollars, stressing accountability through the use of results-based budgeting. This session we will fulfill our original promise with $30 million in further reductions, while seeing to it that those essential services on which Alaskans rely are not compromised."

The Republican-led Majority vows real action to protect the well being of Alaskans for now and for the future.

"The Legislature has chosen to lead by example," Porter said. "Legislators' pay has been frozen since 1991; we've taken legislators' per diem out of the political arena by tying it to the federal rate, where it cannot be manipulated; and the Legislature has reduced it own staff by 17 percent since 1994, four times the average for all of Alaska's State government."

"Those are real accomplishments and proof-positive that actions do speak louder than words," Porter said.