THE PERMANENT FUND

"Protect it for the generations to come"

HJR 3 and SJR 19 Will Put Dividend Protection Into OUR Constitution

Most Alaskan's agree there has never been a serious attempt to cut the state government size and cost down to a sustainable level.  Both the legislature and Governor continue to express interest in using the Permanent Fund earnings to pay for more government. 

HJR 3 and SJR 19 ARE GOOD LEGISLATION that will finally settle the dispute over who should spend YOUR Permanent Fund Dividend.

If approved by the Legislature, the question of whether to protect the Permanent Fund earnings in the constitution, will be placed on the ballot for a vote of the people.  If approved by an affirmative vote of the people the Constitution will be amended to make the dividend off limits to the legislature without a majority vote of the people.

Key elements of HJR 3 and SJR 19 include:

1. Placing all income generated by the fund into the Earnings Reserve Account (not the General Fund as it is now).  This locks up all Permanent Fund income, taking it AWAY from the legislature.

2. Distribution of the Permanent Fund earnings will only go to pay dividends and inflation proofing according to the formula currently in place.  This takes the option of whether to pay a dividend or not, AWAY from the Legislature.

3. If the fund makes money over a five year average, it will pay a dividend.  If the fund does not earn money over a five year average, then no dividend will be paid.  This means no erosion of the principal, which actually makes the Permanent Fund really PERMANENT.

4. If money is needed in the future to pay for government services, a majority affirmative vote of the people would allow the legislature to tap the earnings, which is similar to the constitutional amendment covering with drawls from the principle.

HJR 3 Current Status

Held up in the House State Affairs Committee since February 7, 2003 by Chairman Representative Weyhrauch.  It is Representative Weyhrauch's RESPONSIBILITY and DUTY to all ALASKAN'S to bring HJR 3 out of his committee.  If Weyhrauch keeps HJR 3 locked up until the end of session it dies, going against 83% of Alaskan voters.

Representative Weyhrauch is a Republican from Juneau. A Lawyer by profession, former Senate staff member, and elected for the first time in 2002. He seems pretty well connected judging from his contributors, see APOC reports for complete details.  Do his contributors know Representative Weyhrauch is holding this bill up in his committee?  Perhaps his special interest contributors have needs that your PFD will pay for!

People statewide need to ask their representatives to either sign on as co-sponsors of HJR 3, or introduce their own legislation (with exact language).  Their failure to do one or the other will show how each legislator REALLY feels about your dividend. 

For your convenience we have listed the phone numbers and email addresses for everyone on this committee.  Ask them all, "when is HJR 3 coming out of committee"?  Don't forget to ask them to co-sponsor or introduce their own legislation, and remember how they responded to your request at the next election.  Contact information for all legislators and media statewide can be found on the Links page.  Sample letters are shown below.

Committee members, email address, and telephone numbers:

Representative Bruce Weyhrauch ...... 907/465-3744 or 800 968 6744 Chair

Representatives Jim Holm .................... 907/465-3466 or 866 465 3466 Vice-Chair

Representative Nancy Dahlstrom ........ 907/465-3783 or 877 460 3783

Representative Bob Lynn ...................... 907/465-4931 or 800 870 4931

Representative Paul Seaton .................. 907/465-2689 or 800 665 2689

Representative Ethan Berkowitz ......... 907/465-4919 or 888 465 4919

Representative Max Gruenberg ........... 907/465-4940 or 866 465 4940

Sample Letters to the Legislature

(cut & paste to your hearts content!)

Dear Representative Weyhrauch,

 

Having carefully reviewed both HJR 1 and  HJR 3, I have come to the conclusion that HJR 3 is the Permanent Fund Dividend legislation favored by at least 83% of  voters.  I'm asking you now to carefully review HJR 3 and tell me what (if any) concerns you have with this particular piece of legislation.

 
If you find nothing wrong with the wording of HJR 3, will you co-sponsor or at least move it out of your committee?  I'm sure that your inaction on this issue will ultimately be seen as support for HJR 1, which is favored by only 17% of voters. Please let me know your position on this issue of great importance to all Alaskans.  Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

---

Dear Representative Weyhrauch,

Like most Alaskans I am tired of elected officials trying to convince me that our government needs the PFD more than I do.  In 1999, 83% of the voters disagreed with that nonsense, and we STILL DO!  

 

HJR 3 is the BEST piece of legislation to really protect the PFD for everyone’s benefit.  I’m sure you will agree that HJR 3 needs to come out of your committee, and be put on the ballot for ALL Alaskans to vote on.  Your failure to act on HJR 3 will be considered support for taking the PFD away from every man, woman, and child not only in your district but state wide.

 

Remember, there are only 60 of you and 630,000 of us!  Please pass this message on to your fellow legislators. 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Click here to send your message to SAVE the PFD

 

There are volunteer opportunities available in just about every village, town, and city in Alaska to help educate voters on this important issue.  If you have any additional questions, please contact the Alaska Voters Organization. 

 

Click here to see which legislators have sponsored or co-sponsored HJR 3 and/or SJR 19

 

Click here and review contributor list for the 1999 advisory vote campaign.  Remember, the vote YES committee wanted to take the PFD away.

HJR 1

HJR 1, Gives the legislature up to 6% of the PERMANENT FUND five year average value to spend as they see fit.  Sponsored by Representative Rokeberg.  This also eliminates guaranteed inflation proofing and PFD's!  This legislation promotes continued government spending at the expense of every Alaskan resident's PFD!  Recommend:  OPPOSE

HJR 26

HJR 26 will give more money to the legislature and ELIMINATE the PFD!!!  These are the latest version of Governor Murkowski's "Endowment Plan". Which will allow the legislature access to the Permanent Fund principle, and eliminate the PFD.  Sponsored by the House Rules Committee: (ROKEBERG [Chair], Coghill, Kott, McGuire, Morgan, Berkowitz, and Kerttula), by request of the Legislative Audit and Budget Committee: (Rep. SAMUELS [Chair], Sen. Therriault [Vice-Chair], Reps. Hawker, Kohring, Whitaker, and Kerttula; Sens. Ben Stevens, Bunde, Wilken, and Hoffman) by request of the Permanent Fund Board of Trustees.  Recommend:  OPPOSE

SJR 18

SJR 18 is the companion to HJR 26.  Either one can ELIMINATE your PFD!  Sponsored by the Senate Rules Committee: (COWDERY [Chair], Ben Stevens, Therriault, Ellis, and Guess), by request of the Legislative Audit and Budget Committee: (Rep. SAMUELS [Chair], Sen. Therriault [Vice-Chair], Reps. Hawker, Kohring, Whitaker, and Kerttula; Sens. Ben Stevens, Bunde, Wilken, and Hoffman) by request of the Permanent Fund Board of Trustees.  Recommend:  OPPOSE

HB 11

HB 11, Will reduce royalties from mineral leases, rentals, net profit shares, and bonuses paid to the Permanent Fund from 50% to 25%.  Sponsored by Representative Rokeberg.  The remaining 75% will go directly to the legislature!  Legislative estimates indicate $40 to $55 million each year will be diverted away from the Permanent Fund.  This estimate is based on projected oil revenues from existing fields, and does not take into account potential revenues from ANWR, NPR, existing gas reserves, new oil and gas or mineral finds, and any other future resource development.

HB 11 further illustrates this legislature's inability to reduce state government cost to a sustainable level. The legislature should NOT seriously consider this or any new funding source until ALL public money given to private businesses, individuals, municipal assistance, and non-profit organizations, has been completely eliminated from the budget.  Recommend:  OPPOSE

HB 11 was passed by the Republican controlled legislature and signed by Governor Murkowski.
 

Testimony, Related News Articles, & Public Opinion

See what the governor and politicians have said to the press:

Institutions support spending, by Mike Doogan; Anchorage Daily News. December 30, 2003

Republican "end the PFD" plan in detail, by Sean Cockerham; Anchorage Daily News.  September 18, 2003

"Permanent Fund measure receives House panel nod", By Mike Chambers, The Associated Press; Anchorage Daily News.  March 28, 2003

"Tapping the fund in focus again", by Sean Cockerham; Anchorage Daily News; March 21, 2003

"Bill could open fund to government", by Tom Moran; Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Juneau Bureau; February 25, 2003

"Education Endowment Idea Floated", by Cathy Brown AP writer; Peninsula Clarion; February 25, 2003

"Rep. Rokeberg backs taking revenues from permanent fund", by Mike Chambers AP writer; Peninsula Clarion; January 23, 2003

"Sharpened Knives, sacred cows" by Scott Christiansen and Tataboline Brant, Anchorage Press; September 9-15, 1999

"Both sides of PF debate get themselves in trouble", by Ed Schoenfeld; The Juneau Empire; September 5, 1999.  Interesting remarks by Cheryl Frasca, Governor Murkowski's Budget Chief.

"Using PF earnings for budget would put dividends at risk", By Mark Sabbatini; The Juneau Empire; March 28, 1999

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