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Spotlight on Juneau "An Informed Voter Is The Best Defense Against Bad Government"
"Spotlight on Juneau" February 14, 2004 _______________
PERMANENT FUND LEGISLATION TO BE HEARD THIS WEEK
The House Special Committee on Ways & Means will hear HJR 31 on Wednesday February 18 at 7:00 AM. This meeting will be teleconferenced, and a list of LIO locations are provided HERE.
HJR 31 is Representative Jim Holm's plan to split the Permanent Fund with $15 Billion going to the legislature and the balance going to a one time PFD. This short-sighted, self-serving legislation does nothing to address the fundamental issue of state government over spending.
The House State Affairs Committee will hear HJR 3 on Thursday February 19 at 8:00 AM. If HJR 3 is passed by the legislature it will put a question on the fall ballot whether to add Permanent Fund earnings protection (PFD and inflation proofing) to the constitution. If approved during the general election, both principal AND earning will be protected from legislative appropriation without a vote of the people.
Public testimony has been closed by Chairman Weyhrauch on HJR 3. However the public is encouraged to contact members of this committee prior to the meeting with comments. Committee members include the following:
This is the only legislation pertaining to the Permanent Fund scheduled for hearings this week. This situation could change without notice so keep an eye open for special editions of "Spotlight on Juneau" during the week. Consider having some letters or testimony "in the can" ready to send on short notice.
Have you sent a letter to the legislature and governor to save the Permanent Fund? Send us a copy of your letter and maybe we will use it on the web site! Here is the latest letter for your consideration. Sign and send as is, or write your own. Its fast, easy, and helps remind the legislature how you feel about YOUR PERMANENT FUND!!! _______________
BILL INTRODUCED TO FUND LONGEVITY BONUS PROGRAM
Since Governor Murkowski's veto of the Longevity Bonus Program last year, many seniors have been scrambling to make ends meet. HB 352 would make their life easier by funding the senior Longevity Bonus Program through 2005. Annual appropriations could be considered for budgets beyond FY 2005.
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PERMANENT FUND MEETINGS PLANNED
Conference of REAL Alaskans to be held in Soldotna Saturday February 21
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PERMANENT FUND LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
Last year Representatives Crawford and Croft introduced HJR 3, and Senator Lincoln introduced SJR 19 in an effort to protect the Permanent Fund and PFD's from legislative appropriation. Modeled after the "2002 Hammond Initiative", if passed by the legislature either of these would put on the ballot a question of enshrining in the Alaska State Constitution the PFD as it is today. Both of these resolutions have been held up in Republican controlled committees therefore denying a public vote.
On February 4, 2004, Senator Ogan introduced SJR 24. Senator Ogan's sponsor statement can be found here: http://www.akrepublicans.org/ogan/23/spst/ogan_sjr024.php
A good comparison between SJR 24 and HJR 3/ SJR 19 can be found here: http://www.akdemocrats.org/fulltext.php?doc_id=64 It only takes a few minutes to realize the major differences between these competing resolutions. Contact the legislature now and tell them which one YOU want on the fall ballot! _______________
OTHER LEGISLATION OF CONCERN BEING HEARD IN JUNEAU THIS WEEK
Tuesday:
The House Special Committee on Trade and Tourism will hear HB 426 at 10:00 AM. HB 426 will establish a tourism and recreation tax with proceeds going to the Alaska Tourism Industry Association. If the tax generates sufficient revenue, no industry match will be required. "Free money" for this trade association, with all associated administrative cost and a fall back marketing plan provided by the state.
The House Special Committee on Education will hear HB 437 at 11:00 AM. This bill calls for state government tracking all school children, even those being privately educated. It is clearly an invasion of privacy and infringement of the freedom of Alaska citizens.
The House Transportation Committee will hear HB 392 at 1:30 PM. This invasion of civil liberties will repeal AS 28.05.095 (e) and allow police to stop a moving vehicle to check compliance with seat belt laws. This means anyone can be stopped at anytime without probable cause!
Friday: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear HB 31 at 8:00 AM. This legislation will make citizen initiatives more difficult. Under this proposed change only well financed groups will have the resources necessary to do initiatives. The public's voice may be eliminated completely. For a complete list of all legislation being heard this week go HERE. For "tools" to contact the legislature go to our Action page. Most of these meetings will be teleconferenced, and a list of LIO locations are provided HERE. To watch or listen to committee hearings online go HERE.
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GOVERNOR'S "CONFERENCE OF ALASKANS" ENDS WITH NO SURPRISES
Governor spends $300,000+ of public money in attempt to come up with sugar coated version of POMV. The resulting resolution to "enshrine" the PFD in our constitution means absolutely nothing as written. The REAL impact of any POMV plan is shown HERE in easy to understand language. This chart compares POMV legislation to other plans and current Permanent Fund management practices.
Results of the conference can be seen HERE. It is interesting to see how much opposition to the POMV plan was written in the public comments section! It seems these "hand picked" delegates were about as responsive to public opinion as many elected officials! _______________
Please forward this message to everyone you know in Alaska, and ask them to do the same. Everyone is welcome and strongly encouraged to join AK Voters. It is absolutely FREE to join, and each member automatically receives future issues of the "Spotlight on Juneau ". Working together we CAN and WILL make a positive difference for Alaska's future! _______________
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