|
|
"Spotlight on Juneau" "An Informed Voter Is The Best Defense Against Bad Government"
March 12, 2004 _______________
FAIRBANKS AREA ALASKA'S JUST SAY NO! PERMANENT FUND MEETING THIS SATURDAY
The Alaska Voters Organization 2003 public opinion survey bonus question was: "Can the Governor spend your PFD better than you"? 705 people from around Alaska responded, with 5.2% saying YES, 3.7% not sure, and a whopping 91.1% said NO!!! Once again, ALASKAN'S JUST SAY NO!
Click here and go to the current Home Page public opinion survey. _______________
KENAI AREA HOUSE DISTRICT 33 TOWN HALL MEETING
Who: Representative Kelly Wolf What: Town Hall Meeting When: Saturday, March 13, 2004 Where: Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Chambers, 144 North Binkley St. Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm _______________
MATSU/CHUGIAK/PALMER AREA TOWN HALL MEETING
Who: Representatives Carl Gatto and Bill Stoltze What: Town Meeting When: Saturday, March 13, 2004 Where: Palmer Library Time: 11 am to 2 pm
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. These meetings are a great public forum to discuss the issues facing Alaska today. _______________
RECONNECTING ALASKANS - editorial
Does it seem like your legislator is NOT listening to you? Have you ever wondered who the legislature really represents? Do you feel alone and frustrated by this "disconnect" with elected officials? Before we can make necessary changes to our political landscape, we must first begin to understand the problems. Read this editorial and find you are NOT alone, and our state government is NOT listening to ordinary citizens. _______________
PERMANENT FUND LEGISLATION BEING HEARD THIS WEEK
Monday, March 15:
Senate Finance Committee at 1:30 pm: SJR 18 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: PERMANENT FUND (POMV plan) APPROPRIATIONS/INFLATION-PROOFING <Listen Only> TELECONFERENCED
Tuesday, March 16:
A notice of reconsideration was file in the House State Affairs Committee for another vote on HJR 3. This could be taken up at their next regular meeting Tuesday 8:00 am. A majority vote would move HJR 3 on to the next committee.
Representative Seaton will most likely be the swing vote. It should be noted that by voting FOR moving a bill on does not necessarily indicate in favor of the bill. It only means that discussion should be allowed to continue. By voting AGAINST moving a bill it means further public debate should not be allowed.
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.
Senate Finance Committee at 9:00 am: SJR 19 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: PERMANENT FUND INCOME <Listen Only> TELECONFERENCED SJR 32 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: PERMANENT FUND INCOME FOR DIVIDENDS TELECONFERENCED
House Finance Committee at 1:30 pm: HJR 26 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PERMANENT FUND (POMV plan) APPROPRIATION/INFLATION-PROOFING
Senate Finance Committee at 1:30 pm: Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund <Listen Only> Teleconference SJR 24 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: GUARANTEE PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND - TELECONFERENCED
Wednesday, March 17:
House Ways & Means Committee at 7:00 am: HB 298 DISTRIBUTIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS FROM PERMANENT FUND - TELECONFERENCED
Thursday, March 18:
House Finance Committee at 8:00 am: HB 431 MUNICIPAL DIVIDEND PROGRAM TELECONFERENCED
House Finance Committee at 1:30 pm: HB 298 DISTRIBUTIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS FROM PERMANENT FUND <Pending Referral>
Friday, March 19:
House State Affairs Committee at 8:00 am: HJR 31 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT: PERMANENT FUND - TELECONFERENCED
HJR 31 is Representative Holm's short sighted plan to divide up the Permanent Fund. It would give the legislature $15 billion of the Permanent Fund to spend as it pleases. The balance would be paid out to Alaskans in a final dividend. This is a short term "fix" for the legislatures failure to address their over spending habit, but fails miserably to provide any vision or hope for Alaska's future. _______________
NEW PERMANENT FUND SAMPLE LETTER TO GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE
Click here for the latest letter in support of the Permanent Fund. Sign and send as is, or write your own. Its fast, easy, and helps remind the legislature how you feel about YOUR PERMANENT FUND!!! _______________
OTHER LEGISLATION OF CONCERN BEING HEARD IN JUNEAU NEXT WEEK
Monday, March 15:
Senate Finance Committee at 9:00 am: Teleconference <Listen Only> State's Fiscal Picture - Looking Forward Presentation by Ms. Cheryl Frasca Office of Management & Budget Director Conference of Alaskans Presentation by Mr. Mike Burns Chair Comments by Senator Ben Stevens & Senator Kim Elton
House Finance Committee at 4:00 pm: HJR 9 CONST AM: APPROPRIATION/SPENDING LIMIT
Tuesday, March 16:
Joint Senate/House Select Committee on Legislative Ethics at 8:30 am: Subcommittee Meeting on Open Meetings Teleconference <Listen Only> Review 2003 Proposed Open Meetings Guidelines
House Economic Development Special Committee at 10:00 am: HB 449 AIDEA BONDS FOR GAS PUBLIC UTILITIES - TELECONFERENCED HB 426 TOURISM & RECREATION ASSESSMENT/CAR TAX - TELECONFERENCED
House Finance Committee at 1:30 pm: HJR 9 CONST AM: APPROPRIATION/SPENDING LIMIT
House Transportation Committee at 1:30 pm: HB 392 SEAT BELT VIOLATION AS PRIMARY OFFENSE
Senate Finance Committee at 1:30 pm: Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund <Listen Only> Teleconference SJR 3 CONST AM: APPROPRIATION/SPENDING LIMIT - TELECONFERENCED
House Labor & Commerce Committee at 1:30 pm: SB 254 TOURISM & RECREATION ASSESSMENT TELECONFERENCED
Wednesday, March 17:
House Ways & Means Special Committee at 7:00 am: HB 236 EMPLOYMENT TAX FOR EDUCATION - TELECONFERENCED
Senate Finance Committee at 6:00 PM: Alaska's fiscal future - Statewide Public Testimony - TELECONFERENCED Legislative Off-Net Sites: 6 - 7 PM Statewide Public Testimony - Legislative Information Offices: 7 - 9 PM Public testimony may be limited to 2 minutes.
JUNEAU SHOULD BUILD NEW CAPITOL, RETAIN EXISTING BUILDING! 7 PM in the Juneau Assembly chambers. http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/031104/loc_capitoladvice.shtml
Thursday, March 18:
Senate Finance Sub-Committee at 12:00 pm: Governor Murkowski FY 05 budget request
House Finance Committee at 1:30 pm: HB 236 EMPLOYMENT TAX FOR EDUCATION <Pending Referral>
Senate Labor & Commerce Committee at 1:30 pm: SB 254 TOURISM & RECREATION ASSESSMENT TELECONFERENCED
Senate State Affairs Committee at 3:30 pm: HB 414 U.S. SENATE VACANCY/DEFINITION OF POLITICAL PARTY - TELECONFERENCED
Friday, March 19:
House Resources Committee at 1:00 pm: HB 395 SHALLOW NATURAL GAS - TELECONFERENCED
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. _______________
"ALASKA VOTERS PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY"
The Governor's hand picked panel of 55 have had their say on the Permanent Fund, now you can too. The same four questions put to the group of 55 are now available on the AK Voters home page public opinion survey. Click HERE scroll down the page and cast your vote! _______________
THE ALASKA VOTERS ORGANIZATION NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
Are you tired of the "spin" coming out of Juneau? Mad about the "smoke and mirror" budgets? What about those cuts to essential services while the bureaucracy gets pay raises and government contracts continue?
Between now and the fall elections our goal is to raise about $3,250,000 (only $5 from each PFD recipient!) for an educational campaign that will give every voter in Alaska access to the truth on issues of concern such as the Permanent Fund, Spending "Limits", legislative priorities, deficit budgets and legislators voting records.
The other side will spend tens of millions of dollars, a combination of public and private funds, to brainwash voters. We are able counter their massive efforts for a small fraction of the cost because Alaska Voters are true conservatives!
Alaska Voters is a grass roots organization without the benefit of deep pockets. All of our services are provided free of charge to the public through the generous support of donated staff time and monetary contributions.
Please consider a donation to help Alaska Voters make this important educational campaign become a reality. A grass roots effort is the only way to solve Alaska's fiscal problem and political disconnect. We know that the legislature will not get the job done without your input and encouragement. Help us "reconnect" Alaskans with our elected officials! Alaska Voters is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation and in most cases your donations of cash or in kind are tax deductible.
Secure electronic transfers from your bank account or credit card are available using the PayPal button above. If you prefer to send check, bank draft, or money order, please make them payable to the Alaska Voters Organization; and mail to PO Box 2016; Kenai, Alaska; 99611-2016. _______________
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! _______________
If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, send an email with QUIT written in the message box. Make sure the "reply to" address on your message is the one you want removed from our files. |
