Spotlight on Juneau

April 13, 2002

Hello Fellow Taxpayers:

There is such a spending frenzy going on in Juneau these days, its difficult deciding where to shine the spotlight next.  Due to the sheer volume this week we will provide a longer list for you to enjoy at your leisure, and a short list that requires immediate action.  If you have ever wondered why we are calling this a SPENDING PROBLEM instead of a deficit budget, then read on and become informed.

When you finish reviewing the bills listed below, take a few minutes and tell the Legislature and Governor what you think.  There are some great tools to help you contact our State government shown on the Action page.  If you have any questions about how to use anything listed there, send us a message.  We are here to help.

SB 360:  Alaska Railroad to finance construction of a Gas Pipeline.  Public funding of a private project AGAIN!  Sponsored by the Senate Resources Committee: (TORGERSON, Wilken, Halford, Stevens, Taylor, Elton, and Lincoln).  The bill is similar to HB 423 (discussed in the April 8 newsletter) which allows the Alaska Railroad finance construction of a natural gas pipeline.  Major difference is the bonding limit for SB 360 is $18 BILLION instead of $17 BILLION!

If this bill passes, Alaskan's will NOT have a vote to authorize these bond.  Why does our legislature fear the public voting on this issue?  Because SB 360 / HB 423 will FAIL just like the "private for profit prison" scams did in every community where a vote was eventually taken over the objection of local politicians!!!

SB 360 will be heard in the Senate Resources Committee; April 15, (Monday) at 3:30 PM, and again on April 17 (Wednesday) at 3:30 PM.  These are both good opportunities to submit written testimony.  Blank forms and instructions are found on the Action page.  The hearings will also be teleconferenced for those wishing to submit oral testimony.

HB 498:  Whittier Private for Profit Prison (but fully funded by us!)
Sponsored by the House Finance Committee: (MULDER/WILLIAMS, Bunde, Foster, Harris, Hudson, Lancaster , Whitaker, Croft, Davies, and Moses).  This bill gives Millions of OUR dollars ($108,000/day, $39,420,000/year) to a private Texas based corporation.  Plus WE finance the total construction cost!

Instead of the $18,000,000/year currently being spent in Arizona, we will spend $39,420,000 under this bill?  With this kind of thinking, it's no wonder we have financial problems in the State Legislature.  Maybe we should require all legislators take a basic math refresher course before they lay off all the teachers!

This bill will be heard by the House Finance Committee on April 16 (Tuesday) at 1:30 PM.  This meeting will be teleconferenced, so both oral and written testimony can be submitted.  Remember to always send your written testimony a few hours before committee meeting so it can be attached directly to the bill.  It will remain attached throughout the entire process, and every legislator working on that bill will see your comments.

HB 302:  Creates the Alaska Gas Corporation.
Sponsored by Representative Whitaker. It seems that some legislators have not heard the message about NOT using public funds for private functions.  I'm sure the replacements will be more aware of the public's mood.  Until then we can all hope that more responsible Legislators will see this for what it really is; just another expensive Pt. Mac Dairy Farm!  HB 302 will be heard by the House Resources Committee on April 15 (Monday) at 1:00 PM, and again in the House Finance Committee on April 18 (Thursday) at 1:30 PM (pending referral).  The Monday hearing will be teleconferenced, so everyone will have an opportunity to speak out on this issue.  If you are unable to participate in the teleconference, please use the written testimony form, and email to get your views heard.

The following bills will be heard during the week of April 15.  Visit the BASIS page to check hearing schedule and status of any bill.  Pay particular attention to HB 515; SJR 37; and SJR 38, which may actually be worthy of our support.

HB 506:  Legislative Immunity
HB 304:  "An Act relating to disposition of income of the permanent fund; and providing for an effective date."
HB 515:  Operating Budget Missions and Measures.  Gives legislature some leverage against the bureaucracy.
SCR 28:  Fund a salmon industry task force.
HB 403:  Operating Budget.
HB 404:  Operating Budget
SB 288:  Operating Budget
SB 289:  Operating Budget
SJR 37:  Constitutional Amendment to freeze state employee hiring
SJR 38:  Priority of Expenditures
HB 333: Extends the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
Sponsored by the House Finance Committee: MULDER/WILLIAMS, Bunde, Foster, Harris, Hudson, Lancaster, Whitaker, Croft, Davies, and Moses.  This bill will cost us $30,015,500 in fees and taxes over the next 5 years!!! Now that most utilities have been de-regulated, one must wonder why this commission is still allowed to suck up our money?  Maybe the legislature will "cut some fat", beginning with this one?

There are plenty of suggestions and tools available on our Action page.  My favorites are the Written Committee Testimony Form, POM, and Email.  All of which are fast, easy, and FREE!  We have even provided a new button which will allow you to send an email messages to the entire Legislature!  Please try out these new buttons now by telling the Legislature to "STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY"!!!

We also need to be asking why the Brits are blocking access to the Arctic Ocean in Prudhoe Bay.  They might have sub surface rights and oil leases, but can they keep us from driving on OUR roads?  Maybe its time we stop doing maintenance on the haul road and up the oil royalty fees to compensate for loss of access to State lands???

Until the next time remember to keep those POM's and Letters flooding into Juneau.  We must keep up the pressure now, or pay a BIG bill later.  The choice is clear, we must manage the legislature, as we can not AFFORD let them manage us!

Mike McBride

PS please forward this message to concerned family members, friends, neighbors, and business associates.  Ask them to do the same.  Everyone is welcome to join, and will automatically receive future issues of the "Spotlight on Juneau".

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