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"Spotlight on Juneau" "An Informed Voter Is The Best Defense Against Bad Government"
April 23, 2005 _______________
NEW (short) PERMANENT FUND LETTER TO THE LEGISLATURE POSTED ON WEB SITE
The legislature is getting close to adjournment and Permanent Fund bills are flying around fast and furious. As this feeding frenzy reaches fever pitch it is important to send your message, or use one of ours, to let the legislature know how you feel about this issue.
Our latest form letter is "short and sweet". This letter can be used as is, or modified to suit your personal message. Fill in the contact information and push send button. Your message will be sent to Governor (Sky King) Murkowski and all legislators.
Click here for a direct link to the Permanent Fund message. Make sure your family, friends and neighbors also send a letter!
Background information about legislation being considered can be found in past editions of the "Spotlight on Juneau". Click here for the April 12, 2005 edition and here for the March 21, 2005 edition.
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NEW TAX ON THE KENAI PENINSULA... OR NOT?
There are a number of fundamental taxation and spending issues brewing in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. A new peninsula wide taxpayer group has formed to fight irresponsible borough spending and proposed tax increases. The group called Alliance of Concerned Taxpayers (ACT) is challenging borough fiscal policies by filing a series of initiatives that will give citizens a greater say in how much money is spent and where that money goes.
“Since Mayor Bagley was first elected to office, the borough savings account has gone from almost $30 million with a balanced budget, down to about $13 million in savings with a $7 million budget deficit. To lay all the blame for this fiscal mess on Mayor Bagley would be unfair to him, as the budget and all special appropriations require a majority vote of the assembly to pass,” said Vicki Pate an ACT spokesperson. A Peninsula Clarion article in the April 22, 2005 edition describes the status of these initiatives. Ms. Pate went on to say, "this is a multi-step process that will end with several good measures on the fall 2005 ballot".
ACT organizers plan to have a web site that will help keep citizens informed as these issues develop. The new ACT web site can be found at: www.act-kpb.org. Web designers said, "this site is under construction at the moment, but should be published very soon. Please check back in a few days". _______________
LEGISLATION OF CONCERN BEING HEARD
Friday, April 22: House Judiciary Committee at 1:00 pm: SB 87 This bill will allow State Troopers and other police to initiate a traffic stop without probable cause under the guise of checking drivers for seat belt use. This compulsory action will increase the number of traffic stops and therefore increase the time devoted to traffic stops by State Troopers and number of tickets issued. This should not be considered a public safety issue, but called what it really is, a further erosion of citizen civil rights. Introduced again this year by Republican Senator Con Bunde. Bunde was joined by fellow Republican Senators Wilken, Seekins, Wagoner, and Cowdery in co-sponsoring this pro-Gestapo measure. House Finance Committee 1:30 pm: HB 275 Is a new twist in "creative financing" for transportation bonds that clearly is attempting to elude Alaska State Constitution Article IX; Section 8, but no one in Juneau will probably notice that little problem. Introduced by the House Finance Committee.
The legislature is now on the 24 hour rule, which means that bills can be drug out for hearings on very short notice. At this time there is nothing on the AK Voters Radar Screen for this day, so check back each day for changes. Click here to see the latest schedule for this day. For "tools" to contact the legislature go to our Action page.
Saturday, April 23: House State Affairs Committee at 9:30 am: HB 48 Would require a public vote to approve full costs of building a new capitol building. Sponsored by Representatives Stoltze, Gatto, Neuman, and Lynn. HB 23 Would begin the process to find willing "host" that will build a new legislative building to be leased by the state for $1/year. Sponsored by Representative Rokeberg.
The legislature is now on the 24 hour rule, which means that bills can be drug out for hearings on very short notice. At this time there is nothing on the AK Voters Radar Screen for this day, so check back each day for changes. Click here to see the latest schedule for this day. For "tools" to contact the legislature go to our Action page.
Monday, April 25: House Ways & Means Committee at 8:30 am: HJR 2, is a major PFD raid. HJR 2 would allow creation of a new Permanent Fund for all new gas revenues. This new gas Permanent Fund specifically does NOT pay a dividend to residents of Alaska. Fortunately HJR 2 is a constitutional amendment that will require a public vote to approve. Sponsored by Representative Mike Hawker, Republican from Anchorage. House Conference Committee 5:00 pm: HB 1 Increase funding for student base allocation. Sponsored by Representatives GATTO, Chenault, Wilson, Lynn, Neuman, Thomas and Senator Wilken
The legislature is now on the 24 hour rule, which means that bills can be drug out for hearings on very short notice. At this time there is nothing on the AK Voters Radar Screen for this day, so check back each day for changes. Click here to see the latest schedule for this day. For "tools" to contact the legislature go to our Action page.
Tuesday, April 26: The legislature is now on the 24 hour rule, which means that bills can be drug out for hearings on very short notice. At this time there is nothing on the AK Voters Radar Screen for this day, so check back each day for changes. Click here to see the latest schedule for this day. For "tools" to contact the legislature go to our Action page.
Wednesday, April 27: The legislature is now on the 24 hour rule, which means that bills can be drug out for hearings on very short notice. At this time there is nothing on the AK Voters Radar Screen for this day, so check back each day for changes. Click here to see the latest schedule for this day. For "tools" to contact the legislature go to our Action page.
Thursday, April 28: The legislature is now on the 24 hour rule, which means that bills can be drug out for hearings on very short notice. At this time there is nothing on the AK Voters Radar Screen for this day, so check back each day for changes. Click here to see the latest schedule for this day. For "tools" to contact the legislature go to our Action page.
Friday, April 29: Senate Finance Committee at 9:00 am: HB 119 This legislation extends the Alaska Regional Economic Development Organizations (ARDORs) through June 30, 2013. These ARDOR's will cost $650,000 in public dollars to finance government economic development. Everyone in the real world already knows that government doesn't know a thing about economic development, but they do know how to give away our money! Introduced by the House Community & Regional Affairs Committee.
The legislature is now on the 24 hour rule, which means that bills can be drug out for hearings on very short notice. At this time there is nothing on the AK Voters Radar Screen for this day, so check back each day for changes. Click here to see the latest schedule for this day. For "tools" to contact the legislature go to our Action page.
Saturday, April 30:
The legislature is now on the 24 hour rule, which means that bills can be drug out for hearings on very short notice. At this time there is nothing on the AK Voters Radar Screen for this day, so check back each day for changes. Click here to see the latest schedule for this day. For "tools" to contact the legislature go to our Action page.
Monday, May 1:
The legislature is now on the 24 hour rule, which means that bills can be drug out for hearings on very short notice. At this time there is nothing on the AK Voters Radar Screen for this day, so check back each day for changes. Click here to see the latest schedule for this day. For "tools" to contact the legislature go to our Action page.
This is not a complete list of legislation being heard this week, only those considered by our research staff as the worst or best measures on the schedule. For a complete list of all legislation being heard this week go HERE. 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. _______________
EDITORIALS, LETTERS, & PUBLIC COMMENTS _______________
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR, SEND LETTER TO THE EDITOR, OR COMMENTS TO LOCAL RADIO AND TV
The Alaska Voters web site Links Page contains a good list making it easy to contact your legislators, send a letter to the editor, or make comments to local radio or TV. Also listed are links to the state constitution, statutes, administration, and several helpful agencies.
Letters to the editor are already addressed and subject line filled in. All you need to add is a message and push the send button. If your issue is of statewide importance, consider sending to every newspaper in Alaska. It's fast, efficient and VERY effective! _______________
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