Legislators prepare bills for upcoming session
Published Monday, January 12, 2009
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS - Although tightening the state budget under the shadow of falling oil prices is expected to dominate the 26th Legislature, a bundle of pre-filed bills address everything from Permanent Fund investments to the feasibility of compressed natural gas-powered cars.
As of Friday, lawmakers had pre-filed 61 House bills and 53 Senate bills, plus a handful of resolutions. A second bundle of pre-filed bills is expected by the end of the week, a few days before the session opens Jan. 20 in Juneau.
Sen. Gene Therriault, a North Pole Republican, said the state’s budget and spending on all programs will be the big issue this year. A special oil tax structure used a progressive formula, so the state collected higher taxes when oil prices skyrocketed.
“Now the flip side of that is when the price per barrel comes down, progressivity goes away,” Therriault said. “We’ve got to redouble our efforts to hold the line on spending.”
More thorough assessments of how new legislation will impact state budgets long-term could be the major decider in which bills pass.
“That will impact individual pieces of legislation,” he said. “How much does it cost? Is it affordable in the long term?”
Already, three bills have been filed addressing the high costs of public employee benefit systems. Retirement funding for public employees was a key campaign issue for some legislators. The bills — two from the House, one from the Senate — all repeal the defined benefit pension system and call for alternatives.
“You will see a definite discussion on that,” said Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole. “Whether it actually comes to a solution remains to be seen. The House and the Senate are split on it, and the House is split. It’s going to be a very intense discussion.”
While members of the Interior delegation say the state’s fiscal health will be the priority for the 26th Legislature, they also expect to delve into energy, natural gas pipelines and retirement deals for state employees, among other issues.
Rep. Scott Kawasaki, D-Fairbanks, joined four other House Democrats in sponsoring HB59, which would establish a statewide early childhood education plan. If the bill passes, the state Department of Education and Early Development would have until January 2010 to present such a plan to the legislature.
Coghill has pre-filed bills that would change the definition of partial birth abortion and require parental consent for teen abortions.
This isn’t the first time he’s raised the controversial issue in his 10-year legislative career.
“I will be pushing that again,” he said, acknowledging that the Senate likely will be no more receptive than it has in past years.
Therriault, with Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, has similar bills pre-filed in the Senate.
The North Pole senator has advanced several other bills, including ones to extend the life of the Board of Public Accountancy and the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, and to follow through on identify-theft protections he and Coghill worked through the lawmaking body last year.
He’s also pre-filed SB48, which would give road commissioners some leniency under public meetings rules when the weather forces fast decisions.
Reps. David Guttenberg,
D-Fairbanks, and Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks, said they haven’t pre-filed bills but are working on legislation they’ll introduce after the session starts.
A sampling of other pre-filed bills:
• House Bill 14 would make the malamute the official state dog. Only nine states have official dog breeds, according to www.netstate.com, which lists the Catahoula leopard dog in Louisiana, the Boston terrier in Massachusetts and the Chesapeake Bay retriever in Maryland.
• Rep. Berta Gardner,
D-Anchorage, has pre-filed HB 15, which would ban minors from using cell phones while driving.
• Rep. Harry Crawford,
D-Anchorage, wants to up the minimum age for buying or possessing tobacco to age 21. State law makes a misdemeanor of selling or providing tobacco to people under 19 years.
• Reps. Kurt Olson, R-Kenai, and Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau, are sponsoring a bill that would eliminate the coin-flip to determine a winner in tied races for state legislative office. If approved, the bill would require a special election as a run-off.
• Sen. Bettye Davis, D-Anchorage, is supporting SB14, which would extend a year-long suspension of the state gas tax through Aug. 31, 2011. The tax break was offered last year to help offset high energy costs shouldered by Alaskans.
• SB22 would add a 15-cent fee to each disposable plastic bag a retailer gives a customer, including for groceries, dry cleaning and take-out restaurant food. The proposal by Sen. Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, would direct revenue from the fee to the state litter and marine debris reduction and recycling fund.
• Iditarod race finishers could purchase special license plates if SB50, pre-filed by Sen. Charlie Huggins, R-Wasilla, is approved.
Contact staff writer Rena
Delbridge at 459-7518.
Community Discussion
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Rep. Olson is on a good track with respect to election reform. A logical extension of his proposal would be to require all offices a 50% + 1 vote requirement. Majority representation can only be accomplished with majority vote; a run-off election, in plurality general election contests, is the appropriate solution.
For decades, the state has taken up the responsibility of regulating and setting the framework of elections and ballot access. As long as elections are deemed a function of the state, the fairest infrastructure and processes should be established.
Run-off elections eliminate the effect of "spoilers" and perennial candidates, and guarantee the electorate has the final say.
Let's make this Coghill's last term. He's embarrassingly rightwing, even for the Interior. With so many critical issues facing our state, why is he focusing on these fringe non-issues??
I'm all for raising the standing of my loyal (albeit stubborn and strong-willed) malamute to the status of 'State icon,' but do we really need an additional verse to the State anthem, or to criminalize those who consensually sell tobacco to young adults??
No, I'm not a cigarette smoker. And no, it's not because the Big Bad Man in Blue put a gun to my head and flashed a blindingly shiney badge, either.
Sheesh folks!! Haven't we been protected from ourselves enough already?? Aren't the courts already clogged sufficiently with 'do-gooder' BS??
And John; Don't want an abortion?? Don't get one... But if you touch my wife's or my daughter's uterus, then we're gonna' go at it.. Guar-ON-teed...
I like Malamutes okay, but it seems to me the hard-driving Goldstream Valley Huskey Mutt would be a more appropriate state dog for the Interior. Wonder if we could get a legislator to file this most important pre-bill for us? After all, isn't it discrimination to prefer Dirk's Malemute over my Huskey Mutt? My Mutt has a birth certificate that proves she was born in the US. Betcha Dirk's dog only has a fake birth certificate.
I doctored my malamute's birth certificate and AKC papers so that he'd attract less attention, back when he was transporting contraband into Alaska from the Canadian White Mtns. But no one knows about that except 'that guy we call Mike' over near Snag Jct.
Who are you, really???!!
I should probably add here that since his life of crime, my malamuite has entered the witness protection program, and if you should see a gigantic dog, looking much like a distorted and humiliated poodle, but not quite, that's not really him.. He's not here anymore. Seriously. I mean it... Promise...
Gee Whiz,
Now how did this little item (HB 44) not merit front and center?
;
14 ALASKA NATURAL GAS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: LEGISLATIVE &n bsp;
15 AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL OF BONDS FOR NATURAL GAS PROJECTS TO
16 ENSURE ENERGY SUFFICIENCY. (a) The Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority is
17 authorized to issue bonds under the power granted to it in AS 41.41.300 to acquire a gas & nbsp;
18 supply, develop the Cook Inlet and Fairbanks markets, and plan, permit, and design gas
19 transmission systems to mitigate gas shortfalls and ensure energy sufficiency for Alaskans.
20 The maximum principal amount of bonds that the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority
21 may issue under this section is $250,000,000. The Alaska Natural Gas Development
22 Authority may issue the bonds in a single issuance or in several issuances, without limitation
23 as to number of issuances or timing, and as the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority
24 determines best furthers the purpose of financing the projects described in this section. The&nbs p;
25 Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority shall negotiate with interested parties and shall
26 enter into agreements with interested parties to provide revenue sufficient to accomplish the
27 purposes described in this subsection. ;
28(b) This section constitutes the approval required by AS 41.41.320 for the issuance of
29 the bonds described in this section.
The point being, people, the Governor limited ANGDA to $5 mil, the legislature with public support, will actually make reasonably priced energy happen with your support.
Let's get it on...
Alright.. I can't stand the pressure!! I admit it!! His father was an African basenji; a barkless freak whom his mother befriended one night when she was down on her luck, suicidal, and on the road. It was a one-night affair.
She gave birth to him in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica, delivered by a vet who was intoxicated on rum and high on cocaine. Most of his siblings died, but I knew that he was meant to be a champion, so I brought him back Alaska, smuggled aboard a tuna boat that was coming up for seasonal halibut charters. I later arranged to forge the AKC papers and related certificates.
I had the best of intentions. The rest is history.. Can he still be a champion?? A state icon??.. Please don't rob him of his potential!! He's come so far!!.. (both literally and figuratively..)
HB 15 I would guess that minors can handle multi-tasking, driving , cell phones, much better than us old dogs. Distracted driving is already on the books, why add more BS? If this is all they have to do in Juneau, (pre-filed bills) then they should just stay home and save us all some money...
Copper_River_Red - Thanks for the update on the ANGDA bond issue legislation. This is possibly the most important piece of legislation to slide down the legislative ways in years. Let's hope it has smooth sailing. Hopefully it's just a formality.
Failed to mention that a bill to reintroduce the death sentence in Alaska has been introduced. One of the things that is going to get hit next in this economy is bonds. Unless a bond is protected by the Feds who will invest in small communities or States that have failing economy. Let's face it with Alaska crude down to a level that will not pay the current cost of government, these legislators need to do some serious thought about the future economy for this State. The PDF has lost over 10 billion and is still falling. Let's get serious in Juneau and begin to look at the fact, who is going to pay for all these entitlements and State employees and retirements in the future.
Where does Scott think that the money to add pre school for everyone will come from?
Incoming House Speaker Mike Chenault (R-Nikiski) has prefiled a capital punishment bill. It faces opposition from the usual Democrats, for the usual reasons, but, given the status of Chenault will at least be heard in the House.
This, arguably, would be a positive step for those of us sickened by recent violent crime in Fairbanks. Already the argument is being made about the expense of appeals and a history of accused being cleared by DNA evidence. However, couldn't that same DNA evidence be used to positively determine guilt, and thus expedite the appeals process? A capital punishment bill would not require that all violent offenders by executed. There would be guidelines for the prosecution and the courts.
I don't have an opinion about the important malamute issue. I like labs and mutts, but can come up with no reason for them to be the State Dog.
glow---
You say "embarrassingly rightwing" as though that's a bad thing. Since the majority of voters in North Pole keep electing John Coghill, I would have to think that they are not embarrassed, but rather find Rep. Coghill representative of their "fringe" views and values. He probably wouldn't win in Esther, but that's a different kettle of fish.
While these legislators seek to cut the State employees pensions Sen. Gene Therriault and Rep. John Coghill are meeting with the CATO/Koch Industries in a "closed-door meeting" in Anchorage on Jan 14 to cut the price of Alaskan royalty Oil to the North Pole Refinery.
======================================
Flint Hills spokesman Jeff Cook told Platts his company has decided it cannot make investments needed to upgrade the refinery to achieve efficiencies and was now attempting to sell the plant as well as renegotiate terms in the royalty contract.
Flint Hills is to review the refinery's operating problems in a
"closed-door meeting" with legislators January 14 in Anchorage.
http://www.platts.com/Oil/News/6052608.x...
=============================
“Now the flip side of that is when the price per barrel comes down, progressivity goes away,” Therriault said. “We’ve got to redouble our efforts to hold the line on spending.”
More thorough assessments of how new legislation will impact state budgets long-term could be the major decider in which bills pass.
“That will impact individual pieces of legislation,” he said. “How much does it cost? Is it affordable in the long term?”
Already, three bills have been filed addressing the high costs of public employee benefit systems. Retirement funding for public employees was a key campaign issue for some legislators. The bills — two from the House, one from the Senate — all repeal the defined benefit pension system and call for alternatives.
“You will see a definite discussion on that,” said Rep. John Coghill, R-North Pole. “Whether it actually comes to a solution remains to be seen. The House and the Senate are split on it, and the House is split. It’s going to be a very intense discussion.”
Dirk -
That was great! Sounded kind of like Dr. Evil's history... Basenji are poopy diaper munchers by the way - I know from gross experience.
I think that changin cigarette purchases to 21 will further clog the court system with minor offenses and will go against the national norm. Is this guy focused on fringe issues or what?
Maybe we should move the drining age to 23 instead of 21 - theres another bill for us.
How about we change the driving age from 16 to 18?
I know, what if we set a curfew for native downtown? With some of the posters on here lately....
Many of us support John Coghill's effort to change the abortion and parental consent laws in Alaska. That is why we continue to elect him. Isn't representative government wonderful?! We all get a voice in our government.
There is a suggestion to increase the Legislator's salaries, that I assume will be in the list of Funding Bills this year, too??? Might be about time that Alaskans get some work out of our elected officials before we hand out "pink slips" instead of "bonuses".
News_Miner: Did you mean "repeal the defined contribution" for "repeal the defined benefit" retirement system?
If not, please print additional information on plans to gut the existing retirement from current retirees. I guess that would be one way to force old folks to flee the state.
Of interest, the trade unions still have defined benefit plans.
I just want to know what, if anything, Kawasaki did in his last two years in the legislature? And, while you're at it, what has Gutenberg done in th six years he has been in office? These boys have "introduced" bills so they can get their names in the paper. However, you never read that any of their efforts actually pass. Could it be that they are totally ineffective? At least Kawasaki goes to meetings having shaved that day and with his shirt clean and pressed and his hair combed into a topknot. Looks like Fairbanks will get short shrift again this year.
"House Bill 14 would make the malamute the official state dog."
Nobody here ever associated with Lathrop High School I see? Just thought it was interesting the spelling of "malemute"...
The official spelling is Alaskan Malamute, and it should be capitalized because it is the proper name of an AKC-recognized breed. Lathrop High School has been teaching people for years to spell it wrong. The name Malamute is an adaptation of Mahlemuit, the Eskimo people who were the original owners of these dogs, which originaled in the Kotzebue Sound area.
I think Labs are representative of a significant portion of our population and should be recognized.
Meth Labs that is.
i think that Early childhood education is very important. i don't think you would need to do to much. instead of making a whole new system, you could maybe just subsidize daycares that are doing good, which would allow them to pay the people who watch children more than 9 or so dollars an hour.
There is no reason to wait to educate children until 5. i know some of you are going to say you educate your own children and that's cool, but maybe some don't have the time, or the education level to do it. our country would be so much better if every kid who entered kindergarten could read, write, count, etc.
way to go scott!
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Education. Meth labs. Abortion. Parental consent. Safe driving. But what's REALLY important is our State Dog. People!!! This is important! Dirk has a dog that's an illegal alien, delivered by a drug-addicted vet, smuggled into the US through lies and bribery. Worst of all, <organ music plays in background, building a sense of creeping dread> Dirk's dog is not really a Malemute. He's a *halfbreed*. There. I've said it.
If we make Malemutes the state dog, I demand DNA testing of Dirk's dog. To paraphrase Rep. John Coghill, I can think of no better way to invest Alaska's money than to test the DNA of Dirk's dog! (John Coghill, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 03-18-07)
Mutts for State Dog in 2009!
Are you sure Dirk's dog isn't only 1/8 Malamute??? Maybe he just LOOKS like a Malamute...... He could be our First Malamute president, er, I mean First Dog!
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