Senate Republican Caucus Responds to Governor’s Goals in Supplemental Budget

Juneau – Members of the Senate Republican Caucus today expressed their support for many of the goals contained within Governor Sean Parnell’s FY2010 supplemental budget released today while recognizing room for increased savings and encouraging a more long-term view of state budget surpluses.

Among other spending requests, the supplemental budget bill would finish repaying the Constitutional Budget Reserve, forward-fund K-12 education for FY2011, and, in a separate bill, ask for an additional $100 million for deferred maintenance projects.

“While I recognize the importance of addressing some of the pressing needs outlined in the Governor’s supplemental budget, I strongly encourage that any spending proposals based on using a budget surplus, in this or any other year, look at that ’surplus’ in the context of a three- or five-year spending plan,” said Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage. “I think the question of whether or not it is truly a ‘surplus’ – if it is sandwiched between two or four years of deficit or even flat spending – is one we should be asking ourselves more often.”

Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River, said he is concerned about the rising cost of formula-driven spending. “I recognize that programs such as Medicaid are expanding in numbers of users, and that is reflected in the $44 million requested for formula programs. I note that the Governor did not request funding for an increase in eligibility for Denali KidCare because the bill to do so has not passed. While he and I disagree on expanding the program from 175 to 200 percent of poverty level, he may be amenable to making such an increase contingent on having a budget surplus.”

Sen. Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai, said he would support the deferred maintenance bill and expects the projects included in it to be in the public’s interest. “It makes a lot of sense to get funding approved for projects that can go to contract this spring. At the same time, the Governor needs to take another look at his $75 million request for a new crime lab, which we don’t need. That project should be on the deferred maintenance list, and the existing crime lab should be remodeled and expanded at a much lower cost, not the current $75 million projected for a new lab.”

Sen. John Coghill, R-North Pole, agreed that the Governor’s first priority should be saving surplus dollars. “I support the Governor’s request to return the $402 million to the CBR that we have borrowed over the lean years. That is what the CBR is there for. I also support any efforts to park more of the surplus in the statutory budget reserve. While that reserve is accessible with only a majority vote, it shows good faith and statesmanship on the part of legislators and the Governor to set the surplus aside. We anticipate more lean years for Alaska, with the Trans Alaska Pipeline dropping in through-put by six percent or more a year. Alaska’s leaders have done a good job in the past of saving for future generations – through the Permanent Fund, the CBR, and other set-asides – and I think we need to continue with that attitude.”

Coghill Looks Forward to New, Productive Senate Duties

Juneau – Newly-appointed Senator John Coghill, R-North Pole, today said he is looking forward to a productive relationship with his Senate colleagues, as well as getting to know his constituents throughout District F. Coghill was sworn in today in Anchorage by Lt. Governor Craig Campbell.

“I’m excited to get started building relationships with my Senate colleagues, as well as getting acquainted with the residents of House District 12,” Coghill said. “I look forward to getting to know the people, places, and policy issues important to the communities my district now encompasses. I’ve already been able to speak on Valdez Public Radio, and later this week I’m taking a road trip to attend events in Delta and Glennallen. I have enjoyed working with former Senator Gene Therriault and Representative John Harris, and I will make use of their experience.”

In the Senate, he will be a member of the Senate Judiciary and Legislative Ethics committees. “I think my committee assignments play to my strengths,” Coghill said. “I served on the House Judiciary Committee for 11 years, so I am familiar with the issues that come before that committee. I have also worked on past ethics legislation as well as serving on the Ethics Committee as a House Member.”

Coghill has represented the North Pole House District 11 in the Legislature since 1999. District 12 stretches from Eielson AFB in the north, along the Richardson Highway through Delta Junction, Paxson and Glennallen to Valdez at the southern end, and along the Glenn Highway from Glennallen through Lake Louise to the outskirts of Palmer. The two House districts make up Senate District F.

Sen. Bunde to be Honored for DNA Forensics Legislation; America’s Most Wanted Host Walsh to Present Award

Juneau – Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, will be honored in Philadelphia on July 22 for his contribution toward getting legislation passed to require DNA samples to be taken from suspected criminals when they are arrested for felonies or crimes against other persons.

The award will be presented by John Walsh, host of the television show, America’s Most Wanted, at a luncheon hosted by DNASaves.org in Philadelphia, PA. The luncheon is being held while legislators are in town for the annual convention of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

“I appreciate the honor, and am glad I was able to do my part to help modernize Alaska’s DNA database to better protect the public,” Bunde said. “It seemed to me that upon a felony arrest, a DNA sample should be taken, a modern day fingerprint, if you will. However, I will not be able to attend the luncheon, and have asked my colleague, Sen. Gene Therriault to accept this award on my behalf.”

Previous to 2007, the state’s DNA database was limited to criminals who had been convicted of a felony. As forensic DNA technology improved over time, states were able to share more DNA data with other jurisdictions, to better track criminals, and states began changing their laws to require taking DNA samples at the time of felony arrest. In 2007, during the time Bunde’s legislation to require this was being considered in committee, Kenneth Dion was arrested for the 1994 rape and murder of Bonnie Craig, providing the impetus to incorporate Bunde’s bill into an omnibus crime bill, House Bill 90.

Dion’s DNA match was made from a New Hampshire DNA database following an arrest for burglary. Karen Foster, Bonnie Craig’s mother, and others close to the Bonnie Craig case believe that if Alaska’s new DNA swabbing requirement had been in place in 1994, Dion would have been identified as the prime suspect within a year of her murder.

DNASaves.org was begun by the family of Katie Sepich, who was raped and murdered in 2003. It advocates for the adoption of laws requiring the taking of DNA samples upon felony arrest, also known as “Katie’s Laws.”

Therriault and Wagoner to Attend Legislative Energy Horizon Institute

Juneau – Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, and Sen. Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai, have been selected among 32 legislators from both the US and Canada to attend a comprehensive series of energy forums, the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute, which will examine the full spectrum of energy generation, infrastructure, regulation and government oversight. The objective of the Institute, which is sponsored in part by the University of Idaho with the support of the US Department of Energy, is to examine the complexity and policy questions surrounding current North American energy generation and distribution issues.

“It is an honor to be selected to attend the Energy Horizon Institute, which has the goal to keep a core group of policy makers up to date on the multitude of energy issues states will be wrestling with over the coming years,” Therriault said. “Energy, whether it is oil and gas, coal, electricity, or biomass, is vital to Alaska’s future, as an exporter of energy as well as for our own consumers. I look forward to putting the knowledge I gain at the Institute to work for Alaskans.”

“Maintaining a continuity of knowledgeable members in a legislative body, who are intimately familiar with the complex details you find with all energy issues, is really crucial to crafting productive, appropriate energy policy,” Wagoner said. “This is important to protecting the interests of Alaskans in these energy debates.”

Attendance at all sessions is mandatory for participants, who will receive a University of Idaho certificate at the conclusion of the program.  The first session of the program will be held in Boise, ID from July 12-16, and will include overviews of electric generation and transmission, natural gas, petroleum and strategic leadership. The program curriculum extends over a period of 18 months and will include seminar training as well as monthly “webinars” and other training materials.

“By accepting the invitation to participate in the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute, I look forward to not only bringing information back to Alaska, but also taking information about Alaska’s role in the global energy markets for members from other jurisdictions to consider” said Therriault.