Poll Shows Alaskans Support Keeping Exit Exam by 3-1 Margin

Juneau – A recent Dittman public opinion poll commissioned by Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, shows that 74 percent of Alaskans support keeping the High School Graduation Qualifying Exam, also known as the exit exam. Currently there is a bill in the Legislature that would repeal the exit exam.

Bunde, who authored the original exit exam language when it was passed into law in 1997, said the Dittman poll results clearly indicate that the public still supports the exam as a way to ensure that possessing a high school diploma means graduates can demonstrate basic competency in reading, writing and arithmetic.

“Currently in the Senate, there is, in my view, a misguided effort to do away with the high school graduation qualifying exam. This poll shows that three-quarters of the people of Alaska do not want it to go away,” Bunde said. “That’s a pretty substantial level of support.”

Bunde said the idea to do away with the test is rooted in a well-intended push by some groups representing students who have had a difficult time passing the exam.

“Last year there were 8,008 graduates who passed the exit exam and received a high school diploma. At the same time there were 270 high school seniors who were unable to pass the exit exam, and therefore received a certificate of attendance,” Bunde said. “So, the question is, should we dilute the value of the diploma for the thousands who passed it just to accommodate the few who do not? I don’t think we should, and clearly, almost three-quarters of the Alaska public don’t think we should, either.”

The Dittman poll was conducted February 9-22, 2010. The bill to repeal the exit exam, SB 109, recently passed out of the Senate Education and the Community and Regional Affairs committees and is currently sitting in the Senate Finance Committee.

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.”

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.”

Senate Republicans: TC Alaska/ExxonMobil Agreement
Positive For Alaska and Gas Pipeline

NORTH POLE – The Senate Republican Caucus provided the following comments on today’s announcement by TC Alaska and ExxonMobil regarding their agreement on the Alaska North Slope Gas Pipeline project.

“Certainly today’s announcement is very positive for Alaska and the country.  While it appears that this agreement honors the terms of AGIA while advancing an Alaska Gasline project, we will be very interested to look more closely at all the details, to be assured that the state’s “must haves” in AGIA will be protected.  I appreciate that their announcement continues to acknowledge the possibility of an LNG option that includes a liquefaction facility in Valdez,” said Sen. Gene Therriault, R – North Pole.

While several key aspects of the announcement are worthy of highlighting, such as TC-Alaska remaining the licensee under AGIA, and the open season timeline continues on schedule, Therriault noted, “This agreement marks a serious breakthrough for the gas pipeline project in that ExxonMobil’s partnering acknowledges that TransCanada’s ability to advance a project using the Northern Pipeline Act (NPA) is a significant advantage compared to the National Energy Board (NEB) process in Canada.  For years legislators were told by some that there was no advantage to using the NPA rather than the standard approval process of the NEB.”

“Throughout this process we always predicted that TransCanada and the companies would come together and negotiate an agreement.  This announcement today between TC-Alaska and Exxon goes a long way towards a commitment to see this project through,” said Sen. Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai.

“I am hopeful that today’s announcement will quiet those who appear to have been hoping for failure of the AGIA process,” said Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage.

“We look forward to the continued development of solid construction cost data which the state and other interested parties will need as we approach an open season in 2010,” said Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River. “Construction of the pipeline is still not assured; however, this agreement is a real step forward.”

Senate Republican Caucus: Governor Right to Question Federal Stimulus Dollars that Would Result in Huge Long-Term Operating Budget Commitments

JUNEAU – In light of Governor Sarah Palin’s announcement today that she would accept only $514 million of $930 million offered to Alaska in federal stimulus dollars, members of the Senate Republican Caucus endorsed her approach to keep the state operating budget under control.

“The Governor has said she would accept only those dollars offered for capital projects and is just saying ‘no’ to most of the funding for expansion of government programs,” said Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole. “I think this is a responsible course to take. She may be criticized for refusing more than $400 million in available funding, but by doing so, we will avoid an unsustainable expansion of programs on into the future. I appreciate that she is going to work with the Legislature to review those projects and dollars she questioned, to see if there is a balance we can reach between the strings that are attached and what is in the best interest of Alaskans.”

“This offer from the Congress and the Obama administration is a little bit like having way too much to drink,” said Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage. “A good time may be had by all, but the hangover the next day, and the consequences of what you did while you were drunk, may be with you for a long, long time.”

“The Governor made it clear that the direction she is taking with the federal stimulus dollars only pertains to the State of Alaska, and does not impact any funding for which municipalities, nonprofits, tribal organizations, and other community entities may otherwise be eligible,” said Sen. Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai. “I think part of the job of the Legislature, along with the administration, is to help those local entities identify available grants that are funded through the stimulus package, and apply for those dollars if they do not create an on-going commitment that the local organization cannot sustain.”

“The U.S. economy is going through an especially rough patch, so we have to be very careful how we apply this stimulus,” said Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River. “In addition, we hope the public will understand the strings that are attached to some of these carrots. For example, one program would get us $28 million, but requires us to adopt a statewide international building code. While a one-size-fits-all code may work in smaller states, the climate and geography in Alaska is so varied that local governments need flexibility in their areas. Through our legislative process, we will determine if we want to take on this requirement.”

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