Senate Opposes Listing Polar Bear as Threatened
Senate passes resolution urging other States to join

Juneau - The Senate passed a resolution today opposing a proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the polar bear as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

“It is important that we prevent listing the polar bear as threatened, not only because the designation is not clearly supported by science, but because it will be used as leverage to stop development projects across the country, including our own natural gas pipeline,” said Sen. Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks.

Senate Resolution 6 was introduced by Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, on behalf of the five members of the Senate Republican Caucus. The full Senate approved the measure today by a vote of 12 to five. Because it is expressing a position of the Senate, the resolution does not need to go to the House for consideration.

University of Alaska Fairbanks Research Associate Professor Matt Cronin, Ph.D, agrees that an endangered species listing is inappropriate.

“Recent declines in sea ice and indications that polar bears in some areas may be negatively impacted are cause for concern, but in my opinion do not warrant designation of the species as threatened with extinction,” Cronin said. “I believe that consideration of multiple hypotheses regarding the future of sea ice and polar bear populations would provide better science than reliance on one extreme case hypothesis of loss of sea ice and associated drastic declines in polar bear populations.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing polar bears as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act in the Federal Register on Jan. 9, 2007. Comments in the federal process must be submitted by April 9, 2007.

Alaska Recognized for Innovation in Education
Sen. Con Bunde to accept award on State’s behalf

Juneau - The State of Alaska has been selected to receive the 2007 Frank Newman Award for State Innovation for demonstrated excellence in shaping education policy.

“I will be honored to accept this award on behalf of the State of Alaska from Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius at the National Forum on Education Policy in Philadelphia in July,” said Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage. “I’m extremely pleased Alaska is being recognized for addressing the many challenges we have with education.”

The Education Commission of the States (ECS) created the award in 2005 in honor of the late Frank Newman, who served as ECS president for 14 years. Criteria for the award include: policies that are bold, courageous and nonpartisan, including new policies with the potential for large-scale impact, existing policies with evidence of continued support, and education improvement efforts that are replicable and hold valuable lessons for other states.

Alaska was recognized for innovative programs such as the statewide mentor project, the public school performance incentive program and the Alaska reading course.

Roderick G. W. Chu, Interim President of the Education Commission of the States, notified Gov. Sarah Palin that Alaska had been chosen for the award by letter March 26, 2007. Palin asked Sen. Bunde to accept the award in Philadelphia July 11, 2007. Kansas Gov. Sebelius is Chair of the Education Commission of the States.

Sen. Bunde is a life-long educator, was chairman of the House Special Committee on Education in 2001-2002, currently serves on the ECS steering committee, and was formerly ECS national vice president.