Caucus Responds to Resignation of Regent Hayes
Members relieved that board can focus on university

Juneau – Members of the Senate Republican Caucus appreciate Jim Hayes’ decision today to step down from the University of Alaska Board of Regents.

Hayes’ resignation came two days after the first hearing of a resolution introduced by Sen. Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai, that directed the State House to begin an impeachment trial. Prior to introduction of the resolution in late February, the caucus attempted to get a commitment from the administration that Mr. Hayes could step down without admitting guilt and possibly be considered for the next open regent seat, if and when his name was cleared.

“Sen. Wagoner held off of introducing his resolution for at least two weeks while we tried to advance a proposal that would allow Mr. Hayes to step down gracefully. We approached Mr. Hayes with what we thought was a reasonable offer, and he turned us down. After he refused, we felt it was appropriate for this body, our branch of government, to take the steps outlined in the constitution to resolve situations such as this,” said Senate Minority Leader Gene Therriault.

“On February 25, the day before Sen. Wagoner introduced his resolution, I contacted Jim with a proposal I thought would be acceptable to the Governor and best for all parties involved. When Mr. Hayes declined, we decided to proceed with the resolution,” Wilken said.

“We tried our level best to come up with a mechanism so that no one had to admit to guilt, no one lost face, the right thing would be done, and the board would have a full complement of regents functioning on behalf of the university while Mr. Hayes mounted his defense,” Sen. Wagoner said.

“We regret Mr. Hayes didn’t respond when we approached him about stepping down earlier,” Therriault said. “We’re relieved he has taken this step and hope enough time remains for the governor to submit a replacement name before the joint floor session on confirmations scheduled for May 14.”

Caucus Attempts to Alter 90-Day Session Bill
Senate Rejects Amendments to House Bill 171

Juneau – The Senate rebuffed attempts today to change the start date of the legislative session back to January, to allow an interim legislative committee to designate where the legislature convenes, and to tighten rules for budget transfers within the legislature.

Individual members of the Senate Republican Caucus offered the amendments to a bill making modifications to accommodate voter approved 90-day legislative sessions beginning next year.

Sen. Tom Wagoner, R-Kenai, offered an amendment to reinstate the second Monday in January as the start of the session. The start date was changed to February in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

“Every year, school districts plead to know their funding levels so they don’t have to ‘pink slip’ teachers. Ending a session in mid-April provides an extra month from the normal time frame for their budget planning efforts,” Sen. Wagoner said. He also noted an earlier session could encourage more people to run for office because they can get back to seasonal jobs, and would avoid delaying the beginning of field work under the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act if the bill allows for a 60-day review period.

An amendment offered by Sen. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, would allow the legislative council to designate the location where the legislature will convene every year. Legislative council is a permanent interim committee that provides full-time technical assistance to the legislature.

“Our existing statute requiring the legislature to convene at the capital is too restrictive. It doesn’t take into account outside forces such as natural disasters or other unexpected events, so this gives us latitude,” Sen. Bunde said.

“We often hear from constituents that the capital is too far away, and access is limited to only those who can afford to travel to Juneau. I know I’m not the only legislator who hears this. I’m surprised my fellow colleagues from Anchorage and around the state could not support this amendment,” Bunde said.

Senate minority leader Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, tried to amend a section of the bill relating to how money is shifted within the legislature’s budget. House Bill 171 allows the legislative council to transfer money from a legislative committee with the written approval of the chairman of the committee. Therriault’s amendment would require the approval of a majority of the members of the committee.

“We are always leery of agencies shifting money around. It seems reasonable that we, the legislature, should also do so in a thoughtful manner with the consent of a majority of the members of the committee from which the money is being transferred,” Therriault said.

“I’m not sure what long-term problem the majority is trying to solve with this change in statute, but if we do make a change in our statutory authority to shift money around, it should at least be through a deliberative process,” Therriault said.

Sound actualities can be downloaded from the following links:
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/wagoner2007042701a.mp3
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/wagoner2007042702a.mp3
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/wagoner2007042703a.mp3

Resolution to Expedite Point Thomson Appeal Progresses
SCR 3 moves from Senate Judiciary Committee

Juneau -  A resolution asking the governor and attorney general to allocate adequate resources and take all steps necessary to expedite the court’s consideration of ExxonMobil’s Point Thomson appeal advanced to the Senate Rules Committee today.

SCR 3 moved from the Senate Judiciary Committee today after the committee modified the language to clarify that resolving the issue out of court is acceptable and encouraged, a change supported by resolution sponsor Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole.

“It was never my intention to indicate that the Legislature was itching for a court battle over Point Thomson. We are most interested in getting the area into development and production for the benefit of the state’s citizens,” Therriault said.

ExxonMobil is appealing the final decision by the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources to deny ExxonMobil’s proposed plan to develop the Point Thomson Unit and to terminate the Point Thomson unit.

On October 27, 2005, the director of the State Division of Oil and Gas rejected the Twenty-second plan of development from operator ExxonMobil Production, and found the Point Thomson unit in default for lack of an approved plan of development. On November 27, 2006, the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources terminated the unit.

ExxonMobil, as the operator of the unit and as a lessee, along with BP Exploration, Chevron U.S.A. and ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc., are appealing

the commissioner’s November 27, 2006 decision and the December 27, 2006 denial of reconsideration to Superior Court.

SCR 3 is co-sponsored by senators Tom Wagoner, Gary Wilken and Fred Dyson, all members of the Senate Republican Caucus.

Task Force on Human Trafficking Presentation

Juneau – The federally mandated “Task Force on Human Trafficking” will make a report to Alaska legislators on Tuesday, April 24, at noon in the Butrovich Room of the State Capitol.

Scores of women and children are prostituted in Alaska every day. The Task Force has been working on this horrendous problem for nearly two years and will be making a report to Alaska legislators and others interested in attending.

The Task Force, consisting of FBI, troopers, local police officers, child protection workers and social service providers, will detail the magnitude of the problem, what is being done to apprehend those who promote prostitution, and what we can do to help stamp out this ugly exploitation of children and women in the state. The Task Force will show video footage and plans to have testimony of children forced into prostitution in our communities. There will be some restrictions on cameras because of the presence of undercover agents.

A Fact Sheet is attached for SB 157 below, the legislation was introduced by Sen. Fred Dyson last week to address recommendations of the Task Force.
http://www.aksenateminority.com/pdfs/25/sb0157.pdf

Boy Scouts, Military, ROTC Allowed in Schools

Juneau – The Senate today inserted conditional language into the operating budget that ensures that the Boy Scouts, military and federal recruiters, and ROTC programs will continue to have access to public schools in Alaska.

“In other states, school boards have banned some or all of these organizations from access to or use of public school buildings on a variety of philosophical grounds. To my knowledge this has not been an issue in Alaska yet. I believe it has been a topic of discussion at the school board level, but no actions have been taken. This qualifying budget language was in last year’s budget and I believe it was left out inadvertently last year. The amendment was accepted unanimously,” said amendment author Sen. Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River.

Sen. Dyson said he was pleased that the majority coalition recognized the value of this policy position and the widespread support amongst Alaskans for ROTC, the Boy Scouts, and service in the military and various federal law enforcement agencies.

A sound actuality can be downloaded from the following link:
http://www.aksenateminority.com/media/25/dyson2007042001a.mp3