REPORT FROM JUNEAU:
Regular Session Final
by Senator Loren Leman
May 23, 2001

SUMMING UP: Each year the Legislature faces the challenging task of considering new legislation, requests for funds for State departments and programs and our constitutional duty to balance the budget. Now that the session is over I want to sum up our accomplishments and note some challenges we face in the future.

Our Republican Majority’s priorities—Education, Gas Commercialization and Budget Discipline--were clearly identified at the beginning of the year and we were able to make substantial progress in each area. I’ve emphasized this in previous reports and here update the results through the end of the regular session on May 8:

EDUCATION—We extended the deadline for mandatory passage of the High School Competency Exam to obtain a diploma two years (to 2004) to give time to align curricula with exam content and better prepare students. We maintained the importance of the exam in the interim by requiring recording results on student transcripts. Two bills were passed, including my SB 149, to help recruit, hire and retain teachers, and Senator Pete Kelly’s SB86 to allow for hiring of subject matter teachers. Charter school authorization was extended with supplemental funding of $2 million and Learning Opportunity Grants for books and supplies, some of which will help prepare students for the competency exam, were increased. A capital budget package for school construction included three new schools and 32 major maintenance projects, nearly all in rural Alaska.

GAS COMMERCIALIZATION—The process for approving a gas line on State Rights-of-Way was improved by a package of bills including one of my priorities, SB 121. The “Over the Top” route, which would not benefit Alaska as much as one through Fairbanks and Delta, was removed from consideration as far as the State is concerned by a bill preventing leasing State lands for the route. The Legislature provided funds to the Department of Natural Resources and the State Pipeline Coordinator’s office to prepare for permitting. We also directed the Department of Revenue to prepare a report on the possibility of the State participating in owning or financing a part of the gas line, which could increase benefits for Alaska but would also involve some financial risk.

BUDGET DISCIPLINE—Overall spending was a little higher than what I preferred, but we still trimmed $60 million from the Governor’s requested Operating Budget, keeping spending of total State funds equal to last year, adjusted for inflation and population increases. Increases in operating budget spending were specifically targeted at K-12 and University education, public safety, health and children (adoption and foster care). The capital budget total was $1.4 billion, most of this in federal funds, plus a $110 million bond package. Looking to the future, the Senate passed two Constitutional amendment resolutions to improve budget discipline. SJR 23 will lower the spending limit to a more reasonable level and SJR 24 will change the method for drawing from the Constitutional Budget Reserve if there is no increase in spending over the previous fiscal year. The current requirement that three-fourths of the Legislature must approve a CBR draw has allowed a few minority legislators to hold up the budget until spending is increased to their satisfaction. Both of these amendments were approved by the Senate and await action by the House next year.

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS—Suicide in our State is at an unacceptable level and with broad support a suicide prevention initiative was passed. We lowered the blood alcohol content for DUI to 0.08 percent and passed laws to reduce bootlegging to dry communities and underage alcohol consumption. I supported expansion of Medicaid coverage for breast and cervical cancer with a provision that the Department of Health & Social Services report on the risk factors for these cancers and how our Alaska-specific experience is causing us to be above the national average—a provision that had strong legislative support yet was misrepresented by a few in the media. We not only want to treat women with these diseases but also reduce the chances that any Alaskan woman will get breast or cervical cancer.

CRUISING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION: The Governor revised his call for a special session to begin on June 7, specifically to address a cruise ship monitoring bill that he called “a must have.” I want to keep Alaska air and water clean as much as anybody—my fishing business depends on it—but the cruise ship industry had already agreed to abide by the monitoring and reporting provisions of the bill this cruise season. It is also subject to federal monitoring by the U.S. Coast Guard. Final work on the legislation could have been completed early next year. Instead, a special session that will cost the State money and disrupt work and family schedules will be held. The legislation that I expect will pass will have no impact on cruise ship operations this summer or on the environment.

REPORT FROM ANCHORAGE: I appreciate the comments and suggestions I’ve received on my weekly “Report from Juneau” and will continue to update you by email when significant developments occur during the interim During parts of the interim I will be joining several of my legislative colleagues in assisting Arctic Power and our congressional delegation in telling the ANWR Coastal Plain story to people in other states. I am pleased that President Bush has elevated the discussion of Alaska’s North Slope as a part of the solution to America’s energy needs. Have a great summer!

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