1995-04-13                     House Journal                      Page 1310
HB 137                                                                       
The following letter, dated April 11, 1995, was received:                      
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Phillips:                                                        
                                                                               
On this date I have signed the following bill with line item vetoes and        
reductions, and am transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to           
the Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing:                         
                                                                               
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 137(FIN) am                               
S(efd fld S)                                                                   
"An Act making supplemental appropriations for the expenses of                
state government; making capital appropriations; amending                      
operating appropriations; making appropriations to the disaster                
relief fund and to the Alaska marine highway system fund."                     
                                                                               
Chapter No. 4, SLA 1995                                                       
[Effective Date:  July 10, 1995]                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
I am happy to approve almost all of the appropriations in this bill.           
Although we will have difficulties in dealing with some of the                 
reductions made to our requests, I commend the departments and                 
Legislature for keeping current year expenditures in check.                    
                                                                               
The reductions I have made are as follows:                                     

1995-04-13                     House Journal                      Page 1311
HB 137                                                                       
Section 1:  I have exercised my line item reduction/veto authority by          
amending the amounts appropriated to the Department of Law for                 
payment of oil and gas legal proceedings.  With the recent settlement          
of the North Slope royalty case, the department will be able to reduce         
trial costs for the remainder of the year.  The actual savings are greater     
than this line item reduction, but legislative cuts taken from our             
original request offset most of those savings.                                 
                                                                               
Section  36:  This section provided additional operating funds for the         
Alaska Marine Highway System by reappropriating capital project                
funds that deal with the replacement of the marine highway system              
administration building.  The Department of Transportation and Public          
Facilities has confirmed that with current reduced service levels and          
continued tight fiscal controls that were implemented after this               
Administration took office, adequate operating funds will be available         
for the remainder of the year.  Additionally, the funds need to remain         
in the administration building capital project to provide an alternative       
to an inadequate and potentially dangerous situation.  Recent structural       
problems with the existing building have reinforced the critical need          
for a safe and adequate facility.                                              
                                                                               
Section 41:  This section for the Alaska court system is also reduced          
to reflect the settlement of the North Slope royalty case.  Adequate           
funds are left to cover the retroactive pay increase for certain               
magistrates and for actual costs of a law clerk and a file clerk related       
to trial preparation.                                                          
                                                                               
Section 51 and 52:  I have vetoed the sections providing intent                
language but not due to the content of that language.  In fact, those          
departments involved plan to proceed with this guidance and they will          
keep you informed of their progress.  Veto of these sections relates           
more to the distinction between the appropriation responsibilities of the      
Legislature and the policy responsibilities of the Executive Branch.           
Also, language that could be considered substantive legislation needs          
to remain separated from appropriation bills.                                  
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"