1998-05-31                     House Journal                      Page 4020
HB 257                                                                       
The following letter, dated May 30, 1998, was received:                        
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Phillips:                                                        
                                                                               
Under the authority vested in me by art. II, sec. 15 of the Alaska             
Constitution, I have vetoed the following bill:                                
                                                                               
SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 257(FIN)                                  
"An Act relating to elections, to election officials and election             
workers, to voter registration, and to candidates for election; and            
providing for an effective date."                                              
                                                                               
Although much of this bill contains election items which this                  
Administration introduced, it also contains a provision that represents        
the worst form of special legislation.  This provision applies to a single     
member of the Legislature.  It retroactively reverses an admitted              
violation of financial disclosure law and the Legislature's code of            
ethics.  This remedy would not be available to an ordinary citizen who         
may miss a statutory deadline.                                                 
                                                                               
The penalty for this violation is not allowing a candidate to appear on        
the ballot.  While it may seem a harsh penalty, it is the law.  No             
citizen is above the law.  I will not be a party to this abuse of the          
legislative process.                                                           
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles,                                                           
							Governor"