1998-05-07                     Senate Journal                      Page 3857
SB 307                                                                       
Message dated and received May 7 was read, stating:                            
                                                                               
Dear President Miller:                                                         
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. II, sec. 15 of the Alaska Constitution, I          
have vetoed the following bill:                                                
                                                                               
HOUSE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 307(RLS)                                         
amH An Act relating to conditions for filling                                  
vacancies in the office of United States senator; and                          
providing for an effective date.                                               
                                                                               
This bill changes the way the Governor of Alaska may fill a vacancy            
in the office of United States senator by requiring the appointee be           
of the same political party as the person who vacated the office.              
The qualifications a person must meet in order to serve as a United            
States senator are set out in the United States constitution.  The             
Alaska Constitution places no further restrictions on the                      
qualifications.  With this bill, the Legislature has politicized the           
process of selection.                                                          
                                                                               
This change has the effect of excluding at least 75 percent of                 
Alaskans from eligibility to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy as no one              
party in the state claims more than 25 percent of registered voters.           
I believe the character of a person is far more important than party           
affiliation.  I see no reason to change the current practice for               
appointing U.S. Senate vacancies, which has historically served                
Alaskans well.                                                                 
                                                                               
					Sincerely,                                                                
					/s/                                                                       
					Tony Knowles                                                              
					Governor