04/13/1999 08:03 AM House STA

HJR 26 - ALASKA MARITIME BOUNDARY WITH CANADA                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR JAMES announced her intention of moving from committee House                                                              
Joint Resolution No. 26, relating to establishing maritime                                                                      
boundaries with Canada.  She noted that it had been held over to                                                                
address the concerns of Representatives Hudson and Kerttula.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Number 0751                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON explained that he had wanted to find out                                                                  
whether this would interrupt the ongoing Alaska-Canada salmon                                                                   
negotiations.  Although he wasn't able to get a final answer, he'd                                                              
received correspondence from the Alaska Trollers Association                                                                    
indicating they support resolution of this boundary dispute.                                                                    
Because he had no indication that it would adversely affect the                                                                 
ongoing negotiations, he was withdrawing his resistance to moving                                                               
the resolution from committee.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Number 0762                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA told members, "My staff talked with the                                                                 
Department of Fish and Game, and their sense of it was that it's a                                                              
good thing to state that Alaska should be part of these                                                                         
negotiations, but with the budget cuts ... and less staff to do it,                                                             
they're not really sure how this is going to affect it.  And I                                                                  
guess I take the opposite point of view:  I don't have any                                                                      
indications that it's a good thing for us to be trying to get                                                                   
involved."  She said it is a sore issue, and she maintains her                                                                  
objection.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 0770                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN made a motion to move CSHJR 26(WTR) from                                                                    
committee with individual recommendations and the attached zero                                                                 
fiscal note; he asked unanimous consent.  There being no objection                                                              
to moving the resolution, CSHJR 26(WTR) moved from the House State                                                              
Affairs Standing Committee.