03/03/2009 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB58 | |
| HJR12 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 94 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HJR 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 58 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 3, 2009
9:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Kevin Meyer, Vice Chair
Senator Hollis French
Senator Albert Kookesh
Senator Joe Paskvan
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Linda Menard, Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 58
"An Act establishing February 2 of each year as Marmot Day; and
providing for an effective date."
MOVED SB 58 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 12
Relating to the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System.
MOVED HJR 12 OUT OF COMMITTEE
SENATE BILL NO. 94
"An Act relating to employment in certain facilities maintained
by the United States Antarctic Program as allowable absences
from the state for purposes of eligibility for permanent fund
dividends; and providing for an effective date."
SCHEDULED BUT NOT HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 58
SHORT TITLE: MARMOT DAY
SPONSOR(S): SENATOR(S) MENARD
01/21/09 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/16/09
01/21/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/09 (S) STA, RES
03/03/09 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211
BILL: HJR 12
SHORT TITLE: GROUND-BASED MIDCOURSE DEFENSE SYSTEM
SPONSOR(S): REPRESENTATIVE(S) DAHLSTROM
02/02/09 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/02/09 (H) MLV, STA
02/10/09 (H) MLV AT 1:30 PM BARNES 124
02/10/09 (H) Moved Out of Committee
02/10/09 (H) MINUTE(MLV)
02/11/09 (H) MLV RPT 5DP
02/11/09 (H) DP: OLSON, LYNN, BUCH, RAMRAS, GATTO
02/16/09 (H) STA REFERRAL WAIVED
02/18/09 (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
02/18/09 (H) VERSION: HJR 12
02/19/09 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/19/09 (S) STA
02/19/09 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
02/19/09 (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/03/09 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BELTZ 211
WITNESS REGISTER
MICHAEL ROVITO, Staff
to Senator Linda Menard
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented SB 58.
CHUCK HEATH
Wasilla, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Spoke in favor of SB 58.
LAURA PIERRE, Staff
to Representative Nancy Dahlstrom
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HJR 12.
ACTION NARRATIVE
9:03:59 AM
VICE CHAIR KEVIN MEYER called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. Senators French,
Paskvan, and Meyer were present at the call to order. Senator
Kookesh arrived soon thereafter. Chair Menard was excused.
SB 58-MARMOT DAY
9:03:59 AM
VICE CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of SB 58.
MICHAEL ROVITO, Staff to Senator Linda Menard, Alaska State
Legislature, sponsor of SB 58, said the bill is about local hire
and would establish February 2 of each year as Marmot Day. It
was first introduced 20 years ago by Senator Curt Menard when he
was in the Alaska legislature, and his wife, Senator Linda
Menard, reintroduced it. She looked toward the marmot to
represent local hire. It is an abundant animal in Alaska,
especially in the Hatcher Pass area. Marmot Day can be observed
by schools, the zoo, or anyone else. There has been a lot of
support from the Mat-Su school district and the Anchorage Zoo.
He spoke of educational opportunities for students and a layer
of Alaska pride. A marmot is a big rodent that is unique to
mountainous habitat. The hoary marmot's range extends from
Washington to Alaska where "we certainly have no shortage."
MR. ROVITO said some newspapers say it isn't a serious bill,
"but I don't think you have to always have a serious bill." A
Wasilla man said, "The more we can do to imbue our community
with a depth of history, the more the Mat-Su ... becomes
somewhere where we can be proud to live." Mr. Rovito said that
is the whole idea of this bill. There are no groundhogs in
Alaska, "so groundhog day doesn't work out so well."
9:08:25 AM
MR. ROVITO said eight students at Polaris school in Anchorage
sent a fax supporting the bill.
CHUCK HEATH, Wasilla, said he was calling from the Menard's
house, and he noted that Curt Menard just died today. Mr. Heath
suggested changing the bill to make Marmot Day on March 3, the
day of his death. People laughed at Curt Menard when he
introduced this bill, "but why not have this marmot day. The
kids all want it." Adults want it too. He works in the schools
and the kids support the bill.
9:11:19 AM
VICE CHAIR MEYER said changing the date sounds good to him.
SENATOR FRENCH said the suggestion is touching, but he doesn't
want to undermine the sponsor. The bill goes to another
committee, so in honor of the late Senator Menard, the committee
should move the bill forward and hold off on the change until
Senator Linda Menard has had a chance to reflect.
9:12:58 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN moved to report SB 58 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, SB 58 passed out of committee.
The committee took a brief at-ease.
HJR 12-GROUND-BASED MIDCOURSE DEFENSE SYSTEM
9:15:14 AM
VICE CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of HJR 12.
LAURA PIERRE, Staff to Representative Nancy Dahlstrom, Alaska
State Legislature, sponsor of HJR 12, said this resolution that
would urge Congress to continue to support and fund the ground-
based midcourse defense system. The program brings $250 million
to the state annually, and it provides for 700 jobs including
200 guard member jobs. There has been talk that the new
administration will not renew this program. This defense system
has been successfully tested in shooting down a test launch in
midcourse. The bill has additional cosponsors. She gave the
committee an article about the threat from North Korea on
launching a missile attack on the United States. The system
would be able to shoot it down. All three members of Alaska's
congressional delegation support the system and encourage
continued funding.
9:17:16 AM
VICE CHAIR MEYER noted that the bill doesn't go to a further
committee. It looks fine to him.
SENATOR FRENCH said he visited Fort Greely with Representative
Dahlstrom a few years ago, and it was impressive. It is a
fascinating installation with dedicated people. It a great thing
and a worthwhile visit. The handout is interesting, and he
quoted a North Korean speaking about South Korea: "If the puppet
warmongers infringe on our inviolable dignity, even a bit, we
will not only punish the provokers but reduce their stronghold
to debris." It speaks to the belligerence of North Korea and the
need to maintain a defense to its missile system.
SENATOR FRENCH moved to report HJR 12 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, HJR 12 moved out of committee.
9:19:16 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Vice Chair Meyer adjourned the meeting at 9:19 am.
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