Legislature(2009 - 2010)HOUSE FINANCE 519
01/21/2009 01:30 PM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Call to Order - Introductions | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
January 21, 2009
1:32 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Hawker called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 1:32:13 PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Hawker, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Stoltze, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Thomas, Jr., Vice-Chair
Representative Allan Austerman
Representative Harry Crawford
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Richard Foster
Representative Les Gara
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Woodie Salmon
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
Tam Cook, Director, Legislative Legal Services, Legislative
Affairs Agency; David Teal, Director, Legislative Finance
Division; Louanne Christian, Finance Committee Assistant
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
None
SUMMARY
^Call to Order - Introductions
1:32:32 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze brought the meeting to order. He welcomed
members of the Committee.
Co-Chair Hawker described changes within the Committee. He
introduced members of his staff.
1:37:21 PM
Co-Chair Hawker thanked Representative Foster for his
service of sixteen years in the legislature.
1:38:07 PM
Representative Foster introduced his staff.
1:39:08 PM
Representative Austerman introduced his staff.
1:40:01 PM
Representative Kelly introduced his staff.
1:40:56 PM
Representative Fairclough introduced her staff.
1:41:35 PM
Vice-Chair Thomas introduced his staff.
1:42:27 PM
Representative Gara introduced his staff.
1:43:12 PM
Representative Crawford introduced his staff.
1:43:35 PM
Representative Salmon introduced his staff.
1:44:05 PM
Representative Joule introduced his staff.
1:45:56 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze introduced his staff.
1:48:57 PM
Co-Chair Hawker reiterated thanks for the House Finance
Committee staff.
Co-Chair Hawker requested that Tam Cook introduce her
staff.
1:50:41 PM
TAM COOK, DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE LEGAL SERVICES, LEGISLATIVE
AFFAIRS AGENCY, related her experience moving up the ranks.
She introduced her staff.
1:56:17 PM
Co-Chair Hawker thanked the whole legislative legal staff.
1:58:09 PM
DAVID TEAL, DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE FINANCE DIVISION,
introduced his staff.
2:00:57 PM
Co-Chair Hawker voiced appreciation for Mr. Teal's staff.
2:01:18 PM
LOUANNE CHRISTIAN, FINANCE COMMITTEE ASSISTANT, introduced
her staff.
2:04:38 PM
Co-Chair Hawker expressed appreciation for the House
Finance staff.
2:05:32 PM
Co-Chair Hawker discussed Committee rules, which haven't
changed much. He detailed Co-Chair Stoltze's role as well
as his own. He highlighted the donut rule. He emphasized
that meetings would start on time and a quorum is not
necessary to begin. He discussed that no member could vote
by teleconference.
2:09:08 PM
Co-Chair Hawker noted that it takes a minimum of 5 votes to
pass an amendment and 6 to move the bill from Committee.
2:09:46 PM
Ms. Christian reviewed the role of the Committee staff.
She noted that all handouts would be routed through the
Committee aide. She described the role of the page and the
process of notifying legislators when a meeting is to
start. She shared the email method of notifying staff.
2:13:06 PM
Ms. Christian described how backup would be posted on the
web, as well as available in members' files. She explained
how the microphones work.
2:15:59 PM
Co-Chair Hawker emphasized that the meeting streams until
the red light is shut off.
Representative Austerman asked how the microphones can be
turned off. Ms. Christian explained the process.
2:17:48 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze recalled embarrassing conversations.
Representative Gara shared a story. He asked about
improving coverage of public testimony through the
legislative information offices. Ms. Christian agreed it
was an on-going problem. Representative Gara requested the
problem be researched. Co-Chair Hawker said it was in
process.
2:20:00 PM
Representative Crawford said that earphones help when
listening to public testimony.
2:20:57 PM
Ms. Christian shared how the budget books were prepared and
made available. She pointed out where the statute books
were kept.
Co-Chair Hawker emphasized that any material distributed
must be attributed to the source. Co-Chair Stoltze thought
the administration should use letterhead on their handouts.
2:23:38 PM
Ms. Christian noted that all handouts would be posted in
real time on the web site. Co-Chair Hawker agreed with the
importance of posting in real time. He requested
electronic copies be submitted.
2:25:42 PM
Co-Chair Hawker recognized Sharon Kelly who is now working
as a liaison between the Speaker's office and the House
Finance Committee.
Co-Chair Hawker introduced a member of the press, Judy
Erickson. He introduced LIO staff and the Gavel to Gavel
staff.
2:29:10 PM
Co-Chair Hawker reviewed the operating budget basics and
listed subcommittee members. He spoke of deadlines
regarding the operating budget. The administration's
current budget, which came out December 15, indicates a
$400 million surplus based on $74.41 oil. Legislative
Finance predicts that at $50 per barrel, there would be a
$2 billion deficit. At $40, there would be a $3 billion
deficit. He maintained that more discussion on the
proposed budget is needed.
2:31:22 PM
Co-Chair Hawker commented on the wealth in Alaska. Last
year $5 billion went into savings. The two big issues that
will be discussed this session are oil prices and the
possible need to spend savings, and the sustainability of
the current level of spending in order to balance the
capital and the operating budgets. He pledged to have an
open discussion and do as much as possible to develop an
understanding of the challenges.
Co-Chair Hawker reported that the Governor's supplemental
amendments for the FY 09 budget are due February 3. The
administration will also submit a revision to the FY 09
revenue forecast on February 3. The regular FY 10 budget
amendments are due on February 18, and the FY 10 revenue
forecast update will also be submitted on that date.
Co-Chair Hawker thought that the budget closeout would take
place about day 50 of the session. He noted that the
current session began a week later than last year's
session, and closeout falls during the Energy Conference in
Washington, D.C. The closeout schedule is yet to be
determined. He targeted the end of February as the
deadline for subcommittees.
2:34:11 PM
Co-Chair Hawker reiterated that the scheduling of room 519
goes through his office.
2:34:57 PM
Co-Chair Stoltze addressed the capital budget process and
the lack of investment opportunities. He noted that bills
with fiscal impacts will have heightened scrutiny this
session. Co-Chair Hawker described it as a challenging
year. Co-Chair Stoltze suggested looking closely at bills
with fiscal notes before they are submitted.
2:37:10 PM
Co-Chair Hawker noted a hearing request memo in today's
packet.
Co-Chair Stoltze stated appreciation for today's format.
Co-Chair Hawker emphasized the collaborative process.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 2:38 PM.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 26th HFC Subcommittee Assignments.pdf |
HFIN 1/21/2009 1:30:00 PM |
|
| HFC Subcommittee Chairs.pdf |
HFIN 1/21/2009 1:30:00 PM |
|
| HFIN Hearing Request Memo.pdf |
HFIN 1/21/2009 1:30:00 PM |
|
| House Finance Committee Rules.pdf |
HFIN 1/21/2009 1:30:00 PM |