Legislature(2009 - 2010)HOUSE FINANCE 519
03/12/2010 09:00 AM House FINANCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR45 | |
| HB339 | |
| HB73 | |
| HJR45 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 73 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 339 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | HJR 45 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE
March 12, 2010
9:09 a.m.
9:09:58 AM
CALL TO ORDER
Co-Chair Stoltze called the House Finance Committee meeting
to order at 9:09 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Mike Hawker, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Stoltze, Co-Chair
Representative Bill Thomas Jr., Vice-Chair
Representative Allan Austerman
Representative Mike Doogan
Representative Anna Fairclough
Representative Neal Foster
Representative Les Gara
Representative Reggie Joule
Representative Mike Kelly
Representative Woodie Salmon
MEMBERS ABSENT
None
ALSO PRESENT
John Coan, Staff, Representative Bill Stoltze; Bryan
Butcher, Director, Government Affairs and Public Relations,
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Department Of Revenue;
Representative Bob Lynn, Sponsor; Nancy Manly, Staff,
Representative Bob Lynn; Jerry Luckhaupt, Legislative Legal
Staff, Division of Legal Services and Volunteer
Firefighter.
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE
Rick Williams, Petersburg; Dan Fauske, CEO/Executive
Director, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Department of
Revenue; Sean Wisner, Career Firefighter, Alyeska Marine
Terminal and Volunteer Firefighter, Valdez Fire Department;
Susie Koklich, Alaska Director, National Volunteer Fire
Council, Valdez; David Miller, Fire Chief, City and Borough
of Sitka and President, Alaska State Firefighters
Association; Dave Tyler, State Fire Marshall.
SUMMARY
HJR 45 OPPOSE FEDERAL CAP AND TRADE LEGISLATION
CSHJR 45(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with
a "do pass" recommendation and with attached new
zero note by the Legislative Affairs Agency.
HB 73 LICENSE PLATES
CSHB 73(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a
"do pass" recommendation and with attached new
zero note by the Department of Administration.
HB 339 AK HOUSING FIN CORP DIVIDEND
HB 339 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for
further consideration.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 45
Urging the United States Congress not to enact Cap and
Trade legislation.
9:10:38 AM
JOHN COAN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BILL STOLTZE, SPONSOR,
explained that the resolution was intended to send a
message to Congress and to the President on an issue that
would deeply affect Alaska and all Alaskans. He stressed
that the Cap and Trade legislation in Congress would be
detrimental across all industries.
Mr. Coan reported that Representative Stoltze's office had
worked closely with the governor's office and members of
the Alaska delegation to craft the resolution urging
Congress not to enact the measure. He described the
resolution as a straightforward expression of concerns
regarding cap and trade legislation and its impact on
average working families and economic growth in the state.
RICK WILLIAMS, PETERSBURG (via teleconference), spoke as a
commercial fisherman in support of the resolution:
Thank you for recognizing the geographical,
disproportionate impacts of mandatory greenhouse gas
reductions on the state of Alaska. In Southeast
Alaska, the cap and trade bill will cripple our
tourism, fishing industry and barge service.
Everything we buy and do will cost more. The cost-of-
living increases will force many families to leave. We
ordinary people are learning the goal of this cap and
trade bill is to make carbon dioxide a number one
commodity on the planet. Quoting the February issue of
Harper's Magazine: "Unlike traditional commodities,
which sometime during the course of their market
exchange must be delivered to someone in physical
form, the carbon market is based on the delivery of an
invisible substance to no one. Its value resides
entirely in the promise of its absence."
Big banks and big multinationals love the trillions of
dollars tied to this bill. They can work both ends and
it is ripe for abuse. China and India love it; they
have made it absolutely clear that they are not going
to perpetuate their poverty by initiating unrealistic
regulations, and will inherit our wealth. This cap and
trade bill has nothing to do with the environment and
everything to do with power and greed. Furthermore,
there is no scientific consensus on climate change.
There is, however, a petition to the U.S. government
signed by 31,478 American scientists, including 9,029
with PhDs, urging our government to reject the Kyoto
Protocol and any similar proposals. Additionally, it
may be good to send a copy of HJR 45 to Senators Boxer
and Inhofe, the ranking members of the [U.S.] Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
9:15:10 AM
Co-Chair Stoltze stated that the resolution was not
intended to disregard environmental concerns and the issues
of climate change, but a major philosophical and practical
disagreement that cap and trade is a vehicle to fix it. He
thought there clearly is climate change and there are
environmental concerns and worldwide environmental
degradation issues. He referred to testimony by Meera
Kohler [President of Alaska Village Electric Cooperative,
Inc.] regarding the impact on the delivery of electrical
services to rural Alaska; she projected an additional cost
of $0.04/kWh if the cap and trade bill were implemented.
Co-Chair Stoltze MOVED Conceptual Amendment 1:
Page 3, line 26: Insert:
Senator Barbara Boxer, Chair, U.S. Senate Committee on
the Environment and Public Works; and Senator James
Inhofe, Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on the
Environment and Public Works;
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Representative Gara spoke in opposition to the resolution.
He noted that there were various versions of the cap and
trade legislation pending in Congress; he thought some were
better and some worse. He stated he might support the
resolution if it were amended.
Representative Gara relayed that there are versions of the
legislation that people believe will encourage the
expansion of natural gas production and other versions that
people believe will harm natural gas pipeline prospects.
He was working on an amendment that would clarify support
of versions that would expand the use and demand for Alaska
natural gas.
Co-Chair Stoltze put aside the bill until later in the
meeting.
9:19:39 AM
Co-Chair Hawker commented that although there were various
versions of the bill in Congress, HJR 45 did not target any
particular version but took a stand against legislation
that would negatively impact Alaskans.
HOUSE BILL NO. 339
"An Act relating to the dividend paid to the state by
the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation; and providing
for an effective date."
9:21:07 AM
BRYAN BUTCHER, DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC
RELATIONS, ALASKA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT
OF REVENUE, explained that the legislation would make a
minor adjustment to statute establishing the Alaska Housing
Finance Corporation (AHFC) transfer plan for paying a
dividend to the state. The 2003 bill established the
transfer as the lesser of 75 percent of net income or $103
million. He reported that AHFC had come back to the
legislature in 2006 to adjust statute wording because of
changes to generally accepted accounting principles;
similar accounting changes related to contractual
obligations required additional language changes.
Co-Chair Stoltze provided information about the bill's
passage through the legislature.
DAN FAUSKE, CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ALASKA HOUSING FINANCE
CORPORATION, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE (via teleconference),
spoke in support of the added language. He noted that the
language change should ensure that the dividends would not
go through changes that could be harmful.
9:24:26 AM
Representative Fairclough queried the effective date. Mr.
Butcher replied that the intent was to make sure the
measure would apply to the current fiscal year.
Co-Chair Hawker informed the committee that the measure
reflected the continuing evolution of statute sparked by
continuing evolution in accounting practices. He believed
the change would result in better reporting and management.
HB 339 was HEARD and HELD in Committee for further
consideration.
HOUSE BILL NO. 73
"An Act relating to honorary foreign consul license
plates; and providing for an effective date."
REPRESENTATIVE BOB LYNN, SPONSOR, spoke to the bill, which
provides for special license plates for firefighters and
emergency service (EMS) providers. He thought the plates
acknowledged good work done by individuals.
9:27:20 AM
Representative Lynn believed the measure would encourage
volunteerism. He pointed to copies of the petition for
firefighter and EMS provider license plates (copies on
file). He mentioned the zero fiscal note.
Co-Chair Stoltze requested more information about the
proposed committee substitute.
NANCY MANLY, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE BOB LYNN, explained that
the CS (version P) addresses technical changes and an
effective date change:
· Page 1 line 5 - per Legal Services: there was another
subsection added last year to statute so the
subsection number changes from "(y)" to "(z)".
· Page 2 line 30 changes the effective date from 2009 to
2010.
Co-Chair Stoltze acknowledged the straightforward nature of
the changes. He believed the measure would affect more
volunteer firefighters than career firefighters in Alaska.
Representative Lynn agreed.
Vice-Chair Thomas asked whether doctors were included as
respondents in rural areas.
Co-Chair Hawker MOVED to adopt the CS for HB 73, 26-
LS0303\P, Luckhaupt, 2/4/10, as a working draft. There
being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Representative Salmon asked whether doctors and nurses were
included.
9:31:39 AM
Representative Fairclough asked whether the sponsor was
comfortable with adding volunteer firefighters.
Representative Lynn agreed, as volunteer firefighters were
the backbone of firefighting in many Alaskan communities.
Representative Fairclough wanted an amendment to explicitly
include volunteer firefighters. She stated a conflict of
interest as her sons were volunteer firefighters. She said
her sons would be proud to have the license plate.
Ms. Manly assured her that the measure included volunteer
firefighters.
Co-Chair Stoltze shared concerns regarding institutional
bias against volunteer fire fighters. He wanted the
language to be very clear.
9:33:48 AM
JERRY LUCKHAUPT, LEGISLATIVE LEGAL STAFF, DIVISION OF LEGAL
SERVICES AND VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, replied that the bill
does not distinguish between volunteer and career
firefighters as long as an individual is a member of a fire
department. He explained that the majority of the fire
departments in Alaska are volunteer departments. Some are a
combination of career and volunteer members. Some states
have different license plates for each group; HB 73 does
not distinguish between the groups.
Co-Chair Stoltze noted that in his community the goal has
been to bring the groups together.
SEAN WISNER, CAREER FIREFIGHTER, ALYESKA MARINE TERMINAL
AND VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, VALDEZ FIRE DEPARTMENT (via
teleconference), spoke in support of the measure. He
related his history as a firefighter and emergency medical
technician. He believed the plates would help others
recognize the service of individuals and would encourage
volunteerism.
SUSIE KOKLICH, ALASKA DIRECTOR, NATIONAL VOLUNTEER FIRE
COUNCIL, VALDEZ (via teleconference), testified in support
of the measure. She informed the committee that there were
approximately 7,200 firefighters in the state; 1,300 are
paid career firefighters. Volunteers give thousands of
hours of service. She shared a story related to her
husband, a Vietnam veteran with a Purple Heart license
plate. Because of the plate, someone had thanked him for
his service. The thank you meant a great deal to him.
Ms. Koklich added that the bill would encourage
volunteerism in the state. She pointed out that
volunteerism was declining around the country and she did
not want that to happen in Alaska.
9:38:49 AM
Ms. Koklich noted that doctors are not included unless they
are an emergency responder.
Representative Gara acknowledged her contributions and her
husband's.
DAVID MILLER, FIRE CHIEF, CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA AND
PRESIDENT, ALASKA STATE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION (via
teleconference), testified in full support of the measure.
He believed that volunteers would be more visible in the
community and that this would encourage volunteerism.
Co-Chair Stoltze suggested adding the term "career" to
volunteers who have offered their services for many years.
Mr. Miller agreed that many of the volunteers put in as
many hours as paid workers.
9:42:14 AM
DAVE TYLER, STATE FIRE MARSHALL (via teleconference), spoke
in support of the bill as a good way to recognize
responders.
Co-Chair Stoltze mentioned the fire standards council.
Representative Fairclough declared her conflict of
interest. Co-Chair Stoltze did not think it would be a
problem.
Co-Chair Hawker MOVED to report HB 73 out of Committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
CSHB 73(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do pass"
recommendation and with attached new zero note by the
Department of Administration.
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 45
Urging the United States Congress not to enact Cap and
Trade legislation.
9:45:03 AM
Co-Chair Stoltze returned to HJR 45.
Representative Gara MOVED to ADOPT Conceptual Amendment 2:
Insert page 3, line 12:
Whereas there are proposals to amend the pending
legislation that would expand the demand for Alaska
natural gas, and that would benefit Alaska; and
Page 3, line 16:
Insert after "enact", insert "any version of"
Co-Chair Stoltze OBJECTED.
Representative Gara explained the amendment. He believed
there were versions of the cap and trade legislation in
Congress that would discriminate against the use of natural
gas and therefore be harmful to Alaska, and that there are
proposals that may not technically be cap and trade
provisions that would encourage the use of natural gas,
which would be beneficial to the state. The amendment first
acknowledges the existence of proposals that would expand
the use of natural gas. Secondly, the Alaska delegation
might work against provisions that would discriminate
against natural gas and work for provisions that would move
a natural gas pipeline forward. Inserting the language "any
version of" would address the intent to discourage
detrimental versions.
Co-Chair Stoltze MOVED to divide the amendment into two
parts. There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Representative Gara MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 2a:
Insert page 3, line 12:
Whereas there are proposals to amend the pending
legislation that would expand the demand for Alaska
natural gas, and that would benefit Alaska; and
Representative Gara explained Amendment 2a. He noted a
number of factual statements in the "Whereas" section; he
regarded the amendment as factual as well.
9:49:28 AM
Co-Chair Stoltze expressed concerns that the amendment
would clutter the issue.
Representative Gara responded that the "Whereas" section
made factual statements, not whether the issues were
supported or not. He believed the statement in the
amendment was bipartisan.
Representative Kelly spoke against Amendment 2a. He stated
concerns about secondary effects and about climate change.
Co-Chair Stoltze MAINAINED his OBJECTION.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.
IN FAVOR: Gara, Salmon, Doogan, Foster
OPPOSED: Joule, Kelly, Thomas, Austerman, Fairclough,
Stoltze, Hawker.
The MOTION FAILED (4/7).
9:52:42 AM
Representative Gara MOVED to ADOPT Amendment 2b:
Page 3, line 16:
Insert after "enact", insert "any version of"
Co-Chair Stoltze believed the amendment to be technical and
did not object to it. There being NO OBJECTION, Amendment
2b was adopted.
Co-Chair Hawker clarified the amendment numbers. There was
a discussion about language in the amendment.
9:55:11 AM
Representative Gara maintained that a "Whereas" section
beginning with line 5 on page 3 was inaccurate. The section
says that cap and trade will harm the demand for natural
gas, which he claimed was not true for some versions of the
legislation. He wanted to distinguish between proposals.
Co-Chair Stoltze disagreed.
Representative Gara proposed inserting language to clarify
that certain versions of cap and trade legislation would
harm demand for natural gas.
9:58:12 AM
Co-Chair Stoltze suggested changing "would" on line 6 to
"may".
Representative Gara reiterated his concerns that certain
versions would be bad for Alaska.
Co-Chair Hawker MOVED conceptual Amendment 3:
Page 3, line 6:
Replace "would" with "may"
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.
Co-Chair Hawker MOVED to report HJR 45 as amended out of
Committee with individual recommendations and the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CSHJR 45(FIN) was REPORTED out of Committee with a "do
pass" recommendation and with attached new zero note by the
Legislative Affairs Agency.
9:59:54 AM
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 AM.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 04 Changes from Version A to Version P HB 73.pdf |
HFIN 3/12/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 73 |
| 04__HB_73_Firefighter_EMS_Support_Letter-emails.pdf |
HFIN 3/12/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 73 |
| 05_Add'l_support_HB_73.pdf |
HFIN 3/12/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 73 |
| 05_Add'l_support_HB_73.pdf |
HFIN 3/12/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 73 |
| 06 Sponsor Statement HB 73.pdf |
HFIN 3/12/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 73 |
| 07 HB073CS-DOA-DMV-02-01-10UPDATEDFY11.pdf |
HFIN 3/12/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 73 |
| 13 2009 Petition for plates - 238 signatures.pdf |
HFIN 3/12/2010 9:00:00 AM |
|
| HB 339 AHFC Transfer Plan Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HFIN 3/12/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 339 |
| HB 339 AHFC transfer plan Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HFIN 3/12/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 339 |
| 02 CS for HB 73 Version P.pdf |
HFIN 3/12/2010 9:00:00 AM |
HB 73 |