05/03/2007 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR23 | |
| HJR2 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 47 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 2 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 23 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
May 3, 2007
8:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Bob Lynn, Chair
Representative Bob Roses, Vice Chair
Representative Kyle Johansen
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Andrea Doll
Representative Max Gruenberg
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative John Coghill
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 23
Supporting the reuse of facilities at the Galena Air Base to
provide regional educational services.
- MOVED HJR 23 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of
Alaska requiring an affirmative vote of the people before any
form of gambling for profit may be authorized in Alaska.
- MOVED HJR 2 OUT OF COMMITTEE
HOUSE BILL NO. 47
"An Act creating the line-of-duty death survivor education
benefits fund and relating to special fire fighter and emergency
medical service provider license plates."
- BILL HEARING CANCELED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 23
SHORT TITLE: REUSE GALENA AIR BASE
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) DAHLSTROM
05/01/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
05/01/07 (H) STA
05/03/07 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
BILL: HJR 2
SHORT TITLE: CONST.AM:NO GAMING WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) CRAWFORD, DAHLSTROM
01/16/07 (H) PREFILE RELEASED 1/5/07
01/16/07 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/16/07 (H) STA, JUD, FIN
05/03/07 (H) STA AT 8:00 AM CAPITOL 106
WITNESS REGISTER
KELLY HUBERT, Staff
to Representative Nancy Dahlstrom
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HJR 23 on behalf of
Representative Dahlstrom, prime sponsor.
JIM SMITH, Superintendent
Galena School District
Galena, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HJR 23.
MARVIN YODER
Galena, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HJR 23.
REPRESENTATIVE HARRY CRAWFORD
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented HJR 2 as joint prime sponsor.
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY DAHLSTROM
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified as joint prime sponsor of HJR 2.
ED MOEGLEIN
Alaska Charitable Nonprofits Organization
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of HJR 2.
DEBBIE JOSLIN
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in favor of HJR 2 on behalf of
Eagle Forum.
JIM MINNERY, President
Alaska Family Council
(No address provided)
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of HJR 2.
ACTION NARRATIVE
CHAIR BOB LYNN called the House State Affairs Standing Committee
meeting to order at 8:04:20 AM. Representatives Roses, Johnson,
Doll, and Lynn were present at the call to order.
Representatives Johansen and Gruenberg arrived as the meeting
was in progress.
HJR 23-REUSE GALENA AIR BASE
8:04:34 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the first order of business was HOUSE
JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 23, Supporting the reuse of facilities at
the Galena Air Base to provide regional educational services.
8:04:45 AM
KELLY HUBERT, Staff to Representative Nancy Dahlstrom, Alaska
State Legislature, presented HJR 23 on behalf of Representative
Dahlstrom, prime sponsor. She said the Base Realignment and
Closure (BRAC) Commission, in 2005, announced the closure of
Galena Air Force. Having originally promised a "soft landing" -
enough time for the citizens of Galena to figure out how to keep
their community thriving - the Air Force announced a target date
for exodus by 2008. Ms. Hubert explained, "We were hoping that
the soft landing would take us through 2011."
MS. HUBERT said the proposed resolution would express the
legislature's support to the federal delegation for the purpose
of securing funds for [the City of Galena] "in its effort to
implement a viable and long-lasting reuse of Galena Air Base."
She said the city and school district have submitted a reuse
plan to the Air Force, have received comments, and are working
towards a final proposal.
8:06:32 AM
JIM SMITH, Superintendent, Galena School District, confirmed the
statement in the resolution which notes that the Galena Air Base
constitutes a critical aspect of that city's economy.
Furthermore, he said the economic viability of the City of
Galena is important to the economic viability of the Fairbanks
North Star Borough and adjacent communities. Galena serves as a
transportation hub for the villages of the Interior of Alaska.
If the City of Galena is unsuccessful in its "use plan," the
result will be the loss of 60 out of the approximately 200 jobs.
The facilities in question are assessed at a value of $150
million. The Galena Economic Development Council - comprised of
the City of Galena, the Lowden (ph) Tribal Council, the Galena
School District, and the Air Force - has come up with "the
viability of using the facilities for the existing boarding
school operations that Galena has operated successfully for the
past 10 years. Currently, there are 100 children being served,
and the graduation rate is excellent. He thanked
Representatives Dahlstrom and Salmon for their support. He
mentioned a need for [sprinklers] to be installed to meet state
fire codes.
8:10:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DOLL directed attention to page 2, line 12, which
mentions "a location for an interior military youth academy".
She asked what that means.
8:10:55 AM
MS. HUBERT told Representative Doll, "It's just another idea we
would ask the state to look into." She said the already
existing academy has been successful, and another one is
desired.
8:11:36 AM
MARVIN YODER, testifying on behalf of himself, indicated his
concurrence with the comments of [Mr. Smith]. He said he is
anxious to see action taken on the reuse plan. He relayed that
the Tribal Council, as part of the Galena Economic Development
Council, has insisted that part of the goal of the council is to
help Native students throughout the state, and he said that is
what the [Galena] School District is trying to do. He expressed
appreciation for certain legislators' support of the project.
In response to a question from Chair Lynn, he said the project
would not result in added impact regarding transportation,
because all transportation in and out of the City of Galena is
by air. He added, "We do transfer students back and forth
between the village school and the boarding school, and so there
[are] a few logistical issues, but that's just a part of our
growing pains, and eventually we'll get those resolved as well."
8:13:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DOLL asked if the Air Force will leave behind
funds to help rebuild the economy.
8:13:50 AM
MR. YODER said that "seemed to be the pattern" in previous BRAC
ground evacuations. However, in this particular case, there was
no money budgeted for bases that were closing, because money was
being spent to expand other bases. He said three to four years
of transition funds are necessary just to get to the point of
sustainability.
8:14:56 AM
MR. YODER, in response to a question from Representative Doll,
said there are two dormitories and one hotel, but no officer
housing.
8:15:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES suggested that if the plans for a boarding
school do not pan out, the City of Galena could negotiate with
pipeline companies for them to use the area as headquarters.
8:16:27 AM
CHAIR LYNN closed public testimony.
8:16:35 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DOLL moved to report HJR 23 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HJR 23 was reported out of the House
State Affairs Standing Committee.
The committee took an at-ease from 8:16:56 AM to 8:20:42 AM.
HJR 2-CONST.AM:NO GAMING WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL
8:20:52 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the last order of business was HOUSE
JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2, Proposing an amendment to the
Constitution of the State of Alaska requiring an affirmative
vote of the people before any form of gambling for profit may be
authorized in Alaska.
8:21:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE HARRY CRAWFORD, Alaska State Legislature,
presented HJR 2 as joint prime sponsor. He reported that only
two states do not have legalized forms of gambling for profit.
Currently, he said, there is a "third wave of gambling in our
nation's history," but "the pendulum has started to swing back."
He said an increasing number of states are beginning to realize
the ill effects of gambling: suicide, mania, depression,
alcohol use, and increased drug rates. He posited that Alaska
already has a problem with charitable gaming, and he said he
does not want to see gambling expanded any further in Alaska.
8:24:00 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said there will be an initiative on an
upcoming ballot, which promotes "a way to regulate the gambling
industry that we have presently." The initiative would allow
the existence of a five-member commission appointed by the
governor to make the decision whether or not to expand gambling.
Representative Crawford said he has heard proponents of the
initiative speak, and never has he heard them say the initiative
will mean a chance to expand for-profit gambling into Alaska.
He stated that he would like to make it difficult for anybody to
bring any additional types of gambling into Alaska.
CHAIR LYNN commented that it amazes him how gambling bills have
surfaced in the past "during the waning hours of the legislative
session, with very few committees of referral."
8:26:08 AM
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY DAHLSTROM, Alaska State Legislature,
testified as joint prime sponsor of HJR 2. She stated that her
concern is for society. She said gambling starts out as fun,
turns into temptation, and then becomes an addiction. She
offered an example of gambling addiction among the senior
citizens in Florida. She noted that there is documentation
proving that sexual abuse and domestic violence increases in
areas [with gambling]. She reported that Alaska is ranked
highest in suicide rates and ranks very high in sexual abuse.
She relayed that children frequently are the innocent victims of
gambling ills. She stated that she cannot sit quietly and let
[increased gambling] come into Alaska, because she believes that
it will bring "destruction and mass problems to our state."
8:29:02 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DOLL directed attention to a sentence on page 1,
beginning on line 7, which read as follows:
Any form of gaming or gambling for profit is
prohibited in the State unless that form of gaming or
gambling has been authorized by law and ratified by a
sixty percent majority vote of the qualified voters of
the State who vote on the question.
REPRESENTATIVE DOLL asked how that would affect someone trying
to build a casino, for example.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD responded that an election would have to
be held, in which 60 percent of voters would have to approve the
casino.
REPRESENTATIVE DOLL conjectured that [the 60 percent approval]
could apply to many forms of gambling.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said the major concern right now is to
prevent electronic gaming, such as video poker, from being
introduced into the state. He related that the people who paid
for the initiative to be on the ballot are mainly bar owners who
want to be able to put video poker and electronic gaming
machines in their establishments. He stated that Alaska already
has a problem with alcohol consumption and long hours of cold
and darkness. People hang out in bars, he said. He concluded,
"This would just be one more way to fleece them of even more of
their livelihood."
8:30:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM noted that bingo halls are already
allowed by law. She stated that Alaska is unique because of its
"Indian land/Indian gaming issue." She said there is one
[concern] certainly, which is: "As soon as there's one casino,
there will be an opportunity to have 200 casinos."
Representative Dahlstrom said some casinos could be built in the
midst of neighborhoods with schools. She indicated that gaming
can appear to young people as a glamorous pastime, even though
it really is not.
8:34:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DOLL said it seems cumbersome to require a vote
on each type of gaming or gambling.
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM pointed out that the sentence begins by
specifying "Any form".
REPRESENTATIVE DOLL suggested omitting, "unless that form of
gaming or gambling has been authorized".
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said that would mean holding one vote
for all time instead of voting each time. He explained that if
for some reason the state votes to allow gambling in one
community, he does not want to bring it into another community
without a vote.
8:35:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN noted that requiring a 60 percent
approval raises the bar "from any other question going out in
front of the public."
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD revealed that he patterned the
requirement after the sales tax amendment in Anchorage, where it
takes a 60 percent majority to pass a sales tax. He stated, "I
want it to be very difficult, and I want to protect the
minority, as well."
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN mentioned Metlakatla, Alaska, and
offered his understanding that nothing the state does will
affect its status. Furthermore, he said he thinks Metlakatla
has some sort of a casino in operation. In response to a remark
from Representative Crawford, he recommended that the bill
sponsors research that topic, since he said he believes "it's a
very, very specific situation there."
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM responded that she thinks
Representative Johansen is correct that Metlakatla is totally
unique from all other entities in the state. She suggested the
need for the sponsors to travel to Metlakatla to find out first
hand.
8:38:42 AM
CHAIR LYNN said he had been concerned in the past that gambling
on the cruise ships could expand to gambling in the state, but
he found out from the attorney general that different sets of
laws apply.
8:38:56 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON offered his understanding that HJR 2
would not affect Indian gaming. Regarding the voting
percentage, he stated that he has a problem "either way" -
whether requiring 45 or 60 percent.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD reminded Representative Johnson that it
takes a two-thirds majority vote in both houses and a majority
vote of the people in order to make changes to the constitution.
He said he would like to create the highest hurdle possible with
respect to gambling.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON clarified that he agrees with the
required three-quarter vote of both houses, but he is concerned
about the public vote. He explained, "If you could make it an
80 percent requirement to pass it, I'm not sure I would
personally be opposed to that, because I don't want gambling,
but philosophically I think the majority rule is where I'm much
more comfortable with that."
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM said the joint sponsors would ponder
that issue.
8:42:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES stated that he will support an anti-
gambling bill, but if the resolution is brought before the House
proposing a 60 percent vote requirement, he will oppose it. He
questioned why, if the real issue is addiction, the legislature
has not proposed legislation regarding addiction to alcohol. He
said he respects the passion of those who support HJR 2. He
stated that he is a person who happens to enjoy gambling, but he
is not addicted to it. He concluded, "And so, if we're going to
attack addictions, let's attack them all, and not just this
one."
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM said she would work on the issue of
voting percentage requirements.
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES directed attention to the language on page
1, line 7, which read, "Any form of gaming or gambling for
profit" - emphasizing the words "for profit". He said flipping
a coin to see who speaks first is gaming. He noted that a coin
is flipped to determine the outcome of a tied vote, which he
said is not only gaming, but is definitely for profit. He said
he knows that is not the intent of the sponsors, but warned that
people can take this legislation to the extreme; therefore, he
encouraged the sponsors to make the record as clear as possible.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said he will make it as clear as
possible that there is a difference between charitable gaming
and for-profit gambling. He confirmed that the resolution does
not address charitable gaming.
8:46:31 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM reiterated that the joint sponsors
would address the concerns that have been expressed by the
committee.
8:46:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON said he would like the sponsors to
prevent any loopholes, such as a 501(c)(3) - nonprofit - agency
deciding to build a casino because it is not a for-profit
company.
8:47:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD responded that there are already "a set
of rules that have been hashed out over the years," and the
intent of the proposed legislation is not to change statute. He
said, "What we're doing is talking about the expansion into for-
profit gambling."
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON warned that the courts have a way of
taking some of the "best-intended rules" and interpreting them
in a more literal fashion than the legislature would like.
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM promised to consider the matter.
8:48:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG pointed out that a Major League
baseball team is a nonprofit organization, and thus could own a
casino under HJR 2. He continued:
The determination of what is a nonprofit is [a] legal
loophole on a couple levels. First of all, ... if
you're looking [at] the federal tax law, you're ceding
this whole ... issue to the federal government to make
a determination of what qualifies.
... Number two, ... you can really manipulate the
bottom line, and if you're talking about gambling for
profit, you could do it. And a sharp lawyer and a
sharp accountant would set it up so that they never
made any profit, ... but the operator could make a lot
of money by simply expensing out their expenses. And
in fact, that's what's happening with a lot of the
gaming that goes on in Anchorage, and those people
will just do it to a much greater level, and they're
very good at it, and that'll be a huge loophole.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG questioned what "form of gaming" really
means. He listed some examples and suggested the need for more
clarity.
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD reminded Representative Gruenberg that
the language read, "Any form of gaming" - and he emphasized the
word "Any". He reiterated that the resolution is not in any way
proposing to legalize not-for-profit gambling or expand
charitable gaming. He said, "We are only trying to close the
door on what we don't have right now, which is gambling for
profit."
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he understands the intent of the
resolution, but is simply raising issues of concern.
CHAIR LYNN said he would like to move the bill out of committee
today and hash out the issues brought forth by Representative
Gruenberg in the House Judiciary Standing Committee.
8:53:25 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG directed attention to the word
"election" on line 14. He said, "The people who wanted to do
this could set up a special election at which only a tiny group
of people vote."
8:54:03 AM
REPRESENTATIVE ROSES asked if a ballot initiative opposing
gambling would also require the support of 60 percent of voters
in order for it to pass.
[REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD shook his head no.]
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG said he does not think that would
apply, because the resolution addresses authorization, not
prohibition.
8:54:58 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG offered his understanding that the
proposed resolution would affect both Article 2 - legislative
powers - and Article 10 - local government powers. He indicated
the need to clarify the meaning of "charitable purposes" [found
on page 1, line 12], because he said a creative lawyer could
think of lots of charitable purposes that others would not have
thought about.
8:55:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said it seems like there have not been
decisions made thus far regarding gambling. He said he is
having difficulty believing "that 60 percent would fly." He
suggested that a requirement for 50 percent of the voters "could
possibly legalize a form of gaming or gambling." He asked:
Are you really willing to roll the dice to opening up
this entire thing to all the entities that could
possibly have gaming based on a majority of this body
and the other body, plus 50 percent of whatever vote
could be fixed up in a nice tidy little deal? Timing-
wise -- I mean you could be opening the state to all
kinds of gaming. ... It seems kind of dangerous to
me.
8:57:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM said the joint sponsors have their
homework cut out for them after hearing the questions from the
House State Affairs Standing Committee. She stated that many
people believe that this issue was solved many years ago, while
others believe it is still wide open.
8:58:23 AM
ED MOEGLEIN, Alaska Charitable Nonprofits Organization,
testified in favor of HJR 2. He concurred with the sponsor
statement [included in the committee packet]. Furthermore, he
indicated support of "putting for-profit organizations in
competition with nonprofit organizations for their charitable
donations that they use." He made the distinction between a
charitable nonprofit organization and a nonprofit organization:
the former is required through its permit to give away some of
its proceeds from pull tabs or bingo to the community or "a
community organization effort," while the latter uses its income
directly for the operation of its organization. He spoke of the
harm that could result from having a gaming commission opening
up "a floodgate of opportunities for different types of
gambling" and "offering it to for-profit organizations that
would be in direct competition with the community organizations
that are already serving our community." He concluded, "Those
are the two basic reasons why I speak in favor of this
resolution."
9:01:05 AM
DEBBIE JOSLIN, Eagle Forum Alaska, told the committee that the
over 1,100 members of the forum support HJR 2. She said
changing the Constitution of the State of Alaska is a serious
proposition, but in this case such action is warranted. She
stated:
The writers of the constitution would agree that the
question of whether or not our state should engage in
or allow further gaming is a decision that should be
made by the owners of the constitution - the people.
... I recognize that our legislature has done a
stellar job of holding off the wolves for many years,
and I feel like this would take some of the pressure
off of the legislature, and I certainly concur that we
do not want these decisions to be made by a five-
member commission.
MS. JOSLIN quoted Warren Buffett - an internationally respected
investment expert from Nebraska - as having stated:
Addictions produce crime. If you have a large group of
people who are addicted to drugs, you'll have more
crime. If you have a large group of people who are
addicted to gambling, you'll have more crime. People
get into impossible situations when they get addicted
to something like that. And some people will opt for
crime, some will opt for bankruptcy, some may commit
suicide.
MS. JOSLIN stated that Eagle Forum Alaska's concern is for
families and children. She said, "Legalizing addictive behavior
does not lessen the addictive nature of the behavior, nor does
it provide a safe, controlled environment; that doesn't lessen
the crime that's associated with such behavior."
MS. JOSLIN stated concern about the 60 percent, saying that she
is more comfortable with a simple majority [requirement]. She
recommended that the language require the vote to take place at
"next general election". She acknowledged the previous comments
that more work would be done on the resolution in the House
Judiciary Standing Committee, and said she looks forward to
testifying before that committee.
9:03:36 AM
JIM MINNERY, President, Alaska Family Council, testified in
support of HJR 2. He relayed that the council is a statewide
public policy group that represents the interest of Alaskans
across the state who are concerned about issues related to
strengthening and protecting families. He stated that the
council "firmly opposes all forms of legalized [gambling] for
both moral and pragmatic reasons" and believes that "the net
societal effect of our government's embrace of gambling has been
disastrous." He praised the joint prime sponsors for their
efforts to give Alaskans an opportunity to determine if gambling
should be expanded in the state. He opined that the act of
gambling is driven by and subsists on greed, and for that reason
the practice is "morally bankrupt from its very foundation." He
said it is an activity that exploits the vulnerable, the young,
the old, and those susceptible to addictive behaviors.
Legalized gambling, he relayed, creates gambling addicts and
devastates families; it creates dramatic increases in divorce,
suicide, bankruptcy, child abuse, and domestic violence. He
said the Alaska Family Council believes that it is
unconscionable that government supports gambling and that
"legalized gambling in all its forms should and must be
vigorously opposed."
9:06:49 AM
CHAIR LYNN asked Mr. Minnery if he thinks an amendment to the
constitution is the best method for addressing the issue.
MR. MINNERY replied that he has not seen another alternative.
9:07:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said a constitutional amendment is the
only method he knows of that would "trump citizens' initiative
during its first two years." He continued:
I believe in citizens' initiatives. This initiative
that we're fighting right now was never sold as an
expansion of gambling; it was always sold as the
regulation of what we have now. It's a lie.
9:08:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD, in response to a question from
Representative Johansen, he said if HJR 2 is passed with a two-
thirds majority of both houses, it will be on the November
[2007] general election ballot." He said the aforementioned
gambling initiative will be on the primary election ballot
preceding that.
9:10:07 AM
CHAIR LYNN closed public testimony.
9:10:14 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG talked about prior legislation that
allowed local communities to authorize or prohibit gambling, and
he warned that HJR 2 could take that authorization away. He
said some voters will see this issue as a question of who should
have the right to decide.
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG stated:
In a number of states they permit you to amend the
constitution by an initiative; we don't here. The
only way you can actually do it is if you call a
constitutional convention, which hasn't - thank
goodness - ever happened. But this will provide a
real precedent for divesting all legislative bodies in
a constitutional way of ever weighing in on something.
9:13:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM said she thinks the statement of
Representative Gruenberg is fact. Furthermore, she said it is a
fact that the [current] legislature cannot "tie the hands of any
future legislature."
9:13:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON stated support of HJR 2. He said
amending the constitution is a serious issue, and he explained
that the reason for all his prior questions is that he wants to
"get it right."
9:14:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG stated, "I don't know about the wisdom
of this, but ... at least it's something for the people to think
about." He said he thinks legislators and others are concerned
about giving legislative power to the gaming commission, which
is what the aforementioned initiative would do. He said he does
not know if it is wise for this legislature to take a position
on the initiative, because "it directly affects the ability of
the legislature to legislate a very important issue of public
policy."
9:15:48 AM
REPRESENTATIVE CRAWFORD said he has given the issue much
thought. He reiterated that the legislature cannot repeal a
citizens' initiative or effect it until two years have passed.
Once a foothold has been established in two years, he said, it
will be difficult to undue. He said every year since he has
served in the legislature there has been an attempt to spread
gambling throughout the state, and he wants to make the bar high
[in order to block that spread]. He said he welcomes criticism,
but his bottom line is to stop gambling from expanding in
Alaska. A constitutional amendment is a way to get that done,
he concluded.
9:18:40 AM
CHAIR LYNN stated support of HJR 2, although he suggested it may
need to be refined.
9:18:55 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DOLL emphasized her support of HJR 2. She said
she would like to see all for-profit gambling prohibited.
9:19:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG moved to report HJR 2 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HJR 2 was reported out of the
House State Affairs Standing Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
State Affairs Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at
9:20:03 AM.
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