Legislature(1993 - 1994)
01/20/1993 09:04 AM Senate STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
January 20, 1993
9:04 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Loren Leman, Chairman
Senator Mike Miller, Vice Chairman
Senator Robin Taylor
Senator Jim Duncan
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3
Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of
Alaska relating to terms of legislators.
PREVIOUS SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SJR 3 - No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
Resa Jerrel, representing the National
Federation of Independent Business
9159 Skywood Lane
Juneau, AK 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 3
Bonnie Jack
1063 W. 20th Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99503
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SJR 3
Bob Bell
2610 Curlew Circle
Anchorage, AK 99515
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SJR 3
Bob Gardner
4117 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99502
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SJR 3
Myrna Maynard
2237 Forest park Drive
Anchorage, AK 99517
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed to SJR 3
Bill Collins
8511 Pluto
Anchorage, AK 99502
POSITION STATEMENT: Supports SJR 3
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 93-1, SIDE A
Number 001
Chairman Leman called the Senate State Affairs Committee
meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.
SENATOR LEMAN introduced SJR 3 (LIMITING TERMS OF
LEGISLATORS), as the only order of business. Because the
bill is sponsored by the Chair, SENATOR LEMAN turned the
gavel over to MIKE MILLER, Vice Chairman.
Number 019
SENATOR LEMAN explained that SJR 3 limits terms of
legislators to eight consecutive years and provides for a
two-year hiatus after which time a legislator would again be
eligible to run for office.
SENATOR LEMAN pointed out that it takes a two-thirds vote in
each body to amend the Alaska Constitution, or it can be
taken up by a constitutional convention. So to effect
somewhat of a compromise, he said he looked at an approach
that could garner enough votes in support of term
limitations,
SENATOR LEMAN said he thinks the concept of term limitations
has been fueled to a large extent by a Congress that has
become, to a large degree, a lifetime Congress. Also,
legislatures across the country have been dominated in many
respects by people that have served in office several terms.
The public feels disenfranchised because they don't have as
much of an opportunity to become involved in the process.
He said he believes by limiting terms it will bring back the
concept of a citizen legislature.
In terms of public support, SENATOR LEMAN related that polls
indicate 75 to 80 percent of the public support term
limitations.
Number 075
SENATOR LEMAN noted that SJR3 doesn't target any particular
person in the legislature, and, in fact, it would not apply
until after the 1994 election when the years would begin to
accrue, so it would apply fairly to everybody.
SENATOR LEMAN outlined what he considers to be key
advantages to term limits: (1) it would give more people
the opportunity to get involved, thus enhancing the concept
of a citizen legislature; (2) it would diminish the
advantages of incumbency and seniority; (3) it would help
equalize influence of districts and the citizens in those
districts whose legislators are senior members and could
have more influence; (4) it would make the legislature more
responsible and accountable for its actions; (5) it would
help insure that on a systematic basis there is some
turnover in the legislative body; and (6) it would help a
public perception that many people have towards the
legislature as being an entrenched body of people who care
more about themselves than they care about doing the
people's business. SENATOR LEMAN sees the legislation as
being a step in the right direction for making reforms that
would be beneficial and will make the legislature a better
body.
Concluding his comments, SENATOR LEMAN said he recognizes
that there are those who think that the term limit
restrictions are too lenient and that they should be more
restrictive, as well as those who think they should be less
restrictive. However, he believes his proposal achieves
somewhat of a compromise that is reasonable and consistent
with what many other states have done.
SENATOR TAYLOR asked why the legislation was not directed at
the congressional delegation as well. SENATOR LEMAN
responded that there is merit to tieing it all together, but
the problem, as he sees it, is that it complexes the issue.
However, he would not have a problem with putting together a
package that would include Congress as well.
SENATOR TAYLOR commented that it has been a big point of
debate in the state whether or not the congressional
delegation should also be included. He said if, in fact,
there is a place where seniority has an impact and where
longevity in office seems to be occurring, it's in the
United State Congress. He added that during the last
election, Congress had one of the largest turnovers that has
occurred historically in a long time.
SENATOR LEMAN suggested that if term limits were included
for the congressional delegation, it should be made
effective when other states do the same so as not to put
Alaska at a disadvantage.
Number 202
SENATOR MILLER turned the gavel back over to SENATOR LEMAN.
Number 220
Resa Jerrel, representing the National Federation of
Independent Business, related that in 1991 one of the issues
they polled their members on was term limitations. Eighty
percent of their members responded that they were in favor
of term limitations. A vast majority of their members favor
an eight-year term limitation. She urged that SJR 3 be
passed out of committee, and that the voters be given the
opportunity to vote it up or down.
SENATOR LEMAN thanked Ms. Jerrel for her testimony and then
stated the committee would stand in recess for approximately
10 minutes to prepare for teleconference testimony.
SENATOR LEMAN called the committee back to order, stating
the committee would begin taking testimony from the
Anchorage LIO.
Number 270
BONNIE JACK testified in support of term limits for
legislators. She added that she would support up to 12
years total service in either or both bodies combined with a
two-year hiatus as a private citizen.
MS JACK quoted statistics prepared by the Legislative
Research Agency relating to the turnover in each Alaska
Legislature since statehood.
Number 325
BOB BELL, Chairman, Alaskans for Legislative Reform, urged
support for SJR 3. He explained that in the last election
fourteen states had term limits on their ballots and all
fourteen passed.
SENATOR LEMAN, commenting on term limits for Congress, said
SJR 3 could be revised as a package or a companion
resolution to also limit terms for Congress, but that it
should not take effect until the other states had adopted
term limits.
BOB BELL said most of his committee would agree that it
would be catastrophic for Alaska to vote on term limits for
Congress at this time. He said he thought they would like
to see two separate bills. SENATOR LEMAN said it was his
intention to keep the two issues separate.
SENATOR TAYLOR asked if it would also be appropriate to
limit term of all sub-units of government, such as city
councils, borough assemblies, school boards, etc. BOB BELL
agreed wholeheartedly, and he said that the Anchorage
Assembly and the Anchorage School Board are now subject to a
three term limit (total of nine years). term limits.
Number 420
ROBERT GARDNER, a 19-year Alaska resident, testified in
support of SJR 3. He urged the members of the legislature
to put term limits to a vote of the people.
MYRNA MAYNARD testified against SJR 3. She believes that
with the election process there is already a means to limit
terms of office. MS MAYNARD suggested that if changes are
necessary, to start with campaign financing by limiting to
$1,000 the amount of money a candidate may receive from any
individual or organization.
Number 475
BILL COLLINS testified in favor of SJR 3. He said there
are many people serving in public office that should have
been replaced many years ago because that is not the will of
the people. It's a will of financial support base.
Due to the loss of a quorum, the Chairman announced the bill
would be held over until the next meeting.
There being no further business to come before the
committee, the meeting was adjourned at 9:55 a.m.
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