Legislature(2009 - 2010)Anch LIO Rm 220
08/10/2009 10:30 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing for Craig Campbell, Lieutenant Governor Designee | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
August 10, 2009
10:27 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Linda Menard, Chair
Senator Kevin Meyer, Vice Chair
Senator Hollis French
Senator Joe Paskvan
Senator Albert Kookesh
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Senator Johnny Ellis
Senator Fred Dyson
Representative Lindsey Holmes
Representative Nancy Dahlstrom
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Confirmation of Craig E. Campbell, Lieutenant Governor Designee
CONFIRMATION ADVANCED
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
CRAIG CAMPBELL
Lieutenant Governor Designee
POSITION STATEMENT: Made opening statement regarding his
appointment as lieutenant governor.
PAUL KENDAL, Clean Electric
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Supported forwarding Mr. Campbell's name.
ROBERT GOODMAN, representing himself
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed Mr. Campbell's appointment.
CLYDE BLAXLEY, retired private citizen
Anchorage, AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed Mr. Campbell's appointment.
BETTY WILLIAMS, parent of a former Alaska Guardsman
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed Mr. Campbell's appointment.
RICHARD WILLIAMS, parent of former Guardsman
POSITION STATEMENT: Opposed Mr. Campbell's appointment.
ACTION NARRATIVE
10:27:11 AM
CHAIR LINDA MENARD called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 10:35 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Meyer, French, Paskvan and Menard.
^Confirmation hearing for Craig Campbell, Lieutenant Governor
Designee
CHAIR MENARD announced the business before the committee to be
the confirmation hearing for Craig Campbell as Lieutenant
Governor.
SENATOR MEYER said he has a potential conflict of interest
because his wife works for General Campbell as a special
assistant.
CHAIR MENARD said she expected him to vote on the floor.
CRAIG CAMPBELL, Lieutenant Governor Designee, made an opening
statement and introduced his family. He said the record reflects
how well he ran the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
10:31:22 AM
He moved to Alaska in 1981. At first he was in the National
Guard part time and had jobs in the private sector doing airport
work. He is a licensed pilot and loves the aviation aspect of
being in Alaska. One of the reasons he got out of the military
in 1984 is that he became interested in public service. He first
ran for the Eagle River Assembly in 1986 and served for 9.5
years. He moved on to the board of the Matanuska Electric
Association and then worked for the Municipality of Anchorage
for 2.5 years to make it more user friendly for those who wanted
to develop while protecting the environment.
10:35:40 AM
SENATOR FRENCH said since he is in line to potentially become
the next governor of Alaska, he wanted him to explain why he
said the federal government "bribed" the state into receiving
the stimulus funds.
MR. CAMPBELL acknowledged that he used the word "bribed" because
he is very conservative and was very concerned that taking money
from the federal government would require the state to do
something that it wouldn't necessarily do otherwise. He would
argue that seatbelts to some degree should be an individual's
choice, also. But it is tied to road money and a lot of other
things that we want, so therefore, we require seatbelts to be
worn as opposed to allowing the choice. He said he thought the
word "bribed" described accepting something to do something that
we wouldn't do just to get the money.
10:42:28 AM
SENATOR FRENCH said many people think the word "bribed" is
connected to illegality, and he wanted Mr. Campbell in his new
role to use a less inflammatory, more neutral, term. He was
disturbed about the message it sent back to Washington D.C.
given the tens of thousands of jobs in this state that are
dependent on federal spending.
MR. CAMPBELL replied that in his experience the federal
government will not pay any attention to the fact that he said
it.
SENATOR FRENCH said the ISER report notes that one third of
Alaskan jobs can be traced to federal spending. Federal spending
in Alaska more than doubled between 1995 and 2005; and in 2006
it was $9.25 billion. Federal spending here has stopped growing
and many Alaskans are worried that the economy, estimated to be
$450 million to $1.25 billion is vulnerable, which could cost
the economy anywhere from 7,000 to 20,000 jobs in the future.
Senator French said he has a big stake in the Anchorage economy
and that concerns him and he hoped it would concern the top
policy makers in the state.
The word "bribe" is not a good word to use because it connotes
illegality and something illicit. The fact that this state has
long been dependent on federal dollars from its very inception,
if not before, should put us in the position of being willing to
have the discussion on honest and tough policy decisions without
veering into terms like that that are so charged. "So, that's my
request to you before I vote on your confirmation."
MR. CAMPBELL replied that he accepted his guidance. With that,
he said he too supports federal funding in Alaska, but he wants
to make sure it is in Alaska's best interest. He wants to expand
jobs beyond the federal economy.
10:49:01 AM
CHAIR MENARD recognized Senators Johnny Ellis and Fred Dyson;
Representatives Lindsey Holmes and Nancy Dahlstrom.
10:49:19 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if he supported privatization of such
things as public police and fire, public libraries, public
schools. "What is your attitude as far as privatization of
government?"
MR. CAMPBELL replied that police should be public; some aspects
of fire could be privatized. Schools should have a variety of
choices. The public education system must be paid for by the
public, and we must have them, but private schools systems
should be encouraged because that provides diversity and
choices. Libraries have both public and private functions. With
today's technology there is much more access to information than
just going to a library; so there is an open discussion as to
how much needs to be a public library aspect and "resources from
other aspects that you can have as a library function."
10:51:03 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked why he differentiates between police and
fire within the realm of public safety.
MR. CAMPBELL replied that the fire department provides some
functions such as the ambulance service that can be done by
other private sectors. He was not suggesting that the fire
fighters should be privatized.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if he believed that public libraries
should be subsidized by the people of Alaska.
MR. CAMPBELL replied that to the extent we have public
libraries, public dollars should be used.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if he would ultimately not want to have
public libraries.
MR. CAMPBELL replied, "I think I have already answered that
question. I think I said I do believe in public libraries and
that there is a role for the public to pay for libraries."
10:53:05 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if he would continue to advocate for
barriers to gay Alaskans who are working in schools, the health
care field or food service.
MR. CAMPBELL replied those issues had been already been resolved
in the State of Alaska and he didn't have any conflicts with the
way they had been resolved.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if the oil and gas industry should be
taxed beyond what it takes for government to monitor the
industry.
MR. CAMPBELL replied that oil industry taxes should be fair to
the industry and to the citizens of Alaska. The people of Alaska
own the resources and industry needs to pay its fair share of
what it extracts from Alaska. He felt today's tax system had
reached a good balance. The oil industry is making profits from
the sale of the state's resources; so he has never suggested
that their taxes be restricted.
10:54:41 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN said that the oil industry is developing some
non-state resources and asked if there should be taxation beyond
what it takes to regulate or monitor the industry if the
resource comes from a non-state owned site - income taxes, for
instance - because they are using our roads and those types of
things.
10:56:01 AM
MR. CAMPBELL replied that he doesn't look at a local, state,
federal or excise tax versus sales and income tax. He looks at
the tax burden against the citizen. In some states that burden
is over 50 percent, and he didn't think that was right. We
should try minimizing the tax burden on citizens, and allow them
to invest their money where they want. "That's what makes a
prosperous society." But he didn't think oil industry taxes
should be limited to the lowest level just for the purposes of
monitoring it.
CHAIR MENARD asked if he should have to step in as governor what
would be his first action.
MR. CAMPBELL replied that he would call an election to legally
declare the next governor.
CHAIR MENARD said in case of a tragedy.
10:58:51 AM
MR. CAMPBELL replied he works closely with the governor and
would soon become acquainted with his policies and wouldn't
change them.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if he would support a school voucher
program.
MR. CAMPBELL answered yes.
SENATOR FRENCH asked if the current oil tax system needs
changing.
MR. CAMPBELL answered no.
10:59:57 AM
SENATOR PASKVAN said he had previously asked him for information
and his response was "I'm not going to give you any." So, he
wanted to know if that was the type of working relationship he
wanted to have with the Legislature in general or just how would
he address that issue.
MR. CAMPBELL denied that he said he wouldn't provide
information. He clarified that Senator Paskvan asked for a lot
of information that he didn't have and didn't keep track of, and
he remembered directing him to other services for it. He said it
wasn't his intent to "brush you off," but rather to give him
guidance on where he could find the unbiased information.
11:02:13 AM
CHAIR MENARD closed the question period and opened up public
comments.
11:02:39 AM
PAUL KENDAL, Clean Electric, Anchorage, said he has no
differences with Mr. Campbell; he sounded like an honorable man
when he had a discussion with him on the phone. He hoped the
Lieutenant Governor would keep in mind that Alaska is at the
forefront of a "new day and era." Over 50 manufacturers of
electric vehicles "are breaching within the next three years."
He said the electrification of America is well on its way, and
he would be very concerned if he heard any leaders talking about
privatizing energy. He hoped Mr. Campbell would realize that
energy is integral to our very existence.
ROBERT GOODMAN, representing himself, Anchorage, said he has
over 40 years of military experience in the personnel and
administration field with 32 years of it in the Alaska National
Guard (ATG). Because of General Campbell's record, most believe
him to be an honorable man who performed in a superior manner.
His list of accomplishments is great, and "General Campbell
gives a superb presentation no matter what the subject." He
always stayed within his budget even at a great expense to the
Territorial Guard members.
MR. GOODMAN said he, too, believed in General Campbell at one
time. "That all changed when on 6 January 2006 I called him for
help to obtain the ATG veterans their discharges in the least
amount of time." He said on December 3, 2005 only 68 discharges
had been issued and Mr. Goodman, himself, had provided 74
percent of them. All veterans due money should have had their
discharge in hand. General Campbell said he didn't have the
funds for the veterans and that it wasn't one of his priorities.
These were World War II veterans in their "80s plus" years; 53
percent of them were from the Nome Kotzebue area. All of them
should have been "I.D.ed" and discharged by December 31, 2005
and submitted for pay due of approximately $2,300,000 as of
August 9, 2009. If General Campbell submitted them for pay as
their discharges were issued, this would not have happened. He
talked to the Governor and since that time General Campbell has
been "deceitful and deceptive and has shown a complete lack of
integrity when dealing with me concerning the ATG issue."
MR. GOODMAN said when the person at the top lacks integrity it
affects the whole organization down the line. It took him 6.5
years to identify 54 veterans. He said these WWII veterans still
have not been paid their state retirement pay of as much as
$6,200, which could have been paid shortly after General
Campbell signed the request of discharge. On October 18, 2004
Senator Lisa Murkowski presented the first discharge to Sam
Herman. General Campbell stated at the time that it was a
disgrace that members passed away without being recognized.
MR. GOODMAN said that Mr. Campbell had access to the names and
addresses of all the ATG veterans who could have been entitled
to benefits, but it took him approximately 6.5 years to identify
54 people due approximately $2 million. He had with him 18
signatures from people from the Bush that have authorized him to
act on their behalf.
He said that General Campbell violated the state military code
by appointing an officer as assistant Attorney General who
didn't have five years of service in the Alaska National Guard
and by reassigning the commander of the State Defense Force
under the Assistant Attorney General.
11:11:24 AM
CLYDE BLAXLEY, retired private citizen, Anchorage, said he took
umbrage with Mr. Campbell's attitude toward taxes and what
government should pay for. Mr. Campbell referred to taxes as a
burden to citizens, their children and future generations, but
to him, that is "a misplaced concept."
MR. BLAXLEY said, "But taxes are meant to pay people for
services that they received. My experience has been that
government services are not provided to people until they ask
for them. And then the services come down the pike, then the
taxes are used to pay for these services. So, it's not really a
burden...." He said he was very willing to pay for the services
he gets and he was sorry that Mr. Campbell looked at it
differently.
11:13:55 AM
MR. CAMPBELL said he didn't mean to convey that he didn't
believe in government and that people should not be taxed. The
burden he refers to is where in some states citizens pay over 50
percent of what they make in various taxes. He is concerned
about the point at which government is providing more than it
should provide.
In regards to the Alaska Territorial Guard issue, he said that
in 2000, Senator Stevens passed a law allowing the Territorial
Guard members into the military for discharge purposes. It had
been 60 years since WWII and they hadn't even been recognized as
veterans. When that passed, nothing had been done until he
became the commissioner and he hired Mr. Goodman to start the
program, which he did. Then he didn't believe the terms were
good enough for him and left his service. He brought in others
who have been excelling. In the first two years of the program
they brought in about 75 members, but since that period they
have brought in about 1,500 members. He has three staff working
on it; they have outreach across the state. Whenever Troopers
are traveling they advertise, and the tribal councils in the
communities are helping with receiving the discharge packets.
They have the names of all 6,600-plus veterans and are trying to
contact their families.
He said it was unfortunate when the federal government decided
it was not going to pay the discharge benefits, and that
required a lot of effort to straightening out - especially for
Senator Begich who pushed hard to get the federal government
back to paying the retirement benefits to those in the ATG.
11:16:45 AM
SENATOR FRENCH asked the steps in finding, locating and
processing the Alaska Territorial Guard members.
MR. CAMPBELL replied it is a very difficult process. It happened
so long ago that it's hard to put all the paperwork together.
The first 75-100 were the easy ones to be found. About 300 are
still living. Making sure you contact them and then the language
issue of being able to communicate what you need to get for
background information. Most don't have a social security number
or the DD214 or any of the forms the Army would normally expect.
So they go through a process of getting all collateral
information from the individual to show they were there.
Pictures help. They try to build the case through an application
process that validates that the individual with all
reasonableness did service in the Alaska Territorial Guard. They
are vetted against the list of all known members who were in the
Guard. A board processes and certifies that. When it is
certified it goes to him for verification and to forward to the
Army.
Few are still living and then it goes into the families. They
still try to get certificates because it may provide some
benefits for the families. It becomes even more difficult for
the families to try to find any substantiation that their loved
one had been in the ATG.
SENATOR FRENCH asked what timeframe he was working with.
MR. CAMPBELL replied that initially he was optimistic and
thought it could be done in a few years; but now he is less
optimistic because the longer it takes the more difficult it is
to get the paperwork. This program will continue until
applications are no longer filed. He remarked three years ago
when money became the issue, he didn't go for a supplemental,
but the legislature added $50,000 to his budget every year. That
has been used to process and employ people to do the ATG
outreach program. That has added up to $150,000 and that will
continue to be his budget.
11:19:39 AM
SENATOR KOOKESH joined the meeting.
11:20:29 AM
BETTY WILLIAMS, parent of a former Alaska Guardsman, said she is
testifying for her son because he still fears retaliation from
Generals Campbell and Kakas even though he is retiring. Her son
who is a real war hero is the recipient of more than 50 awards
and honors and it wasn't for sitting behind a desk plotting
retaliation. "He is retiring because he is fed up with the
treachery from Generals Campbell and Kakas."
Her son served two tours in Afghanistan with bravery and honor.
Many from the Guard sent anonymous concerns into Andrew Halcro's
column stating that Mr. Campbell was a politician first and
foremost and that the Guard was at its lowest morale in years.
He has a pattern of covering up for cronies; he lacks integrity
and doesn't follow regulations. "He's an inept man, if you want
to get down to the truth. Morale in the troops is extremely
low."
11:24:38 AM
RICHARD WILLIAMS, parent of former Guardsman, said "The main
thing is that General Campbell has no character whatsoever." He
wrote a letter to Senator Murkowski in response to a
Congressional complaint and lied about officers on the
complaint. He falsified records, imprisoned one, and slept with
others. Mr. Williams recommended an investigation.
11:28:17 AM
SENATOR MEYER moved to forward Mr. Campbell's name on to the
full body for confirmation as Lieutenant Governor. There were no
objections and it was so ordered.
11:28:43 AM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Menard adjourned the meeting at 11:28 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|