03/03/2016 06:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SJR1 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SJR 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE STATE AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 3, 2016
6:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Bill Stoltze, Chair
Senator John Coghill, Vice Chair
Senator Charlie Huggins
Senator Bill Wielechowski
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lesil McGuire
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1
Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State of Alaska
relating to the Alaska permanent fund, establishing the earnings
reserve account, relating to the permanent fund dividend, and
requiring the permanent fund dividend be at least equal to the
amount that would be calculated under current law.
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SJR 1
SHORT TITLE: CONST AM: GUARANTEE PERM FUND DIVIDEND
SPONSOR(s): SENATOR(s) WIELECHOWSKI
01/21/15 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/9/15
01/21/15 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/21/15 (S) STA, JUD, FIN
02/23/16 (S) STA AT 9:00 AM BUTROVICH 205
02/23/16 (S) Heard & Held
02/23/16 (S) MINUTE(STA)
03/03/16 (S) STA AT 6:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
WITNESS REGISTER
DON ETHERIDGE, Lobbyist
Alaska AFL-CIO
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in opposition of SJR 1.
JAKE JACOBSEN, representing himself
Kodiak, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 1.
DANIEL LYNCH, representing himself
Soldotna, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 1.
FRED STURMAN, representing himself
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SJR 1.
ED MARTIN, representing himself
Cooper Landing, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 1.
GARY MCDONALD, representing himself
Muldoon, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 1.
GEORGE PIERCE, representing himself
Kasilof, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 1.
BILL LAMBERT, representing himself
North Pole, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 1.
JAVEN OSE, representing himself
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified on SJR 1.
SHAUNA THORTON, representing herself
Kenai, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 1.
LINDSEY WYATT, representing himself
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 1.
DELICE CALCOTE, representing herself
Sutton, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Testified in support of SJR 1.
ACTION NARRATIVE
6:31:59 PM
CHAIR BILL STOLTZE called the Senate State Affairs Standing
Committee meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Wielechowski, Coghill, Huggins, and Chair
Stoltze.
SJR 1-CONST AM: GUARANTEE PERM FUND DIVIDEND
6:32:13 PM
CHAIR STOLTZE announced that the committee would hear public
testimony on SJR 1. He asked Senator Wielechowski, to provide an
overview of SJR 1.
6:32:46 PM
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, Alaska State Legislature, sponsor of
SJR 1, pointed out that the committee had six hours of public
testimony on various plans to use the Permanent Fund's earnings
reserve. He set forth that SJR 1 was something that would
protect the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). He said he knows that
the PFD is important to many Alaskans. He disclosed that he had
heard from his senior citizen and fixed-income constituents that
the PFD was an important aspect of their lives that they relied
on. He stated that SJR 1 would protect the PFD in the
Constitution while leaving the excess portion of the Permanents
Fund's earnings reserve available as was currently done.
6:33:58 PM
CHAIR STOLTZE noted that discussions regarding the PFD had come
during testimony in other bills. He said public testimony on SJR
1 was an opportunity for Alaskans specifically testify on the
PFD.
6:34:45 PM
DON ETHERIDGE, Lobbyist, Alaska AFL-CIO, Juneau, Alaska,
testified in opposition of SJR 1. He asserted that everything
should be left-on-the-table until the state figures out its
budget needs.
6:35:53 PM
JAKE JACOBSEN, representing himself, Kodiak, Alaska, testified
in support of SJR 1. He said he has enjoyed the PFD's benefits
as well as seeing the benefits that the PFD has provided to
people as well. He noted that he agreed with the studies by
Gunnar Knapp and Scott Goldsmith that the PFD clearly provides a
tremendous impact on the wellbeing of people throughout the
state.
6:37:44 PM
DANIEL LYNCH, representing himself, Soldotna, Alaska, testified
in support of SJR 1. He said the resolution was well thought out
and protected the PFD's original purpose. He stated that the PFD
did not make-or-break him, but the dividend made him part of the
involved citizenry. He set forth that changing the PFD program
would hurt Alaska's overall economy. He opined that children
cannot vote and were unrepresented, but their futures would be
effected by the change in the PFD program.
6:38:52 PM
FRED STURMAN, representing himself, Kenai, Alaska, did not
provide a position on SJR 1. He said he was in favor of
additional cuts to the state's budget.
6:40:53 PM
ED MARTIN, representing himself, Cooper Landing, Alaska,
testified in support of SJR 1. He noted that his father
petitioned the Legislature with 40,000 signatures to protect the
PFD the last time the state had a budget situation. He set forth
that enshrining the PFD in the state's constitution was more
important than ever. He asserted that the state should cut
spending, not institute a personal income tax, and the other
half of the Permanent Fund Earnings should be distributed to
Alaskans to purchase land in order to create a private economy
that is not based on government spending.
6:45:13 PM
GARY MCDONALD, representing himself, Muldoon, Alaska, testified
in support of SJR 1 and commended Senator Wielechowski for
presenting the resolution.
6:46:32 PM
GEORGE PIERCE, representing himself, Kasilof, Alaska, testified
in support of SJR 1. He stated that the Permanent Fund was set
up for Alaskans and should be protected. He asserted that
additional spending cuts be made in addition to taxes on
fishing, hunting, and guiding.
6:48:39 PM
BILL LAMBERT, representing himself, North Pole, Alaska,
testified in support of SJR 1. He suggested that the state's
costs be reduced prior to considering changes to the PFD.
6:50:51 PM
JAVEN OSE, representing himself, Anchorage, Alaska, did not
provide a position on SJR 1. He stated that he was concerned
that the PFD would be terminated or capped. He said Alaskans
would lose $4,000 over the next 4 years if the PFD was capped at
$1,000. He suggested that Alaskans receive credit for the money
they did not receive for land purchases.
CHAIR STOLTZE noted written testimony from citizens and shared
that Mike Miller for Anchorage opposed SJR 1; Jenny Mahlen, Vice
President, Golden Valley Branch, First National Alaska, opposed
SJR 1 as well.
6:53:22 PM
SHAUNA THORTON, representing herself, Kenai, Alaska, testified
in support of SJR 1. He added that the Legislature should look
at all aspects and long-term effects instead of just going for
the easy low-hanging-fruit.
6:54:46 PM
At ease.
6:56:51 PM
CHAIR STOLTZE called the committee back to order.
6:57:13 PM
LINDSEY WYATT, representing himself, Fairbanks, Alaska,
testified in support of SJR 1. He thanked the committee members
for thinking outside the box regarding the Permanent Fund.
CHAIR STOLTZE remarked that Alaskans were the owners of the
Permanent Fund and hearing comments on all of the PFD's aspects
was appropriate.
MR. WYATT said everybody has to cut, including the state's
school systems. He opined that the state has been through hard
times before and low oil prices were cyclical.
6:59:26 PM
DELICE CALCOTE, representing herself, Sutton, Alaska, testified
in support of SJR 1. She remarked that major changes in the
Permanent Fund's policies should be made to achieve higher
returns with greater social responsibility.
7:01:51 PM
At ease.
7:05:07 PM
CHAIR STOLTZE called the committee back to order.
7:06:00 PM
CHAIR STOLTZE closed public testimony on SJR 1.
[SJR 1 was held in committee.]
7:07:03 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Stoltze adjourned the Senate State Affairs Committee at
7:07 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SJR 1 Public Testimony to SSTA through 3-9-16.pdf |
SSTA 3/3/2016 6:30:00 PM |
SJR 1 |
| CSSSSB 91 Geriatric Parole Memo from Legal Services to SSTA Members .pdf |
SSTA 3/3/2016 6:30:00 PM |
SB 91 |