1994-07-15                     House Journal                      Page 4511
HB 367                                                                       
The following letter dated June 13, 1994, was received:                        
                                                                               
"Dear Speaker Barnes:                                                          
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. II, sec. 15, of the Alaska Constitution, I         
have vetoed the following bill:                                                
                                                                               

1994-07-15                     House Journal                      Page 4512
HB 367                                                                       
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 367 (JUD) am S                                          
"An Act relating to limitations on outdoor advertising signs,                 
displays, and devices and penalties for violations related to outdoor          
advertising."                                                                  
                                                                               
                                                                               
This bill would have done three things:  (1) it would have allowed the         
installation, on land adjacent to a highway right-of-way, of outdoor           
advertising intended to be seen from that highway; (2) it would have           
allowed the installation, under state supervision, of outdoor advertising      
signs within highway rights-of-way; and (3) it would have reduced,             
from a misdemeanor to a violation, the seriousness of a breach of              
outdoor advertising standards (although it would have increased the            
amount of the penalties that could be imposed).  I do not believe that         
any of these results are desirable.                                            
                                                                               
One of my goals, restated many times, is to upgrade Alaska's road              
system to National Scenic Highway standards.  This bill would be               
inconsistent with that goal by replacing some of Alaska's most                 
magnificent natural scenery with commercial messages.  The billboard           
battle was fought before statehood, and I have never wavered.  One of          
the final actions I took as U.S. Secretary of the Interior was to ban all      
billboards on hundreds of millions of acres of public lands throughout         
America.                                                                       
                                                                               
Alaska has one of the strongest outdoor advertising laws in the United         
States.  The result of our law is that the only signs along our highways       
are those installed by the state, municipalities, and the federal              
government, to provide directions to the traveling public or to give           
notice of spots of scenic or historic interest.  With these laws Alaskans      
have preserved a great public asset--Alaska's splendid scenery.   The          
state and the visitor industry have spent millions of dollars in               
advertising Alaska's unique attractions.  It makes little sense to spoil       
this great public asset which our summer visitors specifically come to         
see.                                                                           
                                                                               
At the same time, I recognize the need for providing directional               
information to travelers along Alaska's highways.  That is why the             
Alaska Department of Transportation operates a Tourist Oriented                
Directional Sign program that allows information signs to be placed in         
                                                                               

1994-07-15                     House Journal                      Page 4513
HB 367                                                                       
the highway right-of-way with a small business designation listed on           
the sign.  This program balances the need of providing valuable travel         
information with the desire to preserve Alaska's beautiful landscape.          
                                                                               
Alaska's laws banning outdoor advertising have been in force for               
nearly 30 years.  They are still accomplishing their goal--preserving          
our magnificent scenic vistas.  I must, therefore, veto this bill. 	           
	 			                                                                          
									Sincerely,                                                            
									/s/                                                                   
									Walter J. Hickel                                                      
									Governor"