1995-09-27                     House Journal                      Page 2318
appropriation of $75,000 from the Office of International Trade (OIT)          
in the Department of Commerce to the Northern Forum is technically             
incorrect since OIT is not an actual fund source.  Although I am               
vetoing the provision for technical reasons, the Department of                 
Commerce will be able to direct some of its funds to the Northern              
Forum as part of an overall plan being developed for international             
trade.                                                                         
                                                                               
                                                                               
HB 100                                                                       
Inappropriate Fund Source for Corrections  In May, I gave advance          
notice to the legislature and the public that I would veto a bill which        
would divert Permanent Fund dividend monies for an irresponsible               
one-time "fix" for the Corrections budget.  I continue to believe the          
legislature's approach was not responsible budgeting.  Although I              
support taking dividends from felons, the bill has two other effects           
which I oppose: taking money away from valuable projects such as               
alcohol programs which now garnish felon's checks and reducing the             
Permanent Fund dividend checks of all Alaskans.                                
                                                                               
Since I vetoed the bill as promised, I am now vetoing section 13 of the        
operating budget which refers to SB 135 as well as the corresponding           
intent language.  Without SB 135, Corrections will not actually receive        
$2.7 million of the total expenditure authority set by the legislature.        
The department is working on a plan for how to operate within the              
reduced funding level.  We will make every effort to find efficiencies         
and more cost-effective ways of housing prisoners.  However, the               
rising number of inmates, recent court orders and new crime bills              
which were unfunded by the legislature exacerbate an already difficult         
situation.  I will come back to the legislature if the lower funding level     
will compromise public safety or the safety of Corrections employees."         
                                                                               
                                                                               
HB 116                                                                       
A message dated June 29, 1995, was received stating the Governor has           
signed the following bill and is transmitting the engrossed and enrolled       
copies to the Lieutenant Governor's office for permanent filing:               
                                                                               
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 116(L&C)                                                
"An Act exempting the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute from                 
the State Procurement Code."