1997-05-10                     House Journal                      Page 1834
HB 112                                                                       
The following letter, dated May 10, 1997, was received at 4:30 p.m.:           
                                                                               

1997-05-10                     House Journal                      Page 1835
HB 112                                                                       
"Dear Speaker Phillips:                                                        
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. II, sec. 15, of the Alaska Constitution, I         
have vetoed the following bill:                                                
                                                                               
CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 112(FIN)                                                
"An Act amending the definition of `political party' except as the            
definition of the term applies to the regulation of contributions and          
expenditures in state and municipal election campaigns, an                     
amendment that also has the effect of changing the definition of               
'political organization' as applied to the regulation of games of              
chance and contests of skill."                                                 
                                                                               
The definition of political party is important for determining which           
parties can automatically place candidates on the general election             
ballot.  Currently, a party can be listed on the ballot only if it runs a      
gubernatorial candidate and that person receives three percent of total        
votes cast in the previous general election.  This method has been in          
place since statehood with the Alaska Supreme Court establishing the           
current three percent requirement.  There has been no public appeal to         
change this method.  Yet this bill proposes to do so by allowing a             
party to retain its status without running a gubernatorial candidate, if       
the party has a specific number of registered members.                         
                                                                               
I vetoed this bill because it sets an artificial standard that unfairly        
discriminates among the political parties in the state.  This political        
tinkering with the law is motivated to give an advantage to one party          
above all others.  The law should not be changed to serve that purpose,        
especially when the change is done without a good reason.  This lack           
of justification will inevitably lead to a court challenge and attendant       
uncertainty for the state's electoral system.                                  
                                                                               
							Sincerely,                                                              
							/s/                                                                     
							Tony Knowles                                                            
							Governor"