Legislature(1997 - 1998)
1998-07-15 House Journal
Full Journal pdf1998-07-15 House Journal Page 4097 HB 325 The following letter, dated June 30, was received July 1, 1998: "Dear Speaker Phillips: On this date I have signed the following bill with certain line item vetoes and am transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to the Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing: CONFERENCE CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 325(brf sup maj fld H/S) "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan program expenses of state government, for certain programs, and to capitalize funds; and providing for an effective date." Chapter No. 137, SLA 1998 ¦Effective Date: July 1, 1998á The final operating budget for Fiscal Year 1999 reflects the significant progress we made together this year on the major goals of the budget I proposed last December -- safe, healthy children and communities, quality education, good jobs for Alaskans and budget discipline. Among the highlights of our bipartisan effort: *An historic increase in funds for our schools and partial restoration of money for the University of Alaska; 1998-07-15 House Journal Page 4098 HB 325 *A major step toward zero tolerance for the abuse and neglect of Alaska's children through my Smart Start initiative, including adding 28 more child protection workers; *Improving public safety with 15 more state Troopers and sorely needed pay raises for Village Public Safety Officers; *Continuing our partnerships with industry to "do it right" when it comes to responsible development of Alaskas resources by hiring Alaskans and protecting and conserving our air, water and habitat; and *Ensuring efficient government services and demonstrable results. This budget makes these major new commitments to children, education and economic development without severely undermining other important services provided by our departments. In the end, the Legislature generally adopted a hold the line approach to state services and avoided the massive cuts that worried many Alaskans. I believe theres broad consensus in Alaska that even in a time of lower oil prices, we can ill afford to ignore the needs of our children and public schools. Nevertheless, since Fiscal Year 1995, the general fund budget has been cut $237.5 million. It is now $1,605 less per person in todays dollars than it was in 1979, the last pre-oil boom budget year. I have opted against vetoing any funds proposed in this budget bill. I did, however, follow a long-standing practice of Alaska governors by vetoing all intent language unless it specifically addresses funding, such as recommending that a department pursue program receipt authorization during the year. Governors have routinely vetoed intent language because it is not consistent with the limitations our state Constitution places on appropriations bills. I note that in many cases I wholeheartedly agree with the expressed intent, such as increasing Alaska National Guard recruitment efforts in rural Alaska. You will also see that I have lined out the "missions and measures" language inserted into the budget bill during the Finance Committee process. Again, this does not signal my disagreement with either the concept of performance budgeting or having written missions and 1998-07-15 House Journal Page 4099 HB 325 measures. Although missions and measures have been in state budget documents for years, they were largely ignored. My administration has worked to turn them from a rote exercise into a more effective focus on state government goals and strategies, and how the budget can support them. This effort began with our first Executive Budget Summary which completely changed the way the governors office presented its budget to the public. First, I outlined my statewide goals and strategies. Then each department did the same, plus highlighted its key performance measures. The next year, our Budget Summary told people what progress we were making on those measures. I am pleased the Legislature headed in the direction of performance budgeting this year. However, because of the state constitutional limit on the content of budget bills, we suggested that missions and measures be adopted in another form, not the appropriations bill. I look forward to working with the Legislature to implement effective results-based budgeting and to finding the most appropriate way to present it to the public. As we close out this year's work on the Fiscal 1999 budget, we face even greater challenges next year to sustain the important initiatives begun in this budget. For instance, in FY2000 we must provide childrens health coverage for a full 12 months, make the second installment on our financial commitment to Quality Education and begin paying debt service on the new AHFC bond-funded projects. Some of these investments will pay future dividends in the form of lower costs and healthier, better educated children. The Legislature also will have to address some unfilled FY1999 needs, such as adequate funding for the Catastrophic and Chronic Illness Assistance program (the replacement for General Relief Medical), disaster relief, continued compliance with the court order on prison conditions in the Cleary case and increased courtroom security. (Interagency receipts for more security were authorized in the Trooper budget but the court did not get additional funds to pay them.) 1998-07-15 House Journal Page 4100 HB 325 While our future challenges will be significant, I am confident we can meet them together in a positive, bipartisan effort. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor Attachment" The following was attached to the Governor's transmittal letter for CCS HB 325(brf sup maj fld H/S): "Fiscal Year 1999 Operating Budget Bill Vetoes of language which is inconsistent with constitutional limitations on appropriation bills Missions and Performance Measures Page 16, lines 2631 Page 35, lines 3-13 Page 17, lines 2833 Page 35, lines 23-33 Page 18, line 3 Page 36, lines 3-16 Page 19, lines 23-33 Page 37, lines 7-13 Page 20, lines 18-25 Page 38, lines 3-17 Page 21, lines 8-14 Page 38, lines 27-31 Page 21, lines 16-29 Page 39, lines 3-17 Page 21, lines 31 & 32 Page 41, lines 11-17 Page 22, lines 3-6 Page 43, lines 28-32 Page 22, lines 31-33 Page 44, lines 3-6 Page 23, lines 3-11 Page 46, lines 8-15 Page 23, lines 13-32 Page 47, lines 16-33 Page 24, lines 29-33 Page 48, line 3 Page 25, line 3 Page 48, lines 16-32 Page 26, lines 19-32 Page 49, lines 3-28 Page 27, lines 3-10 Page 49, lines 31 & 32 Page 28, lines 24-32 Page 50, lines 3 & 4 Page 29, lines 8-16 Page 50, lines 9-27 Page 30, lines 13-23 Page 50, lines 29-33 Page 31, lines 18-27 Page 51, lines 3-15 Page 33, lines 12-31 Page 51, lines 17-33 1998-07-15 House Journal Page 4101 HB 325 Governor's attachment specifying line item vetoes (cont.): Page 52, line 3 Page 52, lines 11-18 Page 52, lines 24-30 Page 53, lines 3-9 Page 54, lines 5-11 Page 54, lines 13-30 Page 55, lines 5-11 Page 55, lines 14-24 Page 55, lines 28-32 Page 56, lines 3-8 Page 56, lines 17-23 Page 56, lines 25-31 Page 57, lines 27-33 Page 58, lines 3 & 4 Page 58, lines 6-11 Page 63, lines 19-25 Page 64, lines 10-18 Intent Page 18, lines 9 & 10 Page 60, lines 10-16 Page 18, lines 1921 Page 61, lines 30-33 Page 21, lines 3-5 Page 62, lines 7 & 8 Page 25, lines 18-26 Page 62, lines 13 & 14 Page 29, lines 31-33 Page 63, lines 16 & 17 Page 30, lines 3-7 Page 64, lines 3-6 Page 32, lines 26-32 Page 64, lines 19 & 20" Page 36, lines 17-23 Page 36, line 26 Page 41, lines 8 & 9 Page 43, lines 5-7 Page 45, lines 25-30 Page 46, lines 16-19 Page 48, lines 9-14 Page 52, lines 19-21 Page 53, lines 26 & 27 Page 56, lines 9-15 Page 57, lines 9-13