2002-05-17                     House Journal                      Page 3853
HJR 201                                                                                           
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 201 by the House Rules                                                   
Committee by request of the Governor, entitled:                                                     
                                                                                                    
     Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of                                     
     Alaska relating to providing for priorities for and among                                      
     subsistence uses in the allocation of fish, wildlife, and other                                
     renewable resources.                                                                           
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Resources, Judiciary, and                               
Finance Committees.                                                                                 
                                                                                                    
The following fiscal note(s) apply:                                                                 
                                                                                                    
1.  Fiscal, Office of the Governor                                                                  
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
The Governor's transmittal letter dated May 17, 2002, follows:                                      
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
Today I am presenting the subsistence joint resolution that I                                       
introduced in February during the regular session.  That joint                                      
resolution, HJR 41, received a hearing in the House Resources                                       
Committee but did not progress any further.  The Senate version, SJR
, received no hearings.  That is unfortunate because the citizens of                              
Alaska clearly want to vote on this issue.                                                          
                                                                                                    
Over 70 percent of the Anchorage voters who voted in a municipal                                    
election this spring favored putting a constitutional amendment                                     
concerning subsistence on the ballot.  Business leaders have testified                              
that the state's inability to resolve this issue will hinder resource                               
development.  Religious leaders have urged that we take this action in                              
order to bridge the growing urban-rural divide in Alaska.  Native                                   
leaders say that this may be the last time that Alaska Natives will                                 
support a return to state management of our fish and game.                                          
Nevertheless, some legislators have turned a deaf ear to those voices.                              

2002-05-17                     House Journal                      Page 3854
While those legislators have ignored their constituents, the federal                                
government has continued to strengthen its grip on subsistence                                      
management.  That management is diverging more and more from the                                    
way state boards deal with our fish and game.  Dual management                                      
confuses the public, upsets historic patterns of allocation, and will                               
ultimately jeopardize the health of our resources.                                                  
                                                                                                    
Time is drawing short for Alaskans to solve this problem.  I urge you                               
to work with me to unify our state and to regain our right to manage                                
all uses of Alaska's resources.                                                                     
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
                                Sincerely,                                                         
                                /s/                                                                 
                                Tony Knowles                                                        
                                Governor"