2003-01-24                     House Journal                      Page 0061
HB 75                                                                                             
HOUSE BILL NO. 75 by the House Rules Committee by request of                                        
the Governor, entitled:                                                                             
                                                                                                    
     "An Act making appropriations for the operating and loan                                       
     program expenses of state government, for certain programs, and                                
     to capitalize funds; making appropriations under art. IX, sec.                                 
     17(c), Constitution of the State of Alaska, from the constitutional                            
     budget reserve fund; and providing for an effective date."                                     
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
was read the first time and referred to the Finance Committee.                                      
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
The Governor's transmittal letter dated January 23, 2003, follows:                                  
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Kott:                                                                                 
                                                                                                    
AS 37.07.020 required that I submit a budget for the 2004 fiscal year                               
to the Legislature and the public on December 15th of last year.  That                              
law also requires that 'bills identical in content' to those I released in                          
December be delivered to the Legislature by the fourth legislative day.                             
The bills delivered today contain the Fiscal Year 2003 operating                                    
budget as appropriated by the last Legislature and signed into law by                               
the previous Governor.  Again, they provide a useful point of                                       
reference for your budget discussions.                                                              
                                                                                                    
This Administration will use the next five weeks to prepare for                                     
delivery to you a responsive state budget for fiscal year 2004.                                     
Departments are evaluating all services they deliver, using the process                             
set forth in Administrative Order 202.  This process includes                                       
identification of the intended purpose of all programs, their                                       
effectiveness in delivering those results, and the efficiency in which                              
they use public dollars.  The goal is to provide a basis upon which                                 
reasoned budget decisions may be made that further the goals of my                                  
Administration.                                                                                     
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
I look forward to working closely with this Legislature to jointly craft                            
a responsive state budget that efficiently provides Alaska residents                                

2003-01-24                     House Journal                      Page 0062
essential state services at a cost that the state can afford over the long-                         
term.                                                                                               
                                                                                                    
                                Sincerely,                                                         
                                /s/                                                                 
                                Frank H. Murkowski                                                  
                                Governor"                                                          
                                                                                                    
Administrative Order No. 202 was attached.