04/09/2014 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY

              HB 284-COMPACT FOR A BALANCED BUDGET                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:36:51 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COGHILL announced  the consideration  of HB  284. "An  Act                                                               
relating to an interstate compact  on a balanced federal budget."                                                               
This was  the third  hearing. Commenting that  this was  a policy                                                               
call, he  then asked  Senator Wielechowski  if all  his questions                                                               
had been answered.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  WIELECHOWSKI  agreed  it  was a  policy  call,  but  not                                                               
something he was inclined to support.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COGHILL solicited a motion.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:37:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  DYSON  moved  to  report  HB  284  from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:38:21 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI objected. He  said he appreciates that there                                                               
are concerns about getting the  federal budget under control, but                                                               
this approach  is also  cause for  concern. In  particular, there                                                               
are  no  protections  against cutting  national  defense,  Social                                                               
Security, Medicare,  and education.  Furthermore, the  bill isn't                                                               
really a balanced budget amendment  because it continues to allow                                                               
$21 trillion  in debt.  Alaska receives  over $15,000  per person                                                               
from the  federal government  every year which  is more  than any                                                               
other state. This proposal is  likely to change that, which would                                                               
hurt the Alaskan economy. He maintained his objection.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COGHILL   offered  his  perspective  that   the  bill  has                                                               
safeguards. Congress has  to make the call and 38  states have to                                                               
agree to  move forward. Congress  now can  set any debt  limit it                                                               
likes so having something go  forward that offers some measure of                                                               
control is  worthwhile. He expressed  support for  moving forward                                                               
so that Congress gets the message.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Finding  no further  comments,  Chair Coghill  asked  for a  roll                                                               
call.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:40:41 PM                                                                                                                    
A roll  call vote was  taken. Senators Dyson, Olson,  and Coghill                                                               
voted in  favor of  reporting HB 284  from committee  and Senator                                                               
Wielechowski voted against it. Therefore,  HB 284 passed from the                                                               
Senate Judiciary Standing Committee by a 3:1 vote.