03/06/2008 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

                    HJR 16-OPPOSING MILK TAX                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:40:25 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR ELLIS announced HJR 16 to be up for consideration.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
DIRK MOFFATT,  staff to Representative  Lynn, sponsor of  HJR 16,                                                               
said  the Chair  had  asked a  question in  the  February 21  L&C                                                               
meeting  about  a letter  from  Department  of Natural  Resources                                                               
(DNR)  about the  constitutionality  of the  "Got Milk"  campaign                                                               
that said  it might  be prudent  to wait for  the outcome  of the                                                               
Beef Act  case. He found  that "on May  23, 2005 the  court ruled                                                               
against WORK and the Livestock Marketing  Association in a 6 to 3                                                               
decision  saying  that  mandatory beef  check-off  is  government                                                               
speech and  therefore, does not violate  the constitution's right                                                               
to free  speech." Mr.  Moffatt explained the  idea was  that this                                                               
resolution  might not  be  necessary,  but as  it  stands now  if                                                               
Alaska is  added to the  list of  states where producers  have to                                                               
pay the milk tax, there's nothing unconstitutional about it.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR ELLIS found no further questions.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BUNDE moved to report HJR 16 from committee with                                                                        
individual recommendations. There were no objections and it was                                                                 
so ordered.