03/24/2014 07:00 PM House FINANCE

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State                                                                      
     of Alaska relating to the office of attorney general.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7:03:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze stated that the  purpose of the meeting was                                                                    
to take public  testimony. He felt that it  was important to                                                                    
have committee discussion related to HJR 18.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
7:04:40 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:29:36 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7:30:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIKE COONS, SELF, PALMER  (via teleconference), testified in                                                                    
support of HJR 18. He commented  on the outcome of the Katie                                                                    
John  vs.   Norton  case   during  Governor   Tony  Knowles'                                                                    
administration. He felt  that the outcome of  the case would                                                                    
have  been   different,  if  there   had  been   an  elected                                                                    
conservative Attorney  General. He stressed that  an elected                                                                    
conservative  Attorney   General  was  important   to  stand                                                                    
against  the  federal  government regulations.  He  remarked                                                                    
that  the   people  of   Alaska  needed   to  vote   on  the                                                                    
constitutional amendment,  in order to open  a federal road,                                                                    
build a  coal power plant, and  drill for oil in  the Arctic                                                                    
National  Wildlife  Refuge  (ANWR).   He  announced  that  a                                                                    
conservative Attorney General was  necessary for the benefit                                                                    
of all Alaskans.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
7:35:39 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:42:55 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony.