04/13/1993 01:00 PM House CRA

  HJR 22:  LEGISLATURE OF 25 SENATORS, 50 REPS                                 
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD FOSTER, PRIME SPONSOR OF HJR 22,                      
  testified saying, "I put it (HJR 22) in knowing that it                      
  probably wouldn't get anywhere, but I did it just to try to                  
  get various members of the legislature to start thinking of                  
  this concept because I think it's inevitable here, in the                    
  next few years, that this problem will have to be                            
  addressed..."                                                                
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER continued, "It (the present system)                    
  makes it prohibitive for the common person, just a regular                   
  working person, to run for election because it's impossible                  
  for most people to get enough campaign funds to be able to                   
  do that.  And it pretty much guarantees the future of an                     
  incumbent and I always thought it was unfair that the size                   
  of these districts kept other people from getting involved                   
  in the legislative process.  That's on the one hand.  On the                 
  other hand, my district is divided into Yupiks and Inupiaks                  
  and it's pretty much even.  Because of the size and the                      
  population required to make a house district, it creates                     
  disunity..."                                                                 
                                                                               
  Number 324                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER added, "This bill (HJR 22), I was                      
  hoping would address some of those problems, the only                        
  problem is, naturally, its got a big fiscal note...  By                      
  shrinking these areas and increasing the numbers of                          
  Senator's and representatives, I think it'll make                            
  legislators more responsive to the needs of the people...                    
  I'm afraid by the year 2000, Senator Adams's Senate district                 
  will probably become a House district because of the size of                 
  Anchorage and the fact that the urban population tends to                    
  grow drastically faster than does the birth rate of the                      
  rural people."                                                               
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER concluded, "That's the way I feel.                     
  I've introduced this bill (HJR 22) as more of an educational                 
  effort for my colleagues and I don't see it going anywhere                   
  but I do hope to get some sympathy and understanding on this                 
  and I think it will come up, possibly not from me in the                     
  years to come, but from somebody else.  I think it's                         
  important enough that it should be addressed by somebody."                   
                                                                               
  Number 390                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE WILLIS said, "Back when I was in the                          
  legislature before, there was a concept put forth on                         
  unicameral government.  Have you thought of that concept?"                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER replied, "When I was a freshman here I                 
  thought that would be the most efficient, effective way of                   
  getting things done, in that there's no time delay in trying                 
  to address the plight of the poor, for example, or issues                    
  even though they might be controversial...but the longer I'm                 
  here, the more it frightens me that if there's only one                      
  legislative body and you had some real stinking legislation                  
  coming from the other side, there's no way to stop it and I                  
  can't help but think that one checkmates the other and the                   
  cost of delay and everything is worth the terror that it                     
  might bring down."                                                           
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN OLBERG joked, "And there wouldn't be another body                   
  to blame everything on either."                                              
                                                                               
  Number 407                                                                   
                                                                               
  VICE CHAIR SANDERS asked, "Wouldn't it help your fiscal note                 
  substantially if you put the effective date of this off to                   
  2002?  That way it could all be incorporated with the new                    
  reapportionment rather than try to reapportion in the middle                 
  of things?"                                                                  
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER said, "A lot of the agencies that                      
  don't like a certain concept you advance will give you a big                 
  fiscal note.  I don't mind that so much, I just want the                     
  forum to explain the frustration of the Bush, and whether                    
  it's one million or five million, it's almost mute to me.  I                 
  don't see this really going anywhere right now..."                           
                                                                               
  Number 426                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE CON BUNDE said, "I support your idea, I can                   
  only imagine the frustration of these huge areas and trying                  
  to navigate around there.  But I also share your concern                     
  about the huge fiscal note...I wish we could back up a year                  
  and have this come up before reapportionment instead of                      
  after reapportionment..."                                                    
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN OLBERG said, "My district is fairly compact                         
  compared to some, but it's still an all day trip to get from                 
  one end to the other.  To get to Cordova, I have to drive to                 
  Fairbanks and get on a plane..."                                             
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER said, "It took me all summer to hit 30                 
  villages in my district..."                                                  
                                                                               
  Number 467                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE said, "To add to the discussion, my                     
  district is three miles by six miles...a tank of gas costs                   
  me a lot less."                                                              
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER said, "I did not introduce this bill                   
  (HJR 22) with any intention of it making it to the floor but                 
  I would appreciate a consideration, if I could have the same                 
  forum that I'm having with you, before the finance                           
  committee.  We know it's not going anywhere with the finance                 
  committee because of the fiscal note, but if it's your                       
  pleasure to hold it that's fine with me too.  At least I've                  
  had the honor of talking with each of you today and I                        
  appreciate your time."                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 477                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS MOVED to PASS HJR 22 out of                          
  committee with individual recommendations.  There were no                    
  objections, and IT SO MOVED.                                                 
                                                                               
  Number 481                                                                   
                                                                               
  ADJOURNMENT                                                                  
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN OLBERG adjourned the meeting at 2:15 p.m.