03/22/2002 09:38 AM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
     SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 29                                                                                        
     Relating to urging the Governor to institute a hiring freeze                                                               
     on state government.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
This  was the  second  hearing for  this  resolution  in the  Senate                                                            
Finance Committee.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Kelly  noted  this resolution  would  implement  a  hiring                                                            
freeze  identical to  one implemented  in  1999. He  was unsure  the                                                            
effects of the  earlier freeze, but stressed it is  reasonable for a                                                            
governor  to  implement  a  hiring  freeze  when  there  are  budget                                                            
difficulties similar to the current situation.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Kelly   mentioned  a  similar   hiring  freeze   currently                                                            
occurring in the  State of Washington and noted other  Governors are                                                            
implementing similar hiring freezes.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Kelly commented  that the current  Administration,  in the                                                            
face of budget  gaps, has actually proposed increasing  expenditures                                                            
and has not  made an adequate effort  to manage the budget  problem.                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Kelly  referenced a 1999  press release issued by  Governor                                                            
Tony Knowles  when  he implemented  the earlier  hiring freeze,  and                                                            
articles   from  the  Seattle   Post  Intelligence   regarding   the                                                            
Washington State hiring freeze [copies on file.]                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Green offered a motion to report SCR 29 from Committee.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
There was no objection and the bill MOVED from Committee.