02/23/2021 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

          SJR  7-CONST. AM: STATE TAX; VOTER APPROVAL                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
3:37:51 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   SHOWER  reconvened   the   meeting   and  announced   the                                                               
consideration  of   SENATE  JOINT  RESOLUTION  NO.   7  Proposing                                                               
amendments to  the Constitution of  the State of  Alaska relating                                                               
to  prohibiting the  establishment  of a  state  tax without  the                                                               
approval  of  the  voters  of  the state;  and  relating  to  the                                                               
initiative process.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:38:24 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on SJR 7.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:38:44 PM                                                                                                                    
MATTHEW MAIXNER,  representing self, Juneau, Alaska,  stated that                                                               
as  a libertarian,  he believes  that all  taxation is  theft. He                                                               
supports the  passage of SJR 7  because voters should have  a say                                                               
on taxes and how they affect their pocketbooks.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:40:31 PM                                                                                                                    
JORDAN HARARY, representing self,  Anchorage, Alaska, stated that                                                               
any taxation of  the people should be approved by  the people and                                                               
SJR 7  ensures that will  happen. He opined that  taxation covers                                                               
shortsighted fiscal  policies in  the short  term but  it impacts                                                               
the economy  of the  state in  the long term  and only  brings in                                                               
minimal  revenue.  He  also   suggested  the  committee  consider                                                               
amending  the resolution  to require  a two-thirds  majority vote                                                               
for this resolution to help  prevent outside money from trying to                                                               
sway voters.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:42:34 PM                                                                                                                    
BERT  HOUGHTALING, representing  self, Big  Lake, Alaska,  agreed                                                               
with previous testimony that any  proposed tax should be approved                                                               
by the  voters. He suggested  the committee amend  the resolution                                                               
to require  voter approval of  any proposed increase  to existing                                                               
taxes. He  cited the  gas tax  as an  example. He  further agreed                                                               
with the  previous testifier about  requiring a  [super] majority                                                               
vote to approve any tax, not just 51 percent.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
He  offered  his understanding  that  that  public testimony  was                                                               
already closed  on SJR  5 and SJR  6 and he  would have  liked to                                                               
testify  against both  resolutions.  He  concluded his  testimony                                                               
stating  that,  "Anything  that   restricts  our  permanent  fund                                                               
dividend - does not enshrine it  under the statutory PFD - should                                                               
not be bills that get presented forward going hereon forth."                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER  advised that if he  stayed on the line  he would be                                                               
able to testify on SJR 6 and SB 53.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:44:39 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  SHOWER  closed  public  testimony on  SJR  7.  Finding  no                                                               
further questions or comments from  the committee, he solicited a                                                               
motion to move SJR 7 from committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
3:44:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HOLLAND moved to report  [SJR 7,] work order 32-GS1711\A,                                                               
from  committee  [with  individual recommendations  and  attached                                                               
fiscal note(s)].                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SHOWER found  no objection and SJR 7 was  reported from the                                                               
Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.