04/09/1999 08:15 AM Senate FIN

                                                                                                                                
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 9                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State                                                                           
of Alaska relating to ways and means bills.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Senator Donley explained SJR 9 and reviewed briefly the                                                                         
last hearing on 26 March.  He also explained a memorandum                                                                       
from Tam Cook, Legal Services.  (This memorandum and other                                                                      
documents being referred to by Senator Donley were not                                                                          
available for the Secretary and staff.)  Senator Donley                                                                         
continued to explain that the new draft to SJR 9 would                                                                          
allow the Governor to veto parts of the ways and means bill                                                                     
while leaving other parts to take effect.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-chair Torgerson asked about the intent language                                                                              
regarding the veto power of the Governor.  He said this did                                                                     
not just pertain to the ways and means bill, but to                                                                             
everything else.  Senator Donley advised the committee that                                                                     
according to the memorandum of 7 April 1999 of Tam Cook                                                                         
that the legislature would have to decide whether to pass a                                                                     
ways and means bill in a form that would lend itself to                                                                         
partial veto.  Otherwise, the only remedy the Governor                                                                          
would have would be to entirely veto the bill.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Senator Adams referred to section nine, lines ten and                                                                           
eleven on page one of the draft as proposed by Senator                                                                          
Donley.  This was in particular "and to ways and means                                                                          
bills" under special sessions.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-chair Torgerson also voiced concerns.  Senator Donley                                                                        
will go back and talk to Tam Cook to clear up questions                                                                         
regarding intent that the committee members have.  The bill                                                                     
could be drafted so that the veto power allowed the                                                                             
Governor to refer to ways and means only.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Co-chair Torgerson appreciated the work done by Senator                                                                         
Donley.  He HELD the bill in committee.  Further, he noted                                                                      
the presence of David Gray, staff to Senator Mackie and                                                                         
continued on to SB 93.