05/08/2002 03:14 PM Senate JUD

                                                                                                                                
        SJR 32-CONST. AM:MARINE/RAIL TRANSPORTATION FUND                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WARD, sponsor  of SJR 32, informed members  that SJR 32 is                                                              
a companion  bill to SB 271 and  is required to dedicate  funds to                                                              
an Alaska Marine Highway Authority.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR  pointed out  that a work  draft that  removed the                                                              
Alaska Railroad  Corporation  from the resolution  was before  the                                                              
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WARD said  the Alaska Railroad Corporation  was removed by                                                              
the Senate Transportation  Committee and the new  draft was before                                                              
members.  He noted some  of the  Transportation Committee  members                                                              
wanted  the  railroad   removed  because  of  concern   about  the                                                              
Executive Budget Act.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  TAYLOR  specified  that   the  work  draft  was  labeled                                                              
Utermohle 4/18/02 Version C. He then  moved that the work draft be                                                              
adopted  and   asked  for  unanimous   consent.  There   being  no                                                              
objection,  the  motion carried.  He  then  moved Version  C  from                                                              
committee.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS  objected and commented  that Senator Ward  has said                                                              
this legislation  is important  because he has  seen what  goes on                                                              
with  the   AMHS  budget  but  Senator   Ward  is  in   charge  of                                                              
appropriations for the AMHS. He asked  Senator Ward if he is using                                                              
the behavior  of the Senate Majority  as a justification  for this                                                              
change.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WARD  said he is  in charge of  the appropriations  but he                                                              
does not  believe the  AMHS has  been treated  fairly. He  said he                                                              
tried to get several land endowment  bills through the legislature                                                              
in  1983 and  was told  at that  time  by some  of his  Democratic                                                              
colleagues that  it would take too  long to develop the  lands, up                                                              
to 20  years. He  repeated that he  does not  believe the  AMHS is                                                              
being   funded   properly  and   that   DOTPF  and   the   Knowles                                                              
Administration are letting the AMHS  sink because they do not have                                                              
a better plan.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS maintained  his objection. The motion  to move CSSJR
(JUD) from  committee carried with Senators  Cowdery, Therriault                                                              
and Chair Taylor voting in favor, and Senator Ellis opposed.