04/07/1993 05:00 PM House O&G

  HJR 35:  URGE FEDERAL FEE ON IMPORTED OIL                                    
                                                                               
  Number 032                                                                   
                                                                               
  MICHAEL JOHNSON, LEGISLATIVE AIDE TO REPRESENTATIVE JOE                      
  SITTON, PRIME SPONSOR OF HJR 35, testified on his behalf.                    
  He read a sponsor statement.  (A copy of the sponsor                         
  statement may be found in the House Special Committee on Oil                 
  and Gas Committee Room, Capitol Room 114, and after the                      
  adjournment of the second session of the 18th Alaska State                   
  Legislature, in the Legislative Reference Library.)  In                      
  summary, the statement said HJR 35 encourages Congress to                    
  approve federal senate 254, which imposes a fee on imported                  
  oil.  Senate 254 would set a price floor of $25 per barrel                   
  on crude oil entering the United States.  By making imported                 
  oil less attractive, this resolution would thereby reduce                    
  our dependence on foreign oil, help balance the trade                        
  deficit, promote energy conservation, and encourage                          
  development of the domestic industry in renewable and                        
  alternative fuels.                                                           
                                                                               
  Number 084                                                                   
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE JERRY SANDERS asked if Representative                         
  Sitton's office had any communication with the Congressional                 
  Delegation.                                                                  
                                                                               
  MR. JOHNSON replied in the negative.                                         
                                                                               
  Number 100                                                                   
                                                                               
  VICE CHAIRMAN PETE KOTT referred the committee to Page 1,                    
  Line 13 of HJR 35 and suggested that the number "2000" would                 
  read more clearly if it is specified that it means years.                    
                                                                               
  Number 116                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. JOHNSON said he could not speak for Representative                       
  Sitton, but felt there would be a problem with changing this                 
  term.                                                                        
                                                                               
  Number 126                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN GREEN asked Mr. Johnson how he felt HJR 35 would                    
  affect the energy tax if it was imposed.                                     
                                                                               
  Number 138                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. JOHNSON did not have an answer; however, he stated the                   
  price floor was part of the President's ideas concerning the                 
  energy tax.                                                                  
                                                                               
  Number 149                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN GREEN stated HJR 35 proposed a 35% increase over                    
  the current price, and asked if this would create a problem                  
  with homeowners in the Lower 48.                                             
                                                                               
  Number 163                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. JOHNSON felt there might be some resistance in certain                   
  areas.                                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 177                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN GREEN stated since the committee did not have a                     
  quorum HJR 35 could not be passed out, and asked Mr. Johnson                 
  to get a response from the Congressional Delegation.                         
                                                                               
  Number 182                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. JOHNSON agreed to comply.