Legislature(2009 - 2010)CAPITOL 120

04/09/2010 09:00 AM House RULES


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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 363 AIDEA MEMBERSHIP
Moved CSHB 363(FIN) Out of Committee
SB 163 FISHERMEN'S FUND
Moved HCS SB 163(RLS) Out of Committee
SJR 28 ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF TURKEY
Moved Out of Committee
Bills Previously Heard/Scheduled
            SJR 28-ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE OF TURKEY                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:39:51 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  DAHLSTROM turned  the committee's  attention to  the final                                                               
order of  business SENATE  JOINT RESOLUTION  NO. 28,  Relating to                                                               
the Ecumenical Patriarchate and religious rights.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:39:55 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  OLSOM  moved  to  adopt SJR  28  as  the  working                                                               
document.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:40:19 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MEYER, Alaska State Legislature,  related that SJR 28 has                                                               
helped him  to learn  about the  religious challenges  in Turkey.                                                               
He  informed  the  committee  that  25  state  legislatures  have                                                               
adopted resolutions  similar to  SJR 28.   This  resolution urges                                                               
the  U.S.,  the  European  Union,   and  the  United  Nations  to                                                               
encourage the government of Turkey  to end its discrimination and                                                               
pledge  to   uphold  and   safeguard  religious   rights  without                                                               
compromise.   The  State  of Alaska  has  a substantial  Orthodox                                                               
Christian  community.   This fall  the US  State Department  will                                                               
deliver  copies  of  these resolutions  that  have  been  adopted                                                               
throughout the state to the Turkish Foreign Minister.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:42:45 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   HERRON   mentioned   that  there   are   several                                                               
communities  in his  district in  which Orthodox  Christianity is                                                               
the  dominant faith.   He  asked  if the  prejudice against  [the                                                               
Ecumenical Patriarchate]  is a recent  phenomenon or a  long time                                                               
phenomenon.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:43:30 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHRISTINE  MARASIGAN, Staff,  Senator Kevin  Meyer, Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  speaking on  behalf of  the sponsor,  answered that                                                               
this prejudice has being going on  for quite some time.  In fact,                                                               
every  president  since  President  Carter has  sent  envoys  and                                                               
messages  to  the government  of  Turkey  regarding this  matter.                                                               
There has been progress in the  last five years and thus there is                                                               
the desire to continue pressure on the matter.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:44:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  GARDNER, drawing  upon her  experience in  Turkey                                                               
last  year,  related  that  this  prejudice  started  before  the                                                               
Crusades.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:44:44 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE KERTTULA  asked if  the Secretary of  State, since                                                               
she will  deliver these  resolutions, should  be included  in the                                                               
list to which the resolutions are sent.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS. MARASIGAN related her understanding  that the resolution will                                                               
be provided to the ambassador of the area.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:45:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DAHLSTROM  commented that she  has many constituents  and a                                                               
church of this faith in her district.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:45:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  OLSON moved  to report  SJR 28  out of  committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no objection,  SJR 28 was reported  from the                                                               
House Rules Standing Committee.                                                                                                 

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