Legislature(2003 - 2004)
02/04/2003 08:00 AM House STA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 45 - SECOND VERSE OF ALASKA'S STATE SONG Number 2603 CHAIR WEYHRAUCH announced that the next order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 45, "An Act adding a second verse to the official Alaska state song." CHAIR WEYHRAUCH, sponsor of HB 45, noted that the proposed legislation would add a verse to "Alaska's Flag," the Alaska state song. The decision of whether or not to add the verse has been previously debated in the legislature. He said, "It has repeatedly passed the House and gone over to the Senate for its analysis." CHAIR WEYHRAUCH said the verse is a poem written by Carol Beery Davis, the former poet laureate of Alaska, and is designed to recognize the state flag and the cultural unity in the state of Alaska. He said that the [second] verse has been sung by his own children. A choir of children has sung it at previous events, including the inauguration of Governor Frank Murkowski and the swearing in of the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature. Chair Weyhrauch stated his belief that it would be meaningful to adopt [the second verse] and that it is long past due to address this issue. Number 2715 CONSTANCE DAVIS told the committee that she is a third- generation Alaskan. She explained that her natural interest in the song is because her father was on the committee to choose a [state] flag, and her mother took notes [on the event], which she later put into booklet form. She said she thought it was touching that her mother had stayed up long into the night writing "this verse" at the age of 95. MS. DAVIS said that the [second] verse has continuity with the first verse and shows her mother's love for the land. She mentioned the progress "foretold in that verse" and its historical context. Ms. Davis told the committee that her mother was a friend of Marie Drake and Elinor Dusenbury, the author and composer, respectively, and she said she believed those women definitely would have approved of [the second] verse. Ms. Davis indicated that she had submitted a page listing her mother's accomplishments during previous hearings and added that her mother was a very accomplished musician, as well as a poet. MS. DAVIS, in response to a question by Representative Berkowitz, confirmed that [a bill requesting the addition of the second verse to the Alaska state song] had passed in the House [during the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature] and, she added, had done so in 1987. REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked how many cosponsors were on the bill. MS. DAVIS said that she did not know. Number 2850 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG pointed to the first paragraph of Representative Carl Morgan's letter to Senator [Gene] Therriault, dated January 31, 2002. It read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Twenty-nine of my colleagues in the House and three from the Senate have joined with me by co- sponsoring/cross-sponsoring this bill. Number 2887 J. ALLAN MACKINNON told the committee that Ms. Davis's mother was his [piano and organ] teacher and his inspiration for many years. He told the committee that Ms. Beery was new to the [Alaska] Territory in 1920. He credited her with enabling him to go to Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska, and to further study music Back East, and for inspiring him to complete his Bachelor of Music degree "earlier." TAPE 03-03, SIDE B Number 2950 MR. MACKINNON mentioned the Anchorage Community Chorus, which he believes may have been one of the first choral organizations to sing the second verse. He said he has had the pleasure to accompany [former Lieutenant Governor] Fran Ulmer and others singing both verses. MR. MACKINNON acknowledged that "some people, in previous testimony, in previous years have criticized later poets ... writing words that would go with music." He said that he believes it can be shown historically that many songs and melodies have been "adopted and later used and misused, and [that] words of various descriptions have been added." He gave an example. MR. MACKINNON said he thinks it is important to note that Ms. Beery knew and was personally involved with "the contemporaries," Ms. Drake and Ms. Dusenbury. He said that Ms. Dusenbury's husband was stationed in the military at Fort Seward and became friends with the Davises and others. Number 2820 MR. MACKINNON said there has been "enthusiastic support and usage of the second verse since 1987." He proffered that the official adoption of the [second] verse in statute "is a different level of acceptance to some people," and would broaden the understanding of what Alaska is all about. He urged the committee to adopt the second verse. Number 2761 TERI TIBBIT, Staff to Representative Max Gruenberg, sang the Alaska state song, including the second verse under consideration by the committee. [Lyrics to both verses are specified in the bill.] CHAIR WEYHRAUCH commented that HB 45 may or may not be a contentious issue. He added, "Sometimes little things like this are important." Number 2562 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ noted that although he did not know why, this issue has been a contentious one in the past. He said that [the adoption of the second verse into the Alaska state song] was one of the recommendations of [then-Governor Knowles'] tolerance commission. Furthermore, it is an effort that the legislature can make in healing some of the "divides" in the state. He said that that legislative body often gets caught up in rhetoric and the divisiveness of budgets and forgets that [Alaska] is a small state. Furthermore, an effort should be made to bring people together, whether they have newly arrived in the state or have been here for generations. Number 2521 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said that, as the Representative from Seward, he would be proud to have [the second verse] adopted. He stated that he also thought that [the late] Benny Benson, who designed the flag, would be proud, as well. He said that [the addition of the second verse] "bodes well for Alaska, as it indicates the aspirations of all Alaskans." He encouraged the committee to forward [the bill]. Number 2509 REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG suggested that the passing of the bill would be an historic event and many members may want to have their names attached to it; therefore, he asked if it would be possible to have another printing of the bill, so that other members of the legislature could cosponsor the bill. Number 2458 REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted that he had submitted a cosponsor statement, and he said he thought that [the names] would all be on the official copy when it comes out on the floor of the House. Number 2445 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ, in response to a question from Representative Gruenberg, clarified as follows: "As long as people cosponsor while [the bill] is in the possession of this body - which it will be until we vote it out - the final version that's read across to the other side will have all the names of all the cosponsors." Number 2419 REPRESENTATIVE LYNN stated his belief that all 50 states have an official state song, but Alaska is the only state [in which residents stand during the singing of] its song. He explained the reason for that is because the song is more than just a state song - it is also an anthem. He said he thinks that the Alaska state song, as it currently is, "honors all Alaskans past and present, rich and poor, old and young, Native [and] non- Native." It also honors Benny Benson and Elinor Dusenbury. He said he thinks that the current version of the song is "a wonderful expression of tolerance." He opined that, just as words should not be added to the "Star-Spangled Banner," nor should they be added to the Alaska state song. He described both those songs as classics and said he did not think that [the legislature] should "mess with a masterpiece," or fix something that is not broken. Notwithstanding that, he said that he thinks that the second verse is beautiful. Number 2282 REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ moved to report HB 45 out of committee with individual recommendations and the attached zero fiscal note. There being no objection, HB 45 was reported from the House State Affairs Standing Committee.
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