Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
02/15/2022 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB136 | |
| SB92 | |
| SB145 | |
| SB152 | |
| HB148 | |
| HB123 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 136 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 152 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 148 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 145 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 147 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 92 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 123 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 152-LEGISLATOR RETROACTIVE PER DIEM
4:29:59 PM
CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 152
"An Act relating to the convening of the legislature at the
capital and in the Municipality of Anchorage; relating to the
location of legislative sessions; and relating to the emergency
relocation of functions of state government."
CHAIR MIKE SHOWER, speaking as sponsor, introduced SB 152 by
paraphrasing the sponsor statement.
[Original punctuation provided with a minor formatting change.]
Senate Bill 152 envisions splitting the legislative
sessions between Juneau and Anchorage. The first half
of the 2-year session would be held in the Capital
City of Juneau. The second half of the session would
meet in the City of Anchorage. The idea came from the
Alaska Federation of Natives solution to their
conflict with competing constituencies. They decided
to split their annual conferences between Anchorage
and Fairbanks. It has been a resounding success. The
citizens of Alaska are frustrated and disillusioned
with their representatives hidden from reach in
Juneau. Covid has further exasperated this frustration
with Canadian travel restrictions and COVID concerns
with traveling by air. The capitol was locked down to
visitors all session in 2021.
Some major legislative issues seem to be decided with
little or no consideration to their constituents'
wishes. Special interest groups work the capitol to
protect their constituencies. Committees often have
public testimony with no one that shows up to make
comments. Many have simply given up and decided it's
not worth their time and money to talk to isolated
legislators.
Legislators often come back for brief 'town halls"
where the public is invited to testify for maybe two
or three minutes. Meanwhile back in the halls of
Juneau, professional lobbyists are paid six and seven
figures to influence legislators with unlimited access
and influence. Power is consolidated to a few senior
legislators in control of key committees that decide
what bills are heard and what bills die, and what they
can get for their district to make it happen. The
sponsor believes the best government is local
government. Working class people do not have the time
and money to meet face to face with their legislators
in Juneau during session. If a majority of legislators
were living within the community where the session is
held at least every two years, they would have no
choice but to hear from their neighbors, when they
shop in the grocery store, at the gas station, in
local eateries, and in the halls and committee rooms
where the legislature is meeting.
Many people that may serve are put off by the thought
of moving to Juneau for 3-4 months or longer every
year. It narrows down the pool of not only those that
serve in office, but their staff. A legislature that
is responsive to the will of the people they derive
their power from would be a refreshing thing. COVID
has exacerbated it even worse. The capitol was locked
down all year in 2021.
The goal is not to move the capitol, nor is it the
goal to move the primary administrative function of
government. The goal is to make lawmakers accessible
and thus accountable to their constituents, during the
critical last year of the session. Continuing to keep
the legislators sequestered in Juneau during session,
where the only real access is an expensive airplane
ticket and high-cost hotels for a person to show up
and visit, allows undue influence to a privileged
class of people and their professional lobbyists and
the administration.
4:33:33 PM
SHONDA ERICKSON, Staff, Senator Mike Shower, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis
for SB 152 on behalf of the sponsor.
[Original punctuation provided with minor formatting changes.]
Sec 1; Conforming language regarding the location of
session where election fundraising can occur.
Sec 2; Conforming language regarding including a
municipality where the legislature is convened as a
place where a contribution may not be solicited or
accepted while the legislature is convened.
Sec 3; Substantive part of the legislation; Authorizes
Legislative Council to designate a location for the
Anchorage legislative session.
Sec 4; Conforming language regarding the location of
the preceding session.
Sec 5; Conforming language regarding selecting a chief
clerk and secretary in the senate.
Sec 6; Conforming language regarding reimbursement of
moving expenses.
Sec 7; Conforming language regarding lobbyist
registration.
Sec 8; Conforming language regarding where a directory
of lobbyists is placed.
Sec 9; Conforming language regarding where an annual
student guest attends session.
Sec 10; Conforming language regarding location of
essay contest in the statute.
Sec 11; Conforming language in ethics statute using
non geo referenced language changes.
Sec 12; Conforming language in ethics statute about
use of a legislator's office and the location of said
office.
Sec 13; Conforming language using non-geo referenced
language changes in ethics statute about fundraising
events, and the location of said events.
Sec 14; Conforming language making non-geo referenced
language changes in ethics statute about welcome gifts
to the legislature.
Sec 15; Conforming language regarding where an
emergency transfer of seat of government would be held
CHAIR SHOWER highlighted that the bill actually makes very few
changes; much of it reflects conforming changes.
4:37:01 PM
CHAIR SHOWER opened public testimony on SB 152.
4:37:17 PM
WILLY KEPPEL, representing self, Quinhagak, Alaska, testified in
support of SB 152. He opined that there was no need to move the
capital, but there is a need to move the legislature. He said he
just flew from Quinhagak to Anchorage at a cost of $1,000, and
it would be even more expensive to buy another ticket to fly on
to Juneau. He described this as a double cost to visit the
legislature and be able to testify [in person]. He opined that
Alaskans should only have to take one plane to visit the
legislature.
4:39:57 PM
CHAIR SHOWER closed public testimony on SB 152.
He asked Mr. Ogan to talk about the changes he was proposing to
SB 152 and related his intention to adopt a committee substitute
at the next meeting.
4:40:16 PM
SCOTT OGAN, Staff, Senator Mike Shower, Palmer, Alaska,
discussed proposed changes to SB 152 on behalf of the sponsor,
describing them as technical. The original version eliminates
reference to the capital city or Juneau and that term would be
restored, he said.
CHAIR SHOWER asked if he had any comment after hearing the
sectional analysis.
MR. OGAN commented on grocery store politics and opined that
when legislators are in Juneau they are not exposed to their
constituents as they rub elbows at the grocery store. Face to
face encounters elicit topics that might not seem important
enough for a phone call. He described the bill as a good policy
idea.
4:42:49 PM
SENATOR HOLLAND asked if there was a particular reason that the
Municipality of Anchorage was selected as opposed to simply
identifying it as a location other than Juneau.
CHAIR SHOWER said he selected Anchorage because more than half
the legislature resides in the MatSu/Anchorage area, it would
provide the greatest bang for the buck, facilities are readily
available, and Anchorage is a travel hub. He added that he would
be open to any location that is on the road system.
4:44:03 PM
CHAIR SHOWER held SB 152 in committee.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB 152 Sectional Analysis 1.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 152 |
| SB 152 sponsor statement 1.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 152 |
| sb136 non support emails.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 136 |
| SB 152 32-LS1306-B work draft.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 152 |
| I support SB136 7 emails.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 136 |
| fiscal note 2022.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
HB 148 |
| SB 136 EMAILS OF SUPPORT 40 TOTAL.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 136 |
| SB 136 EMAILS OF SUPPORT 38 TOTAL.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 136 |
| sb136 support emails.pdf 44.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 136 |
| I support SB136 7 emails.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 136 |
| AK SB 136 - NRA Testimony - Emergency Powers - SUPPORT 2-31-22.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 136 |
| HB 123 support emails 3.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
HB 123 |
| SB 136 3 e mails of support.pdf |
SSTA 2/15/2022 3:30:00 PM |
SB 136 |