Legislature(1999 - 2000)
11/01/1999 03:33 PM House COM
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES
Anchorage, Alaska
November 1, 1999
3:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Porter
Representative Green
Representative Cowdery
Representative Mulder
Representative Therriault (via teleconference)
Representative Berkowitz
Representative Joule (via teleconference)
MEMBERS ABSENT
All members present
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Executive Session: Organizational Structure
PREVIOUS ACTION
No previous action to record.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 99-1, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIRMAN PORTER called the House Committee on Committees meeting to
order at 3:33 p.m. Members present were Representatives Porter,
Cowdery, Mulder, Therriault, Berkowitz and Joule. Chairman Porter
explained that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the
organizational structure of the House due to the resignation of
Representatives Coghill, Kohring, Ogan, and Sanders from the
Majority Caucus.
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER moved, pursuant to Uniform Rule 22(b)(2),
that the committee enter into executive session.
REPRESENTATIVE BERKOWITZ asked if the committee will return from
executive session for the vote.
CHAIRMAN PORTER pointed out that action cannot be taken in
executive session. He asked if there was objection to the motion.
There being no objection, the committee went into executive
session.
CHAIRMAN PORTER called the committee back to order at 4:15 p.m.
Chairman Porter noted that all members of the committee were now
present. Others present were Representatives Coghill, Sanders, and
Ogan. Chairman Porter asked if Representatives Coghill, Sanders,
and Ogan wanted to make a statement. Chairman Porter informed the
three that the committee had discussed the organization of the
House and their membership.
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that the three members (Coghill,
Sanders, and himself) attempted to attend the executive session.
However, they were not allowed to attend the executive session
which he believed violated Uniform Rule 22. Representative Ogan
said that he couldn't comment on anything because he was not
allowed to attend the executive session.
REPRESENTATIVE COGHILL commented that his interest was to find out
what the committee would do. He noted that the committee's action
would greatly affect what he would do in the legislature.
REPRESENTATIVE THERRIAULT recognized that the work in the House
Health, Education & Social Services Standing Committee (HES) is
very important to Representative Coghill. He announced that the
committee's proposal would retain a seat on HES for Representative
Coghill, which he said was important.
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN asked if there was a proposal that the members
could review.
CHAIRMAN PORTER explained that it was generally felt that each
member should retain one committee assignment, if the member so
desired. He specified that Representative Ogan would retain his
seat on the House State Affairs Standing Committee, Representative
Coghill would retain his seat on HES, Representative Sanders would
retain his seat on the House Transportation Standing Committee, and
Representative Kohring would retain his seat on the House Labor &
Commerce Standing Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN objected to the proposal. He inquired as to
why his positions on the House Resources Standing Committee and the
House Special Committee on Oil & Gas were taken away.
Representative Ogan understood losing the chairmanship of the House
Resources Standing Committee, but inquired as to why he lost his
position on the House Special Committee on Oil & Gas.
CHAIRMAN PORTER reiterated that the committee decided upon the
recommendation for those resigning to retain one committee
assignment. Those who resigned are not members of the Minority or
the Majority. Chairman Porter pointed out that he was told that
previous members in this situation held no committee assignments.
REPRESENTATIVE OGAN stated that, in spite of leaving the Majority,
he fully expected to lose his co-chairmanship on the House
Resources Standing Committee. He informed the committee that he
has served on both the House Resources Standing Committee and the
House Special Committee on Oil & Gas for five years. Therefore, he
requested that he be removed from the House State Affairs Standing
Committee and placed on the House Special Committee on Oil & Gas.
He commented that, regardless of anyone's opinion, the body would
lose his valuable experience.
CHAIRMAN PORTER noted Representative Ogan's request. He then
announced that he would entertain a motion.
REPRESENTATIVE MULDER moved that the committee adopt the House
Committee on Committees report regarding the recommended changes to
the committee structure.
THERE BEING NO OBJECTIONS, THE MOTION WAS ACCEPTED.
CHAIRMAN PORTER informed everyone that the notion of having an
executive session without the members who had resigned was debated.
Although this was an exceptional situation, there were precedents
for it. He referred to a situation during his time on the Ethics
Committee during which the character and reputation of individual
legislators was discussed by another standing committee. The
legislators that were discussed were excluded from the meeting.
Therefore, he ruled as such today.
REPRESENTATIVE COWDERY understood that the committee's
recommendation is not really official until ratified [by the House
as a whole].
CHAIRMAN PORTER replied that was correct. There being no further
business, the meeting was adjourned at an unspecified time.
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