03/24/2014 07:00 PM House FINANCE

                  HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE                                                                                       
                      March 24, 2014                                                                                            
                         7:03 p.m.                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
7:03:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CALL TO ORDER                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze called the House Finance Committee meeting                                                                     
to order at 7:03 p.m.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS PRESENT                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Representative Alan Austerman, Co-Chair                                                                                         
Representative Bill Stoltze, Co-Chair                                                                                           
Representative Mia Costello                                                                                                     
Representative Bryce Edgmon                                                                                                     
Representative Les Gara                                                                                                         
Representative David Guttenberg                                                                                                 
Representative Cathy Munoz                                                                                                      
Representative Steve Thompson                                                                                                   
Representative Tammie Wilson                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MEMBERS ABSENT                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Representative Mark Neuman, Vice-Chair                                                                                          
Representative Lindsey Holmes                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Mike Coons, Self, Palmer                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SUMMARY                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
HJR 18    CONST. AM: ELECTED ATTORNEY GENERAL                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
          HJR 18 was HEARD and HELD in committee for                                                                            
          further consideration.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 18                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
     Proposing amendments to the Constitution of the State                                                                      
     of Alaska relating to the office of attorney general.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7:03:55 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze stated that the  purpose of the meeting was                                                                    
to take public  testimony. He felt that it  was important to                                                                    
have committee discussion related to HJR 18.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
7:04:40 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:29:36 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
7:30:30 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIKE COONS, SELF, PALMER  (via teleconference), testified in                                                                    
support of HJR 18. He commented  on the outcome of the Katie                                                                    
John  vs.   Norton  case   during  Governor   Tony  Knowles'                                                                    
administration. He felt  that the outcome of  the case would                                                                    
have  been   different,  if  there   had  been   an  elected                                                                    
conservative Attorney  General. He stressed that  an elected                                                                    
conservative  Attorney   General  was  important   to  stand                                                                    
against  the  federal  government regulations.  He  remarked                                                                    
that  the   people  of   Alaska  needed   to  vote   on  the                                                                    
constitutional amendment,  in order to open  a federal road,                                                                    
build a  coal power plant, and  drill for oil in  the Arctic                                                                    
National  Wildlife  Refuge  (ANWR).   He  announced  that  a                                                                    
conservative Attorney General was  necessary for the benefit                                                                    
of all Alaskans.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
7:35:39 PM                                                                                                                    
AT EASE                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
7:42:55 PM                                                                                                                    
RECONVENED                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stoltze CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                   
7:43:56 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 p.m.