Legislature(1999 - 2000)
01/31/2000 04:07 PM House RLS
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HOUSE RULES STANDING COMMITTEE
January 31, 2000
4:07 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative John Cowdery, Chairman
Representative Brian Porter
Representative Joe Green
Representative Pete Kott
Representative Reggie Joule
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Gail Phillips
Representative Ethan Berkowitz
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Hearing on Ron Somerville Contract
PREVIOUS ACTION
No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
PAM VARNI, Executive Director
Legislative Affairs Agency
130 Seward Street, Suite 313
Juneau, Alaska 99801
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed Ron Somerville's contract.
ACTION NARRATIVE
TAPE 00-2, SIDE A
Number 0001
CHAIRMAN JOHN COWDERY called the House Rules Standing Committee
meeting to order at 4:07 p.m. Members present at the call to order
were Representatives Cowdery, Porter, Green, Kott and Joule.
Representatives Phillips and Berkowitz were not in attendance.
Number 0050
CHAIRMAN COWDERY announced that the committee had before it an
amendment in the amount of $50,000 to Mr. Somerville's contract.
He informed the committee that Mr. Somerville is performing work on
the Katie John case.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE inquired as to why this business would fall
under the purview of the House Rules Committee versus Legislative
Council.
CHAIRMAN COWDERY explained that Legislative Council has authority,
for the most part, when the legislature is not in session. The
Rules Committee has to approve all expenditures and budgets.
Number 0144
PAM VARNI, Executive Director, Legislative Affairs Agency, agreed
with Chairman Cowdery's explanation. She further informed the
committee that this contract as well as others have been under
Legislative Council before. However, during session the House
Rules Committee or the Senate Rules Committee would need to meet
when the amount of the contract exceeds $25,000. The monies come
from session expenses, which falls under the purview of the Rules
Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE noted that the memorandum included in the
committee packet was sent to Senator Pearce, President of the
Senate, and Representative Porter, Speaker of the House of
Representatives. He asked if this contract would also fall under
the Senate Rules Committee.
CHAIRMAN COWDERY explained that the expenditures on a contract such
as this are joint, and therefore the expenditure is split between
the two bodies.
MS. VARNI agreed with Chairman Cowdery.
Number 0208
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE inquired as to the reporting that occurs
during the contract period.
REPRESENTATIVE PORTER commented that he was not aware that the
contract was not going any further [being heard by any other
committee]. However, he informed the committee that Mr. Somerville
does provide periodic reports regarding any activities to both of
the presiding officers.
MS. VARNI said that she believed that those reports were also sent
to the Minority leaders as well.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE stated that it would be appropriate for
members of this committee to receive a copy of those reports. He
understood that the amendment to the contract would extend the
contract through this session. He asked if the full amount of the
contract was billed under the last contract.
MS. VARNI reported that currently there is a balance of about
$10,000, which includes expenditures through the end of December
1999. Therefore, this $50,000 would be added to the $10,000 that
remains. She noted that the monthly billings vary.
CHAIRMAN COWDERY interjected that although the $50,000 would be
approved, it would not necessarily all be spent. The committee's
approval means that up to $50,000 can be spent on this contract.
Number 0443
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE asked whether the billing information is
included with the reports provided to leadership.
MS. VARNI replied no. However, she noted that her office could be
contacted for such information.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE referred to the missions and measures of the
departments, which have been reviewed in preparation of the budget.
He asked if, at some point, those on contract would be required to
have missions and measures.
CHAIRMAN COWDERY commented that he believed having Mr. Somerville
work with the legislature's legal department [Legislative Legal
Services] is an asset.
MS. VARNI pointed out that an evaluation of the contract is
performed at the conclusion of the contract.
REPRESENTATIVE PORTER said that he did not believe that the type of
consulting service provided by Mr. Somerville would lend itself to
missions and measures because the precise requirements are not
known when the contract is written.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE asked if there is correspondence to Alaska's
delegation [the Congressional delegation] and on whose behalf would
that occur.
CHAIRMAN COWDERY answered that he assumed such would be on behalf
of leadership, although it benefits the entire legislature. He
noted that this contract will not go before the entire body.
Number 0667
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE understood that Mr. Somerville is the
consultant who deals with resource issues in the state and at the
federal level. He indicated that the House Resources Committee has
special legislative aides to specifically deal with such issues.
To the same extent, there are legal folks brought on for the House
Judiciary Committee. Therefore, he inquired as to how much of this
[Mr. Somerville's] work is duplicative.
CHAIRMAN COWDERY commented that legislative staff does not have the
history or the background that Mr. Somerville has. Mr. Somerville
has expertise in areas that we [the legislature] do not. He did
not believe that legislative staff has the ability. Chairman
Cowdery asked if Representative Joule's staff, as he is a member of
the House Resources Committee, would be capable of performing such
services.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE said that he had never been offered such an
opportunity, and therefore such an offer would deem serious
consideration. However, during this time of cutting budgets he was
unsure as to whether such an offer would be approved. He wondered
why, in such an atmosphere, there would be a proposal to extend a
contract for more than prior years.
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT understood that Mr. Somerville is currently not
working under a contract; is that correct?
MS. VARNI specified that the contract terminated January 19. This
amendment would extend the contract from January 20, 1999, to
January 20, 2001.
Number 0839
REPRESENTATIVE KOTT moved that the committee approve the amendment
to Mr. Somerville's contract.
REPRESENTATIVE JOULE objected.
Upon a roll call vote, Representatives Porter, Green, Kott and
Cowdery voted in favor of the approval of the amendment to Mr.
Somerville's contract and Representative Joule voted against the
approval of the amendment to Mr. Somerville's contract. Therefore,
the amendment to Mr. Somerville's contract was approved.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Rules Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
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