SJR 7-VANCOUVER'S BID FOR 2010 WINTER GAMES CHAIR HEINZE announced that the only order of business would be SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 7, Expressing support for Vancouver, British Columbia's, bid for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games. Number 0074 RICHARD SCHMITZ, Staff to Senator John Cowdery, Alaska State Legislature, presented SJR 7 on behalf of the Senate Special Committee on World Trade and State/Federal Relations, which Senator Cowdery chairs. He told members this is meant to be a "neighborly thing" and noted that Washington State had passed a similar resolution. Mr. Schmitz suggested there will be a tremendous economic spillover if Vancouver is chosen, since this will draw attention to the Pacific Northwest and will bring tourists from around the world. He cited a billion dollars in economic activity resulting from the Olympics held in Salt Lake City and Calgary, Alberta, which affected western regions of Canada and the United States. Furthermore, he suggested that when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) makes its decisions, these resolutions do have some effect. Number 0280 REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING asked whether [any Alaskan city] had applied for this. MR. SCHMITZ said no, although Alaska has hosted the Arctic Winter Games and the Special Olympics. He pointed out that the Olympic Winter Games require massive infrastructure and multiple arenas. REPRESENTATIVE KOTT requested an at-ease in order to review the wording of the Washington State resolution in committee packets. The committee took an at-ease at 5:24 p.m. that lasted less than a minute. Number 0411 REPRESENTATIVE KOTT began discussion of Conceptual Amendment 1. Drawing attention to [page 2] line 15, where it says the people of Alaska fully support this, he asked whether a poll had been done and questioned going out on a limb and speaking for the people of Alaska. He pointed out that the Washington State resolution doesn't have similar language. He suggested saying that the Alaska State Legislature fully supports Vancouver [in its efforts]. He asked about the rationale behind the wording. MR. SCHMITZ answered that he'd sent the Washington State resolution [to the drafters] and had e-mailed people from PNWER [Pacific NorthWest Economic Region], who'd suggested some changes; however, he said he couldn't recall whether this was PNWER's suggestion or his own. He concurred with its removal. Number 0540 REPRESENTATIVE McGUIRE moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1, on page 2 [lines 14-15], to delete "the people of Alaska" and instead have it read: "in the spirit of friendship, the Alaska State Legislature fully supports". She requested Representative Kott's opinion on the word "fully". REPRESENTATIVE KOTT said he believed "fully supports" was fine because he was assuming the resolution would pass. CHAIR HEINZE asked whether there was any objection to adopting Conceptual Amendment 1. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Number 0602 REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING moved to report SJR 7, as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, HCS SJR 7(EDT) was reported from the House Special Committee on Economic Development, International Trade and Tourism.