HJR 31-DECLARE CENTRAL PARK A WILDERNESS AREA  1:05:17 PM CO-CHAIR FEIGE announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 31, Urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to acquire the area commonly known as Central Park on Manhattan in New York City on behalf of the federal government; urging the United States Congress to declare Central Park to be a wilderness area and to prohibit any further improvement or development of Central Park unless authorized by an Act of Congress. 1:05:52 PM REPRESENTATIVE KYLE JOHANSEN, Alaska State Legislature, prime sponsor, described a trip he took to New York City where the green of Central Park contrasted with the rest of the city. A few years later he read a description of the flora and fauna that were present in this area prior to Henry Hudson's arrival. He described Manhattan as an epicenter of finance and culture in the U.S. and Central Park as an icon to which everyone can relate. He said he thought of using Central Park to raise the level of discussion about what the State of Alaska wants to do in relation to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). He opined that since President Bill Clinton vetoed legislation [to open ANWR to drilling], the conversation has been repetitive and unproductive. REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN related that since bringing forth this proposed resolution, he has been surprised at the support for it. He said that several co-sponsors have signed on to HJR 31, and a news story written locally was picked up by several major news venues. Further, he said, the word of HJR 31 has been spread across social networks and Internet search engines, and there is a grass roots discussion about Alaska's biggest issue. 1:10:20 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN noted incidentally that ANWR legislation is currently being heard by the U.S. House Resources Committee, which may move to the House Floor in the next couple weeks. REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN admitted that HJR 31 is most likely not going to happen; however, he emphasized that if the federal government wanted it to happen, it would. He said that is how he feels about some of the ideas the federal government has about how Alaska should develop its land. In the 1970s, he related, New York City was running a deficit and was considering all options to balance its budget. One of the proposals was to give Central Park to the government, but city fathers at the time considered that if they were to do so, then Central Park would be in control of the federal government and they would have no say in how that park was managed. He stated, "I think that really summed up where I was trying to go with this." REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN told the committee that there were business and resource development groups in the capitol eager to testify, but he asked them to refrain in the interest of time. 1:13:27 PM REPRESENTATIVE HERRON asked whether the sponsor would be willing to consider an amendment such that short of the proposed resolution passing, the land that is Central Park could be given back to the appropriate tribe of Native Americans. REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN responded that the Lanape tribe is mentioned in the proposed resolution, and the tribe has received a copy of the resolution, but has not yet responded. He said he would be willing to support such an amendment. REPRESENTATIVE HERRON commented he understands the intent of the language and hopes it will generate dialogue that helps Alaska. 1:15:02 PM CO-CHAIR FEIGE said he signed onto the proposed resolution because the point needs to be made. He related that many passengers from Manhattan have ridden in his plane, and they had no real basis for knowing what a wilderness is. A lot of restrictions get attached to a wilderness designation, he said, and "like the city fathers of New York who were certainly looking out for the people of New York by resisting the federalization of Central Park, ... we need to look out for the increasing ... federal control over Alaska." 1:16:28 PM REPRESENTATIVE KAWASAKI said although he appreciates the humor in which HJR 31 was written, he feels that it is a waste of the committee's time given the number of bills that are still sitting in the committee. He said he thinks the committee needs to focus on how to address energy concerns across the state. He said passing this proposed resolution out of committee will backfire. People already have a negative opinion of Alaskans and think that Alaskans are paid to live in the state. He said the legislature needs to act like adults to prove that the state is capable of managing its own resources, and he opined that HJR 31 does not get to that point. He stated that he would not support HJR 31 in committee or on the House floor. 1:18:04 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER shared that after HJR 31 was introduced, she received comments from constituents who were not happy. She said at the time she defended HJR 31 as a humorous way of drawing attention to a serious topic. She said she was asked how much it costs the state to draft and carry forward the proposed resolution, and at the time she said she would not look into that; however, she said she now may contact that person and try to produce a figure as to the cost. She concurred with Representative Kawasaki that there are other issues on which the committee should focus, and said she is only present out of respect for the process. 1:19:04 PM REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN responded that he respects the members' comments, but the topic is about opening ANWR. He admitted that the proposed resolution was written as satire, but disagreed that it is a waste of time. He stated that any time the state can bring up the issue of opening ANWR for resource development is important to the state's future development. He said there has not been this much attention to ANWR since President Bill Clinton vetoed legislation. He opined that not continuing on with the resolution would have negative consequences, and he emphasized how serious it is to him that the legislature takes this proposed resolution seriously. [CO-CHAIR FEIGE held over HJR 31.]