HJR 14-FED S 552/HR 1334; EXXON PLAINTIFFS 5:05:02 PM CHAIR COGHILL announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14, Urging the United States Congress to enact Senate Bill 552 so that individuals receiving a damage award from the Exxon Valdez oil spill can benefit from the income averaging and retirement contribution provisions of the bill. 5:05:31 PM REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS moved to adopt CSHJR 14, Version 25- LS0639\L, Bullock, 2/20/08, as the working document. There being no objection, Version L was before the committee. 5:05:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE PAUL SEATON, Alaska State Legislature, speaking as the chair of the House Special Committee on Fisheries, sponsor of HJR 14, explained that this would support the congressional legislation allowing Exxon Valdez plaintiffs, if they receive the settlement, to deposit more than the current allowable yearly amount in a retirement plan. The resolution would also allow three-year income averaging, as is done with farmers with variable income. The only changes encompassed in Version L are the elimination of the reference to the previous congressional legislation in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate and replaces those with the current applicable legislation. 5:07:48 PM JUDD WHITAKER informed the committee that he was present the first week of the Exxon Valdez [oil spill] and heard ExxonMobil Corporation lie. This resolution is problematic in that it's not secure that the U.S. Supreme Court will award the punitive damages. Although he opined that it's good to see this effort, he highlighted the history of Exxon's behavior is not honorable. Therefore, should the U.S. Supreme Court not award punitive damages, he urged the committee to consider revoking ExxonMobil Corporation's charter to do business in the state. 5:09:10 PM REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS moved to report CSHJR 14, Version 25- LS0639\L, Bullock, 2/20/08, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal note. There being no objection, CSHJR 14(RLS) was reported from the House Rules Standing Committee. The committee took a brief at-ease at 5:09 p.m. HJR 14-FED S 552/HR 1334; EXXON PLAINTIFFS The committee returned its attention to HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 14, Urging the United States Congress to enact Senate Bill 552 so that individuals receiving a damage award from the Exxon Valdez oil spill can benefit from the income averaging and retirement contribution provisions of the bill. 5:47:16 PM REPRESENTATIVE SAMUELS inquired as to the timing of the congressional action to which HJR 14 speaks. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON informed the committee that the congressional legislation has passed the U.S. House and is in the U.S. Senate.