SSTA - 1/26/95 SCR 2 REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL TO CAPITAL CITY  SENATOR SHARP brings up SCR 2 as the last order of business before the Senate State Affairs Committee and calls the first witness. Number 467 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS, prime sponsor of SCR 2, states the resolution would provide access to state government. This is a request to the City & Borough of Juneau to provide access to the citizens of the state. There are 5.3 million dollars in CBJ's rainy day account. By investing a few dollars in providing access, Senator Phillips thinks the capital move issue, over time, will go away. This is another way of enabling citizens to have access to the capital city. SENATOR DUNCAN asks Senator Phillips if people would be reimbursed for travel to testify at all legislative committees, including Legislative Council and Budget & Audit. SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS replies it would include all committees. Legislative Affairs Agency, through the Legislative Council, will set up qualification criteria with the City & Borough of Juneau. Whether or not airfare would be paid for people to attend the Legislative Budget & Audit Committee would be a policy decision that would have to be made. Number 430 SENATOR DUNCAN asks Senator Phillips if the City of Anchorage will pay expenses for people who want to attend a meeting being held in Anchorage. SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS thinks if the legislature was in Anchorage, then the City of Anchorage should pay travel expenses for people to attend hearings in Anchorage. SENATOR DUNCAN thinks many people are frustrated with administrative programs, and if a person has to fly in to Anchorage from Sleetmute, shouldn't the City of Anchorage help pay for their travel? Number 416 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS responds most complaints he hears about state government originate from programs administered in Juneau. SENATOR DUNCAN thinks SCR 2 should apply to government programs in every community in the state, not just Juneau. Number 403 JUDY ERICKSON, former member of the Alaska Committee, hopes if the committee moves out SCR 2, an actual dollar figure will be attached to the resolution. We have homeless people here in Juneau, and as a taxpayer, she has a problem with the legislature asking Juneau to reimburse people to travel to Juneau. Ms. Erickson thinks Senator Phillips should poll his constituents on how many would want to pay travel expenses for residents from other areas to attend the legislature if it was moved to Anchorage. Number 386 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS says Juneau has to look at SCR 2 as an opportunity. If only airfare is reimbursed, travelers will still have to pay for meals and lodging. Juneau can make some money off SCR 2. MS. ERICKSON responds videoteleconferencing would be a good step towards better access. The subject has come up before the legislature several times, but it has been rejected. She believes the people of Juneau would support helping fund videoteleconferencing. Number 360 JAMIE PARSONS, former member, Alaska Committee, thinks it is important to continue dialogue with air carriers. He also thinks videoteleconferencing would improve access for many citizens. For clarification, the City & Borough of Juneau has an obligation to the community to have 10 million dollars in the Rainy Day Account by 1997. So the money used on the Alaska Committee campaign was basically a loan that has to be repaid. Number 343 SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks how that money is going to be repaid. MR. PARSONS replies more than 2 million dollars a year is coming in from the 1% sales tax. SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS asks Mr. Parsons why he does not think spending money from the Rainy Day Account will help Juneau fend off the capital move issue. Number 338 MR. PARSONS responds more effect could be had by helping fund videoteleconferencing and emphasizing electronic access than by using money for travel funds. Number 333 CHARLES NORTHRIP, Juneau Economic Development Council, states that access isn't as simple as having airfare: access is a time issue. Many people, even if they can afford a plane ticket, do not have the time to come to the capital. Mr. Northrip adds his support to testimony already given supporting videoteleconferencing and improved airline service. Mr. Northrip does not think SCR 2 would be the best use of funds for improving access to the capital. Number 310 CHAIRMAN SHARP states the committee will be holding SCR 2 for further consideration. The chairman reminds members that on Tuesday, January 31, 1995 the committee will be hearing SCR 4, SJR 11, and SB 40. Number 302 SENATOR DONLEY announces he has a proposal in the committee which would amend the U.S. Constitution regarding campaign spending limits. An amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the only way to address this question. Campaign spending limits are an appropriate alternative to public financing of elections. Senator Donley asks for support and rapport on SJR 4 from other committee members. Number 270 CHAIRMAN SHARP adjourns the Senate State Affairs Committee meeting at 4:50 p.m.