LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL                                                                                                           
January 9, 2005                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
1.  ROLL CALL                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The  Legislative Council  meeting   was  called to order at 3:06 pm   by Senator  Therriault,                                   
Chairman,    Legislative  Council,  in  the  Senate  Finance   Committee    Room    and   via                                   
teleconference.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The  roll was  taken.   In attendance  were  Council  members:     Therriault, Ben  Stevens,                                    
Cowdery,   Seekins,  Gary  Stevens, Wagoner,   Lincoln  (via teleconference), Coghill,  Kott,                                   
Rokeberg,  Masek   (via teleconference), Stoltze, Weyhrauch   and Berkowitz.   Staff present:                                   
Varni, Bannister, Collins, Clothier, Cook, Gullufsen, Ibesate, Maher, Price and Schofield.                                      
                                                                                                                                
Chairman,  Senator  Therriault informed  Legislative Council  of his appointment  of Senator                                    
Seekins to replace Senator Ogan.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2.  APPROVAL OF MAY 5, 2004 MINUTES                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Senator Gary Stevens moved the minutes of the May 5, 2004 meeting be approved.                                                  
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:           Therriault, Cowdery, Ben Stevens, Seekins, Gary Stevens, Wagoner,                                               
                Lincoln, Coghill, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg, Stoltze and Berkowitz                                                  
                                                                                                                                
NAYS:           None                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ABSENT:         Weyhrauch                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
With no objection the motion was approved.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3.  APPROVAL OF DON MITCHELL CONTRACT                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Chairman,   Senator  Therriault, clarified that this was new  contract language   that would                                    
allow  Mr.  Mitchell  to continue  to provide  the  services he  has been  providing   to the                                   
Legislature  for the last couple  of  years.  It just drops  certain pieces  of litigation in                                   
different cases that Mr. Mitchell was  hired to provide legal expertise in under the original                                   
contract.                                                                                                                       
Senator Gary Stevens moved to approve the new contract with Mr. Mitchell.                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Berkowitz objected.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Discussion followed.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Don Mitchell was present and answered several questions by the Council.                                                         
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:           Therriault, Cowdery, Ben Stevens, Seekins, Gary Stevens, Wagoner,                                               
                Coghill, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg, Stoltze and Weyhrauch                                                           
                                                                                                                                
NAYS:           Lincoln and Berkowitz                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
ABSENT:         None                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Motion passed 12 - 2.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
4.      APPROVAL OF LATE PER DIEM REQUESTS - REPRESENTATIVE                                                                   
        ETHAN BERKOWITZ, REPRESENTATIVE SHARON CISSNA,                                                                        
        SENATOR KIM ELTON, SENATOR GEORGIANNA LINCOLN,                                                                        
        SENATOR GENE THERRIAULT                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Gary Stevens moved that Legislative Council approve the late per diem requests                                          
for Representatives Berkowitz and Cissna, Senators Elton, Lincoln and Therriault.                                               
                                                                                                                                
Senator Therriault would like to amend his request to remove his airline ticket in the                                          
amount of $751.90 from one of his late per diem requests.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
YEAS:           Therriault, Cowdery, Ben Stevens, Seekins, Gary Stevens, Wagoner,                                               
                Lincoln, Coghill, Kott, Masek, Rokeberg, Stoltze Weyhrauch and                                                  
                Berkowitz                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
NAYS:           None                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
ABSENT:         None                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
With no objection the motion was approved.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
    5. OTHER BUSINESS                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                              
Chairman, Senator Therriault said farewell to Representative Masek and Senator Lincoln                                          
and stated that it was a pleasure to work with all the members of Legislative Council.                                          
                                                                                                                              
The meeting was adjourned at 3:21 pm.