Session: State Capitol, Room 24 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-2186 Fax: (907) 465-3818 Interim: 600 East Railroad Avenue Wasilla, AK 99654 Phone: (907) 373-1842 Fax: (907) 373-4729

Kohring Reiterates 10-Point ''Save Alaska'' Plan

(JUNEAU) - Rep. Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla/Peters Creek) today repeated his 10-point "Save Alaska" plan to cut state government and eliminate the deficit. To plan is an alternative to raising new taxes and spending the Permanent Fund and is receiving wide support throughout the state.

1. Slash Spending; Limit Legislature: Cut spending by $500 million this year and by $100 million in each of the next five years, for a total of $1 billion. Have legislative sessions every other year, and restrict them to 60 days.
   
   
2. Reject Taxes; Protect Permanent Fund; Contract Services; Eliminate Laws and Regulations: Place a moratorium on new taxes, prohibit spending the Permanent Fund, cap spending and contract out numerous services, like road maintenance and the Division of Motor Vehicles' functions. Remove half of the 4,000-plus laws enacted since statehood and eliminate 80 percent of the tens of thousands of regulations government agencies created.
   
   
3. Provide Land to the People; Incentives for Economic Growth: Release the state's massive land holdings to the people with no strings, and create tax incentives to spur private-sector, small-business growth.
   
   
4. Promote School Choice: Break up the government-controlled monopoly on schools, giving parents tax credits for sending their children to the school of their choice. Consolidate school districts of 100 students or less.
   
   
5. Cut Government Work Force: Cut non-essential government workers by 25 percent, put in place a hiring freeze and cap state salaries at $70,000.
   
   
6. Merge and Eliminate Departments: Merge half of all agencies, including the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Conservation, Law, Economic Development and Fish & Game. Eliminate the Department of Administration.
   
   
7. Cut Welfare and Funding to Cities: Cut welfare and public assistance by 50 percent and eliminate "welfare" to cities in the form of Municipal Revenue Sharing.
   
   
8. Re-Prioritize University Spending: Close money-losing rural campuses of the University not on the road system (excluding UASE in Juneau) and cut 20 percent of highly paid administrative positions. Redirect half of savings to classes and degree programs.
   
   
9. Close Office Buildings; Move Capital; Contract out Prisons: Close half of government office complexes throughout the state, including the Capitol and the State Office Building in Juneau. Relocate capitol into the state-owned Atwood Building in Anchorage, including all department headquarters. Close half of the state's prison facilities by contracting out 50 percent of the inmate population to less costly, out-of-state private prisons.
   
   
10. End Subsidies to Organizations: Eliminate tax dollars to tourism, fisheries, agriculture, public TV, radio and the arts and close the governor's mansion.
    
    

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