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Senator Ward Calls for Spending Cap

(JUNEAU) - I would like to present a draft proposal for the passage of a constitutional spending limit to be placed before the voters this November and upon its passage triggering an alcohol tax. I don’t believe that state government should any longer have an open checkbook. Government needs to be responsible to the taxpayers, who pay for the government. All Alaskan households must live within their means. We must prioritize all functions of government that are required under the Constitution and all other spending must be on the table.

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Attachments:

• HTML Version of Bill Draft
  

| Sen. Ward's Page |

Bill Draft

Senate Bill __

''An Act increasing the alcoholic beverage tax rate; and providing for an effective date''

Senate Bill ___ is a attempt by me to meet the Senate Majority’s long-range plan to enact a constitutional spending limit on the state government. The first step will be enacting an alcohol tax of some $75 million that will not take effect until the voters of Alaska pass the Constitutional spending limit this November in Senate Joint Resolution 23; which will allow for a spending cap to control runaway waste in state government. By spending the same amount or less then the previous year and create a smaller and smarter state government. The Senate Majority realizes that a constitutional spending limit is only a starting point. In addition we must also have new revenue, including the development of our renewable and non-renewable resources and budgetary constraints. It is in this spirit that I propose this bill. Along with a hope and understanding that the Legislature will also reduce state government by an equal amount in general fund spending of $75 million. I realize that $150 million does not fill the budget gap but it is a positive first step in the right direction. It is the hope of this sponsor that the combination of a constitutional spending cap, an alcohol tax bill that generates $75 million, and a reduction of an additional $75 million on general fund spending, the state government can once again regain Alaska’s fiscal footing and begin to aggressively develop some of its over 100 million acres of state owned land.

| Sen. Ward's Page |

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