Alaska State Legislature
News From The House Majority

State Capitol Ken Freeman
Juneau, AK 99801 Press Secretary
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540 (907) 465-3804
web site: http//www.akrepublicans.org
For Immediate Release: January 21, 1997 Contact: Rep. Brian Porter (907) 465-4930

House Rules Committee To Address Sanders' Ethics Charges

Juneau - The House of Representatives will direct the Ethics Committee recommendations regarding Rep. Jerry Sanders to the House Rules Committee for an expeditious hearing, Majority Leader Brian Porter announced Tuesday.

"We have directed the House Rules Committee to thoroughly and quickly examine the recommendations of the Legislative Ethics Committee while allowing Rep. Sanders an opportunity to present his side of the story," said Porter.

Rep. Porter, who has served on the Ethics Committee, noted that through this action the seven new members of the House will have the ability to make a decision based upon the facts surrounding the matter and not based on media reports.

Porter further noted that the two members who served on the Ethics Committee are no longer in the House and are not immediately available to answer questions the seven new members and any other House members might have related to this matter.

"We acknowledge the work of the Ethics Committee and will consider each recommendation they made in this case. It is important to note that we take their work seriously and this is by no means an attempt to side step this issue. However, it is our belief that there is additional information relating to this matter that should be heard by all members of the House and public," said Porter.

Porter said it is his understanding that the Rules Committee will hold a hearing very soon to discuss this issue.

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