Alaska State Legislature

News From The Senate and House Majorities

Ken Freeman (907) 465-3804
Wendy Lindskoog (907) 465-4582
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Legislature Finds Knowles’ Vetoes Unfounded

Overrides Three Vetoes

For immediate Release: May 11, 1997, Contact: Ken Freeman, 907/465-3804 or Wendy Lindskoog, 907/465-6540

Juneau -- In a joint session Sunday the Legislature voted three bills into law by overriding Governor Knowles’ vetoes.

"We were surprised the Governor vetoed these bills," said Senate President Mike Miller. "The vetoes were not based on substance, but on political payback. That’s not the way to run a government."

Senate Bill 41, sponsored by Senator Leman (R-Anchorage), creates a system of incentives encouraging companies to conduct environmental compliance audits. Similar to environmental audit legislation already enacted in 20 other states, SB 41 passed by a vote of 43 to 16.

"Over the last two years I worked closely with the Governor’s appointees in the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Law to craft consensus legislation the Governor could support," Leman said. "The bill passed both houses of the Legislature with strong bi-partisan support. The Governor’s veto was puzzling."

Senate bill 136 clarifies current law making the law explicit that the Governor must present all three of his required budget bills on December 15 of each year -- an operating budget bill, a capital budget bill, and a mental health program operating/capital budget bill. The Legislature overrode the Governor’s veto by a vote of 43 to 16.

"The Governor claimed that SB 136 infringed on his constitutional right of Article Nine in the Constitution," said Senator Bert Sharp (R-Fairbanks), Co-Chair of Finance. "This is not true! Our constitution makes it clear that the Governor shall submit the state budget on a date set by law! This was the most flimsy excuse I have ever seen for a veto message!"

"By overriding Knowles veto, the Legislature reaffirmed present state law which says the governor has to submit his budget by December 15," Sharp said.

By a vote of 41 to 18, the Legislature overrode the Governor's veto of HB 112. HB 112, sponsored by Representative Al Vezey, adds an additional way for groups to be recognized as a political party in the state.

The new law provides that if a party has registered voters equal to three percent of the votes cast for governor, they will be recognized as a political party by the state, regardless of whether they run a candidate for Governor. Parties who are not serious about their candidate for governor winning, may elect not to run their candidate without losing their status as a party.

"This change in Alaska law will hopefully bring order to the chaos in the electoral process," said Vezey. "Alaska has not elected a governor by a majority since 1970."

Vezey said the current system places unnecessary financial burdens on small political parties. "The current system forces political parties to expend energy on gubernatorial races instead of focusing their resources on influencing legislation and helping district and local candidates," said Vezey.

###

Broadcast Note: Radio Actualities are available by calling 800/478-6540.
= Loren Leman, 61 K = Mike Miller, 43 K = Bert Sharp, 73 K