Alaska State Legislature
News From The Senate and House Majorities

Jerry Ritter, House Majority Press Secretary, (907) 258-8164
Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary, (907) 258-8187
Anchorage Legislative Information Office
Anchorage, AK 99501
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540
web site: www.akrepublicans.org

Legislative Leaders Say "Show Us the Results!"

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 9, 1997 Contact: Wendy Lindskoog at (907) 258-8184 or Jerry Ritter at (907) 258-8164

Anchorage -- Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Gail Phillips previewed some of the Republican-led Majority’s legislative priorities for the upcoming session Tuesday. Miller and Phillips said they want state government to be accountable to Alaskans by showing results for the money spent.

Miller and Phillips told Commonwealth North that education, deferred maintenance, subsistence and the budget will be part of the Republican-led Majority’s "Commitment to Alaska" this session.

Miller noted that in the face of a $300 million budget deficit, the Legislature wants proof that the $2.35 billion dollars we are currently spending on state government is accomplishing results for the people of Alaska.

"We will ask managers of State programs to ‘show us the results’. And we expect Alaskans to ask us, the Legislature, to show them results at the end of session, too," Miller said. "Our ‘Commitment to Alaskans’ continues to be spending within our means."

Phillips said Alaskans are already spending a good deal of money to educate kids and, at least so far, the results seem to be surprisingly mediocre.

"Alaska spends in the 95th percentile on education yet our students score in the 50th percentile on the ACT’s," Phillips said. "Alaska is number-one in per capita spending on education, yet half of our eleventh graders score in the bottom half on the California Achievement Tests."

Phillips went on to say that if Alaska does not take care of its deferred maintenance needs it will be difficult to attract new business to the state and maintain the current healthy economy.

"We're looking at putting specific line items for maintenance into this year’s budget," Phillips said, "That money cannot be spent for new facilities or anything else, only maintenance."

Miller noted that the Republican-led Legislature will continue year three of its Five-Year Plan to close Alaska’s fiscal gap.

"We have reduced the size and scope of government since beginning our plan two years ago," said Miller. "Cutting budgets is not fun for anybody, but we are keeping our commitment to reduce spending so that Alaska’s children can afford the government they inherit."

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Broadcast Note: Radio actualities are available by calling (800) 478-6540.
= Mike Miller, 37 K = Mike Miller, 30 K
= Gail Phillips, 61 K = Gail Phillips, 50 K