Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Wednesday approved House Joint Resolution 56, which would remove wildlife management issues from the ballot initiative process in Alaska.

"Alaska is blessed with truly wondrous populations of wildlife and vast stretches of pristine wilderness which the Board of Game has done a good job of managing over the years," said Representative Carl Morgan, sponsor of HJR 56. "This amendment would place into Alaska's Constitution the time-tested and scientific process of management through the Board of Game."

In 1998 the citizens of Utah and Minnesota passed similar amendments to their state constitutions to protect wildlife in their states."

Recently, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled (Bess v. Ulmer) that the legislature has the power to amend, but not to revise the Alaska Constitution. Morgan noted that HJR 56, would have to be approved by voters on next November's General Election ballot and would be an amendment to the State Constitution, not a revision.

"This measure is not about politics," Morgan said. "It's about preserving a treasured part of the Alaskan way of life for all Alaskans."

HJR 56 passed 29-9. A Notice of Reconsideration was filed.

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