Alaska State Legislature
News from the Office of Representative Scott Ogan

Representative Scott Ogan
State Capital, Room 128
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
ph: (907) 465-3878 fax: (907) 465-3265
web site: www.akrepublicans.org/Ogan.htm

Ogan Says Governor Failed in Dropping Suit

For Immediate Release: January 15, 1998 Contact: Dave Stancliff at (907) 465-2338

Juneau -- Today in the State Capitol the Chair of Legislative Council, Co-Chair of House Resources and the Chair of Judiciary revealed the latest move by the legislature to block federal take over of fish and game management in the State. The brief filed in Washington D.C. by Former Reagan Justice Department official Mark Pollot of Boise Idaho, seeks to assert legal standing by the Legislature to halt what lawmakers are calling both a violation of the Statehood Compact and U.S. Constitution.

Representative Ogan again called on the Governor to explain why he will not stand up and fight for fish and game in the Compact the way he has fought for the 90/10 oil split. He quotes from two governor's press releases in which the governor defends the compact by stating a "deal is a deal" and "fewer agreements are of greater moments in the annuls of this nation than the compact by which a state is admitted to the Union." " The Governor is rupturing our Compact by giving in on fish and game management," said Ogan. " On one hand he proclaims to the feds " A deal is a deal," while with the other hand he slices open our compact and hands fish and game management to the Secretary of Interior. I took an oath to defend Alaska's Constitution. If the Governor chooses to violate his oath and defend a federal law by amending our Constitution he will have to answer for that," said Ogan.

The initial complaint filed early Monday morning in Washington, D.C. uses a three-pronged attack on federal actions against Alaska. The complaint alleges the Department of Interior has violated the U.S. Constitution, acted beyond the scope of authority of Congress, and failed to follow legal procedures in its attempt to take over fish and game management in Alaska.

Ogan stressed the need for all parties who truly oppose federal management to step up to the plate and support the effort by the legislature. " We have heard many groups pressure the legislature because of their fear of federal management. Now we will separate those parties who are serious from those who would rather play politics than protect our Statehood Compact and Constitution," said Ogan.

Additional legislators and citizens may be added to the Council lawsuit later this month.