Press Release: Ogan Seeks to Reform Use of Antiquities Act

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
toll free: (800) 862-3878
web site: www.akrepublicans.org/Ogan.htm

Ogan Seeks to Reform Use of Antiquities Act

For Immediate Release: February 18, 1998 Contact: Representative Scott Ogan at (907) 465-3878.

Juneau - A Joint Resolution objecting to President Clinton’s use of executive authority to create national monuments has passed the legislature. HJR-39 pushed through by Rep. Scott Ogan (Palmer) passed the Alaska Senate and will now be sent to Washington D.C. "This president has dealt the same stinging insult to the State of Utah that Jimmy Carter dealt to Alaska when he was president. The Antiquities Act was originally passed to allow the executive to set aside small historic sites of national importance not vast tracts of resource rich lands. If President Clinton does to ANWR what he recently did to 1.7 million acres of prime Utah land, it would cost the State billions in potential revenue and loss of 1000’s of jobs," said Ogan.

The timing on Ogan’s Resolution seems to be good as Congress is taking up a measure (S. 477) introduced by Orin Hatch of Utah that would accomplish much of the objective contained in Ogan’s Resolution. Senator Murkowski’s Committee on Natural Resources is holding hearings bill by the ranking Senator from Utah on February 12^th. Senator Murkowski has introduced a similar measure to curb expanded use of the Antiquities Act. Ogan’s Resolution specifically requires congressional consent before Antiquity withdrawals are made as well as requesting protection in federal law from any more withdrawals in Alaska. "Alaskans are tired of being called a state and treated like a territory. Every time we turn around our Statehood Compact is under attack. It is clear Secretary Babbitt and President Clinton view Alaska as a national playground for their eco-tourist constituencies. It is unfortunate our Governor and this President are of the same political persuasion. One can not serve two masters."