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

Unity Forged by Supreme Court Must Continue

For Immediate Release: February 25, 1998 Contact: Representative Scott Ogan at (907) 465-3878.

Juneau - NOW IS THE TIME TO REVERSE THE DAMAGE DONE BY FEDERAL LAWS AND POLICIES OF DIVISION AND BEGIN A NEW ERA OF UNITY AND HEALING.

THIS IS A DIFFICULT DAY FOR MANY ALASKANS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR FAITH IN THE AMERICA FORM OF GOVERNMENT. WE NEED TO HELP RESTORE THAT FAITH BY WORKING OUT A UNIFYING SOLUTION ON SUBSISTENCE THAT IS BUILT ON EQUAL PROTECTIONS AND THE COMMON USE OF OUR RESOURCES.

ALASKANS SUPPORT PROTECTIONS FOR FISH AND GAME NEEDED TO FEED FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUAL ALASKANS. THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH RESOURCES AND HABITAT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WORHTY GOAL. WE MUST NOT FURTHER DIVIDE OURSELVES IN LAW TO ADMINISTER THE ALLOCATION OF SUCH RESOURCES.

THE UNIFYING ASPECTS OF THE RESOURCES BILL (HB-406) SEEK TO GIVE GREATER DEFERENCE TO REGIONS AND AREAS IN WHICH FISH AND GAME SUSTENANCE NEEDS ARE GREATEST. HB-406 ALSO ALLOWS THOSE CLOESET TO THE RESOURCES TO DECIDE WHO IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD GETS A LEG UP IF RESOURCES ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY THE BILL SEEKS TO REBUILD THE TRUST OF RURAL ALASKANS BY DESIGNING A SYSTEM WHICH IS SENSITIVE TO THEIR NEEDS AD LIFESTYLES, WITHOUT DEPRIVING OTHER ALASKANS OF THEIR FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO ALSO FEED THEIR FAMILIES.

NOW IS A TIME FOR ALL ALASKA LEADERS TO ALLIGN WITH THE STATE AND U.S. SUPREME COURTS IN THEIR RECOGNITION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND THE CRITICAL ROLE THEY PLAY IN THE FOUNDATION OF A FREE AND EQUAL SOCIETY. LET US END ANY THOUGHT OF DENYING SUCH RIGHTS TO ANY ALASKAN FOR ANY REASON.

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