Alaska State Legislature

News From The Senate and House Majorities

Ken Freeman (907) 465-3804
Wendy Lindskoog (907) 465-4582
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org

Legislative Expense Report Shows Reductions In Spending

For Immediate Release: January 31, 1996 Contact:
Ken Freeman (907) 465-3804 or Wendy Lindskoog (907) 465-4582

JUNEAU -- House Speaker Gail Phillips and Senate Finance Co-Chair Drue Pearce offered the following comments to the 1996 Legislative Affairs Agency Legislator and Business Expense Report:

"Today's report reaffirms that the Legislature has been aggressively reducing its costs. We are working for a smaller, smarter government in every area, including the Legislature. Even though the Governor called us back for an extra 30 days last year, overall compensation for legislators was lower than in FY 95. At the same time, the Legislature approved a pay raise for state employees. We have been striving to reduce legislative expenditures and we were successful," said Speaker Phillips.

"The Republican-led Legislature is leading the difficult effort to downsize government by example. Last year, members of the Legislature not only cut $70 million from the capital and operating budget, they cut their own budget 18 percent. Interim per diem for legislators was limited to 90 days per year. Personal staffing was reduced. Full time positions were eliminated or replaced with seasonal positions and the practice of carrying forward unspent money from prior fiscal years was eliminated," said Senator Pearce.

Both Pearce and Phillips reduced their expenses as presiding officers from the previous year.

"I am happy to report that I have dramatically reduced my spending as Speaker of the House," said Phillips. "Even though my role in a leadership position calls me to travel on behalf of Alaska, I have cut those costs in an effort to save the state money."

"My total compensation in 1996 was nearly 10 percent less than in 1995," said Senator Drue Pearce who was President of the Senate in 1995 and 1996. " I made a conscious effort to spend less."

"I appreciate the efforts of all the legislators as we worked together to reduce the Legislative Branch budget," said Pearce.

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