Alaska State Legislature

News From The House Majority

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

Speaker Challenges Governor's Allegations Regarding Confirmation Procedures

For Immediate Release: May 9, 1997 Contact: Ken Freeman (907) 465-3804

Statement from House Speaker Gail Phillips regarding the governor's comments about legislative confirmations:

"The governor has overlooked many facts about the confirmation process the legislature undertook. We approved 84 of his 91 appointments. In baseball, that would be a batting average of .923 and that would qualify him for the hall of fame.

"There were differences in opinion within the Majority caucuses regarding individual nominations and that was apparent in the confirmation votes.

"The governor and his staff need to revisit the Alaska Constitution. Article III, Section 26 grants the governor the power of appointment. The same section grants the legislature the power of confirmation. There is no constitutional requirement that the legislature must approve every name submitted by the governor. The governor ought to be pleased that 92 percent of his appointments were confirmed.

"Our constitution demands a system of checks and balances. It is a dark day for democracy when the executive attacks the deliberative body for pursuing its constitutionally mandated obligations. In our system of government there MUST remain room for differences of opinion and philosophy."

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