Alaska State Legislature
News from the Office of the Speaker of the House
Representative Gail Phillips

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

Phillips Introduces Biennial Budgeting Bill

House Speaker Says Measure Could Save Millions

For Immediate Release: January 19, 1998 Contact: Jerry Ritter at (907) 465-3804.

(JUNEAU) – House Speaker Gail Phillips (R-Homer) has introduced legislation, HJR 45, which would move the state government to a two-year budget process. Phillips says biennial budgeting could increase government efficiency as well as save money.

"This reform is long overdue," Phillips said. "Every year legislators devote an enormous amount of time and effort to the budget, only to have to turn around and begin the battle all over again the following session. With an every-other-year budgeting system, we could not only save time and money, but we could either devote more resources to other legislation or shorten our sessions. Either way, Alaskans win," Phillips said.

Phillips measure calls for writing a budget during the second session of every Legislature. The first session of each Legislature would be devoted to other legislation. One or both sessions could be limited to ninety days.

"There are two additional advantages to biennial budgeting that aren’t readily apparent," Phillips said. "The first is that, under this proposal, new legislators would get a year’s experience with the legislative process under their belts before having to tackle the difficult work of budgeting. The second is that state agencies would have the opportunity for some advance planning, something the current annual system makes almost impossible."

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