Alaska State Legislature
News from the Senate and House Majorities

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

First Special Session on Subsistence Adjourns

Legislature Moves Toward Alaskan Solution

For Immediate Release: June 1, 1998 Contacts: Sen. Mike Miller at (907) 465-4976 or Rep. Gail Philips at (907) 465-2689.

Juneau -- The Legislature adjourned its first Special Session on Subsistence on Monday, June 1, 1998. While additional negotiations are needed, legislative leaders said the special session brought them closer to a solution that two-thirds of the Senate and House can support.

"Achieving an Alaskan solution to Alaska's subsistence dilemma has proven to be a bit like trying to put together a 27-piece jigsaw puzzle when you don't have all the pieces," said House Speaker Gail Phillips (R-Homer). "We voted several times, but no vote got us to the 27 required to pass a constitutional amendment," Phillips said.

The adjournment came after a week of intense negotiations involving legislative majorities and minorities, the governor's office, numerous interest groups, and private citizens. Both Democrats and Republicans voted for and against various proposals for a constitutional amendment on subsistence.

"Even though the last week has been difficult, we made great strides in working toward a subsistence plan that has bi-partisan support. While we have not reached a final agreement, we expect to continue working on a compromise plan that maintains state management of our subsistence fishery without compromising our rights as a state," said Senate President Mike Miller.

The Alaska Constitution requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of each house of the Legislature before a constitutional amendment can be sent to the voters for approval. Phillips and Miller encourage Alaskans to contact their legislators as they head back to their home districts.

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