News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature
Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press
Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540
For Immediate Release: March 11, 1997 Contact: Senator Robin Taylor 907/465-3873
Alaskans Deserve Say Before State Assets Are Sold
Juneau -- Guaranteeing public input when state-owned assets valuing more than one million dollars are sold will be ensured by legislation passed 15 to 5 by the Senate Tuesday.
"The people of Alaska, through their elected policy makers, must have a voice in the decision making process on the sale of state-owned facilities and equipment," said bill sponsor Senator Robin Taylor (R-Wrangell). "Afterall, it is the people who own the property."
What prompted this legislation was the fickle manner in which the sale of Alaska’s state ferry, the M/V Malaspina, has been discussed, noted Taylor.
Both Commissioner Joe Perkins and Gary Hayden, director of the Alaska Marine Highway System, have said for months, that the future of the ferry would be decided after a period of public involvement. Despite indicating that the decision would be made closer to 1998, Commissioner Perkens did an about face. He told the Southeast Mayors Conference that a decision regarding the "fate" of the Malaspina would be made within the next month.
"Any administration can dispose of state assets without legislative oversight because there is no real code governing these decisions," said Taylor. "This is wrong, and certainly not reflective of our democratic system of governing."
"State assets belong to the people -- decisions regarding these assets deserve public say!" Taylor said.
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