Juneau -- Senator Robin Taylor today threw his support behind the Attorney General's decision to appeal the Katie John subsistence case. "This is what I have been asking the administration to do since the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. Alaskans must go to the U.S. Supreme Court to prevent the threatened Federal takeover."

The District A Senator was upset when the Alaska v Babbitt case was dropped opening the door for a Federal takeover. "The Federal government has used this issue attempting to drive a wedge between rural and urban Alaskans.

My only regret under the current appeal is that the state has not asked for a stay of federal management while the case is heard. Upon filing the Glacier Bay suit this fall, a stay was granted in the Peratovich case." That case is an attempt by the Feds to take over the navigable waters of the Tongass.

Contrary to the highly publicized "Federal Takeover," the Attorney General's office confirmed Wednesday (Jan. 26) that Alaska still manages its fish resources in all marine waters of this state. Assistant Attorney General Joanne Grace also confirmed that had the state passed the Constitutional Amendment proposed last year, Alaska would have forfeited the right to manage our fisheries and would have no right to contest the Federal mandate.

A guardedly optimistic Taylor added, "Unfortunately only time will tell if the Administration is sincere in the defense of our state's right to manage fish and game. Since this appeal is a complete reversal of previous policy, I applaud the commercial fishermen for pressing the issue causing it to be filed. Alaska's sovereignty and the future of our commercial, sport, charter, and personal use fisheries are doomed if the cases are not pursued vigorously."

Despite that concern, these cases and appeals are a move in the right direction according to Taylor. It will take time for the courts to finally resolve the real issue of Constitutional State's rights. The final ruling will ultimately establish whether the Federal Government has the authority to overturn a state's Constitution by Congressional Statute and regulate fish and game in Alaska.

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