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Session: State Capitol, Room 30 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-3873 Fax: (907) 465-3922 Send E-Mail Interim: PO Box 1441 Wrangell, AK 99929-1141 Phone: (907) 874-2318 Fax: (907) 874-3470 352 Front St Ketchikan, AK 99901 Phone: (907) 225-8088 Fax: (907) 225-0713 |
Alaska Concerns Voiced at Washington, D.C. Meetings
For Immediate Release: April 30, 1999
Contact: Senator Robin Taylor at (907) 465-3873.
Juneau -- Senator Robin Taylor (R-Wrangell), testified this week before the Senate Energy Committee regarding S. 25, co-sponsored by Alaska Senator Frank Murkowski. The measure would allocate 50 percent of the revenues derived from Outer Continental Shelf development to the impacted states to offset the effects of OCS development. The bill would provide up to $110 million annually to the State of Alaska, according to Senator Murkowski's office.
Testifying on behalf of the Alaska State Senate and the Alaska State House of Representatives, Senator Taylor said the bill has many good points, however, it needs a few amendments. Part of the measure provides money for the purchase of private land by the federal government. "First, we don't need any more federal land in Alaska. States with more than 50 percent federal ownership should be exempted from the federal land purchase provisions of the bill," said Taylor.
"Secondly, all monies coming into the state must go through the legislative appropriation process," said Taylor. "The Alaska Constitution makes it very clear that the Legislature has sole authority for appropriating money in this state. The current version of S. 25 would give sole discretion on the use of the monies to the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor. That is clearly an effort to trample on Alaska's right to govern itself," said Taylor.
While in D.C. this week, Senator Taylor has been attending meetings of the Western Legislative Forestry Task Force. The Task Force, comprised of members of the western states, works on issues related to the timber industry.
Senator Taylor has also been working with the Senate Energy Committee to secure funding for the Southeast Intertie. This intertie would connect Swan Lake and Tyee Lake thereby completing one leg of the electrical grid for Southeast Alaska.
"The picture looks good for a $20 million federal appropriation for the project," said Taylor. Similarly, an $11 million dollar harbor project for the community of Wrangell is being looked at favorably at this time according to Taylor.
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