BUDGET COMMENTS FOR THE FLOOR

APRIL 4, 1997
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LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT SOME OF THE CUTS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. I BELIEVE IT IS TIME WE START WORKING WITH EXISTING PRIVATE OR PUBLIC ENTITIES TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM AND ELIMINATE DUPLICATION OF SERVICES AND HOPEFULLY PROVIDE MORE EFFICIENCY TO THOSE WHO REQUIRE SERVICES. IN PARTICULAR, THOSE RECEIVING BENEFITS THROUGH HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS.

I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS WHO WORKED WITH MY STAFF AND ME. THROUGH THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE PROCESS I WAS ABLE TO ENSURE NEEDED SERVICES SUCH AS THE ADDITION OF WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT IN THE BRISTOL BAY FISHERY, ESTABLISHING RURAL SUBSISTENCE POSITIONS IN ORDER TO MOVE SUBSISTENCE PERSONNEL OUT OF JUNEAU AND ANCHORAGE TO ALLOW THEM TO OBSERVE SUBSISTENCE ACTIVITIES CLOSE TO THE AREAS WHERE SUBSISTENCE IS PRACTICED, MOVING THE MANAGEMENT OF A-Y-K FISH AND GAME REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS OUT OF ANCHORAGE TO WESTERN ALASKA SO THAT MANAGEMENT IS CLOSER TO THE AREA THEY ARE MANAGING, PLACING MORE FUNDING INTO THE SUBSISTENCE DIVISION INSTEAD OF ENSURING DUPLICATIVE FUNCTIONS IN THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, ENSURING FUNDS FOR THE ROUND ISLAND WALRUS SANCTUARY AND REPLACING CUTS IN THE DIVISION OF ENERGY WITH THE CIRCUIT RIDER PROGRAM TO ENSURE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT . MY PHILOSPHY IS TO PLACE AS MUCH FUNDING AS POSSIBLE INTO SERVICES AND POSITIONS THAT WORK DIRECTLY WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS RATHER THAN ENSURING MID MANAGEMENT AND DUPLICATED EFFORTS OF MANAGING THESE PROGRAMS IS FUNDED.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF EFFORT ON PART OF THE DEPARTMENTS TO COOPERATE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. IT SEEMS AS IF THEY WOULD RATHER STONEWALL SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS AND LET OUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT THEIR SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE CUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT AND OTHERS. THE PROCESS OF MAKING CUTS WOULD BE LESS PAINFUL AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO TRUE CONSTITUENT NEEDS IF THE ADMINISTRATION TOOK A POSITION OF COOPERATION RATHER THAN TAKING THE POSITION THAT ITS OUR WAY OR NO WAY.

I WILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR INPUT BUT I AM NOT WILLING TO BE RUN OVER BY THE BUREAUCRATIC TRAIN EITHER. I EXPECT OUR DEPARTMENTS TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE AND NOT FOR THEIR OWN EASE AND COMFORT. THIS IS NOT TRUE OF THE MAJORITY OF THOSE IN THE FIELD OFFICES PROVIDING THE DAY TO DAY SERVICES BUT MORE SO OF THOSE WHO ARE PARTICIPANTS IN THE BUDGET MAKING PROCESS. CHANGES ARE OCCURRING AND IT IS IMPORTANT THE ADMINISTRATION OF THESE DEPARTMENTS CHANGE INSTEAD OF ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.

ONE POINT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE AS TO WHERE AND HOW CUTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. I DO NOT APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION TELLING OR THREATENING OUR CONSTITUENTS WITH LOSS OF SERVICES BEFORE THE FINAL BUDGET IS ENACTED. IF THE ADMINISTRATION PLACES A HIGH PRIORITY ON A SERVICE, IT WILL GET FUNDED UNLESS IT TURNS CUTS INTO A POLITICAL GAME. I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO ENSURE A MAINTENANCE OF SERVICES IS PROVIDED BY WORKING WITH THE PROCESS.