Dear District 18 Resident:

As part of my continuing effort to improve communications with my constituents, I'm beginning an e-mail update on legislative issues. You are receiving it because you have, at some point in the past, contacted me about an issue before the Legislature via e-mail. Through this mailing, I will be posting information on important legislative issues as they occur.

If you do not care to receive these messages, please let me know and I will remove your name. If you have any friends or neighbors in District 18 who would like to receive these messages, please ask them to let me know and I will be glad to add them.

There has been a lot of coverage in the news about the special session. I'd like to give you some insight into the subsistence debate so you don't have to rely on sound bites and headlines. HJR 202(FIN) am passed the House 28-12 with my support after lengthy debate late last night. The majority of District 18 residents have supported allowing the public to vote on a subsistence amendment that would give a subsistence preference to rural Alaskans. HJR 202 would amend the Alaska State Constitution by allowing the Legislature to provide a rural preference, consistent with the sustained yield principle, with the purpose of ensuring state management of fish and wildlife and complying with ANILCA (Alaska Native Interest Lands Conservation Act).

While the bill is a compromise, I believe it meets the intent of ANILCA. However, my feeling is that while the amendment will satisfy the intent of ANILCA, it will not solve the problem of subsistence. I believe that the issue of allocation of fish and game resources will inevitably be decided in the federal courts, which does not guarantee state control. Disputes over resource allocation will continue until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the basic constitutionality of a rural preference.

There are strong opinions on both sides of this issue, so strong that some members of the House felt that they had to leave the majority caucus. While I appreciate their feelings on the issue, the majority of the caucus wanted the legislative process to work. These individuals were thwarting the will of the majority. When it became clear that that was unacceptable, they chose to leave the caucus.

HJR 202 has now moved to the Senate, where the bill has been assigned to the Senate Resources and the Senate Finance Committees. The Senate has until Thursday evening to act before the federally imposed deadline.

These are challenging times. Alaska is faced with scarce resources, both natural and financial. Divisions exist between Alaskans, among and between urban and rural residents. It is important the public be well informed about the problems facing Alaska, as well as the needs and opinions of our fellow Alaskans, as we move into the 21st century.

Please contact me if you have any questions or comments about HJR 202 or any other issue.

You can make a difference!

Sincerely,

Con

Privacy Policy: All addresses are "blind" for your privacy. A strict "no spam" policy is observed. If you don't wish to receive "Legislative Update", just let me know. If you know a friend or neighbor in District 18 who has not received "Legislative Update" but would like to be included, I will be glad to include them if they contact me. Your replies, comments, questions, and/or suggestions are welcome. Constituent comments on legislation and policy issues may be tabulated, shared with other legislators, or quoted in speeches. Names, however, will be kept private.

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