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Alaska State Legislature House and Senate Democrats |
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http://www.akdemocrats.org Mike Doogan, Press Secretary (907) 465-3842 or 723-2572 (907) 465-5125 press@akdemocrats.org |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE · August 26, 2004 |
Democrats Request Governor Withdraw Jet Purchase Request, Hold Public Hearings:
Legal Memos Show Legislature Has No Authority To Prevent Governor's Proposed Jet Purchase With Homeland Security Funds.
Today Senator Hollis French and Rep. Les Gara have written the Governor to request that he withdraw his application to purchase a jet. They fear that short of this, there will be no way to block the purchase of a jet that will primarily be used for business by the Governor and his staff, and to transport small groups of prisoners. They will hold a press conference at the Legislative Building, 716 W. 4th Ave, Rm. 420, at 2:00 p.m. Recent memos from the Legislature's attorneys and finance staff, commissioned by the two Anchorage legislators, state that if the application is approved the Legislature cannot block this jet purchase. These memos contradict the understanding of some legislators that the purchase cannot be made without prior legislative approval, and prompted the Anchorage legislators to ask the Governor to withdraw his application.
Senator French states: "The public is right to question this use of Homeland Security funds. We should let them be heard, and listen to proposals from citizens and local officials on how this money can be used more wisely." Rep. Gara echoes those sentiments, stating: "The law says these funds should be used to protect the public. There are likely wiser ways to use $2 million dollars than to buy a plane that can't land in most places in Alaska, and that's slower than planes the Army, Air Force, and National Guard will use to respond to terrorist events."
In recent months the Legislature has issued a memo stating that these funds must be used to plan, or purchase equipment to fight or respond to acts of terrorism. The Governor's application is currently awaiting action by federal Homeland Security officials. Rep. Ethan Berkowitz (D-Anch.) has asked Homeland Security Secretary, Tom Ridge, to deny this application so the funds can be used in a manner that better promotes the homeland security purposes Congress intended.
Other options for the expenditure of these funds include upgrading the state's outdated 911 emergency response systems and expanding Alaska's first aid response abilities. Municipal officials and members of the public have offered many alternative uses for these funds. Senator French and Representative Gara have stated to the Governor that public and legislative input are needed, and would likely result in a wiser use of limited Homeland Security funds than what's currently proposed by the Governor.
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