 News From The Alaska Republicans April 11, 2002 House Finance Passes Fast-Track Supplemental Bill Provides for Health Care, Rural Energy, Security, Tourism (JUNEAU) - The House Finance Committee approved a fast-track supplemental spending bill Wednesday to provide health care benefits to low-income Alaskans, maintain low-cost energy for rural Alaskans, respond to threats to homeland security and bolster the state tourism industry. "We struck a good balance between getting the money flowing to those areas that need it fast, and still making sure that we gave every request fair consideration," said Finance Committee Co-Chair Rep. Eldon Mulder. "The fast-track supplemental is our opportunity to make any necessary adjustments in last year's budget to address unanticipated events and situations," said Finance Committee Co-Chair Rep. Bill William. "I'm confident that the full House will consider it very favorably, and I look forward to rapid consideration and passage of the bill." Read the full
text of this news release.
(JUNEAU) - The House on Wednesday passed legislation calling for the federal government to modify its practice of locking up vast amounts of its land in Alaska by withdrawing it indefinitely. "When federal land is
withdrawn it is closed until the withdrawal is removed, which
in some instances requires an act of Congress," Kott said.
"This creates the problem where land remains closed to entry
even when the original purpose for the withdrawal has been Read the full text of this news release.
(JUNEAU) - With strong bi-partisan support Tuesday, the Senate passed legislation requiring Permanent Fund Dividends of convicted criminals to go to help the victims of their crimes. SB 338 passed out of the Senate with 18 members voting in favor of the legislation. "Two years is the minimum," said Senator Dave Donley. "If you commit a violent or particularly heinous crime you could lose your Permanent Fund Dividend for life." Read the full text of this news release.
Eliminate Rider's Need for Drivers License (JUNEAU) - Alaskans would not need a drivers license to operate snowmachines or other motorized vehicles off-road, under legislation sponsored by Rep. Vic Kohring and passed by the House on Wednesday. "It is ludicrous to assume that passing a test on traffic signals to get a driver's license improves your ability to drive a Ski-Do on the frozen Kuskokwim River," said Kohring. "House Bill 397 simply restores common sense to Alaska's law regarding off-road vehicles." Read the full text of this news release. Audio actuality:
(JUNEAU) - The House on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation acknowledging the increasing role that physician assistants play in the practice of medicine, by including them under state laws covering malpractice, discrimination, and disability determination. "When these laws were drafted and passed, physician assistants were not prevalent as health care providers in the state of Alaska," Rep. Hugh Fate said. "However, over the ensuing years physician assistants have become integral to providing health care to rural and urban areas around the state." Read the full text of this news release.
(JUNEAU) - Alaska fishermen will have an easier time getting state loans to buy fishing permits, under legislation the House passed Monday to exempt the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agricultural Bank (CFAB) from state usury laws. "Like any businessmen,
Alaska's fishermen need a reliable source of credit to get their
operations started, and to keep them going through the ups and
downs of the business cycle," Rep. Eldon Mulder said. "By
eliminating an artificial limit on lending, House Bill 447 would
help Read the full text of this news release
(JUNEAU) - Alaska would join 48 other states in collecting statistical and demographic information on the number of abortions performed each year, under a bill the House passed unanimously Monday. Rep. John Coghill Jr. sponsored HB 160 as a way to improve reporting of public health information from Alaska, the absence of which hampers national efforts to get a full picture of the role abortion plays in maternal health, fertility, teen pregnancy and other matters. "Data from abortion surveillance is used along with birth data and fetal death computations to estimate pregnancy rates and other maternal health rates," Coghill said. "It is also used in defining characteristics of women who are at high risk for unintended pregnancy." Ongoing annual surveillance of abortion rates also helps monitor trends in how abortion is provided, helping clinics adjust their practices, he added. Read the full text of this news release.
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