Veterans cemetery backer finds same bill across Capitol
Alaska Digest
FAIRBANKS - Rep. David Guttenberg says he and his staff have been victims of legislative plagiarism.
A bill by the Fairbanks Democrat aimed at creating a veterans cemetery is matched word-for-word, except for the title, by a new Senate version by Sen. Charlie Huggins, R-Wasilla.
Huggins, during the first hearing on his bill Tuesday, was asked how his measure compared.
"I've never seen the House bill. I don't think I've seen the House bill," Huggins said. "I know there's a representative from Fairbanks - was it Dave Guttenberg, is it? - who I think has a bill, but I'm not sure if it's the same, different or whatever the case may be."
That response seemed disingenuous, Guttenberg said, given that the body of Huggins' bill reads the same as the latest version of his bill.
The legislation calls for the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs to build and maintain a veterans cemetery in Fairbanks and would establish a state veterans cemetery fund to pay for upkeep.
Guttenberg said that he would rather have worked with Huggins on the cemetery proposal and was disappointed by the way the Wasilla Republican handled the matter.
"I like the fact that it's got bipartisan support, but it just speaks to character as far as I'm concerned," he said.
House approves elections changes
JUNEAU - State lawmakers approved a bill Thursday lowering the bar for fledgling political parties in Alaska to attain official party status.
The bill approved by the House of Representatives allows parties a place on the ballot if they register at least 2 percent of the state's qualified voters instead of the current 3 percent requirement.
Parties also can be made official by one of their candidates receiving at least 2 percent of the votes in an election for governor, U.S. Senate or U.S. House. Parties now must receive at least 3 percent of the votes cast in a gubernatorial race only.
The sweeping elections bill also increases the cost of requesting an election recount.
Recounts by request will go from $300 to $1,000 for precincts, $750 to $2,000 for House districts and $10,000 to $15,000 for statewide races.
The bill also requires that ballot initiative circulators be U.S. citizens, 18 or older and residents of the state. (read more)
FAIRBANKS - Rep. David Guttenberg says he and his staff have been victims of legislative plagiarism.
A bill by the Fairbanks Democrat aimed at creating a veterans cemetery is matched word-for-word, except for the title, by a new Senate version by Sen. Charlie Huggins, R-Wasilla.
Huggins, during the first hearing on his bill Tuesday, was asked how his measure compared.
"I've never seen the House bill. I don't think I've seen the House bill," Huggins said. "I know there's a representative from Fairbanks - was it Dave Guttenberg, is it? - who I think has a bill, but I'm not sure if it's the same, different or whatever the case may be."
That response seemed disingenuous, Guttenberg said, given that the body of Huggins' bill reads the same as the latest version of his bill.
The legislation calls for the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs to build and maintain a veterans cemetery in Fairbanks and would establish a state veterans cemetery fund to pay for upkeep.
Guttenberg said that he would rather have worked with Huggins on the cemetery proposal and was disappointed by the way the Wasilla Republican handled the matter.
"I like the fact that it's got bipartisan support, but it just speaks to character as far as I'm concerned," he said.
House approves elections changes
JUNEAU - State lawmakers approved a bill Thursday lowering the bar for fledgling political parties in Alaska to attain official party status.
The bill approved by the House of Representatives allows parties a place on the ballot if they register at least 2 percent of the state's qualified voters instead of the current 3 percent requirement.
Parties also can be made official by one of their candidates receiving at least 2 percent of the votes in an election for governor, U.S. Senate or U.S. House. Parties now must receive at least 3 percent of the votes cast in a gubernatorial race only.
The sweeping elections bill also increases the cost of requesting an election recount.
Recounts by request will go from $300 to $1,000 for precincts, $750 to $2,000 for House districts and $10,000 to $15,000 for statewide races.
The bill also requires that ballot initiative circulators be U.S. citizens, 18 or older and residents of the state. (read more)
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