Talk of Alaska

This special program is made possible by Alaska Communications for the last frontier. Good morning. Welcome to the Alaska Public Radio Network's statewide call in program. I'm Dave Donaldson. With me today in Juneau is Governor hiccup Good morning sir. Hello Dave. Beautiful day here and good to be on. And it's a great day. We'll get out later on perhaps. We want to hear from you our listeners. Our toll free number from anywhere in the state is 1 800 4 7 8 talk. That's 1 800 4 7 8 8 2 5 5. Give the governor a call to let him know what's on your mind today. While we were waiting for the for the lines to come up I think we're getting some calls already there. Governor a lot's happened downstairs from your office since the last time we had a call in. Mainly I think this in the house now are in their final stages of passing an operating budget for this right. Both of them cut cut some expenses from what you have proposed the Senate some fifty nine you know hollers from years but can the administration get by with the amount of money that the legislature already gave it this

way. Or we can do things more efficiently we're going to do that that's just talk. But there's some areas of cutting government especially in the owner's state that just isn't the right thing to do Take for example Attorney General's office. We've collected nearly a billion dollars. And we really need attorneys more attorneys to pursue that. I have requested. I'm not sure we crested enough. You know interstate is more than just regulatory it's getting the revenues from royalties and taxes and things that that are due us. And likewise in in revenue we really need daughters. Because for an example Exxon hasn't been audited. I just mentioned that in 1080. Well that's the owner's responsibility. If the government has a responsibility to guide the taxes and all those things.

But in another state you've got to check that owner side in Kansas Texas or Oklahoma. Ten thousand farmers watch that they watch that owner side. And so we don't want to be Penny penny wise and dollar foolish on the regulation regulatory side of government. Yes we try to be more efficient but we really haven't watched that on our side and that's why when I came in we started trying to collect this money that was owed. It goes back so far it's kind of hard to dig out now and so those are one of the things you don't see you don't see a lot of people standing in line at the revenue department just wanting to give the state the money. That's right. That's true it's true. How about How about in some of the some of the other program Well he's got a point. For an example another one that's kind of difficult to cut back anymore. This corrections you know it just more people more people being put in jails it's a tough thing.

The other one is public safety. We need troopers on the streets we need we need that protection. And so while it's it's popular out there to cut government cut government cut government there comes a point when it's beyond a point of no return. And so they compare our state to some other state. It's not a fair comparison. Because you know we're we're fifth as large as the whole United States were scattered a long way. We have the obligation of of common ownership or in a state like Oklahoma Missouri Kansas really want to know. That that ownership is generally in the 10000 farmers or one hundred thousand people or a million people. And they watch that. Here we have to watch that method try to keep saying so. Yes we want to be more efficient. But let's don't cut our nose off to spite our face.

Let's go to the phones. Our first caller is from Delta Junction junction Good morning good morning. Hello Delta can you hear me. Yes right loud and clear. Wonderful. My name is Christy Wasserman. And I would like to make a recent issue that my husband and I have been in court over. I'd like to bring it to your attention and I would like to not only for ourselves but I'd like you to personally investigate this. But I would like you to for this. The sins of Fairbanks and the whole state of Alaska. My husband was a shopper in the store two years ago and was mistaken for a felon that they were looking for. And they proceeded to handcuff him and arrest him without asking him for any identification or anything and we found out we brought into court that there had been no training budget in Fairbanks for the last five years and that for the police for the police and police department there had been no training budget to zero. And we read in a Supreme Court ruling a city of

Canton versus high overseas terrorists that failure to train officers in constitutional limitations and the inadequacies of police training serves as a basis for municipal liability. And that was a deliberate indifference not to train the officers and that they needed to realize my husband had the right to ask them the question what are you doing to me. What what am I wanted for. Instead they proceeded to tell him to shut up and they went ahead and arrested him and injured him. And in the findings of fact he was found to be a law abiding upstanding citizen just an unfortunate mishap. Common to happen to him and yet he has five medical doctors come and say he will be injured the rest of his life and the judge went ahead and ruled with the one officer that said he is there. All testimony that there was a chokehold placed on him. Need we say that there was that arm around that one trooper all the other troopers the state that was troopers and the City Police would not testify because they had in their interop Dettori that their depositions had said there was an arm around the neck and they didn't want to

say that in court because of course you know that's not going to be good for them. So only one trooper got up and he said no I didn't do it and the judge went with him. OK. Essential evidence. Why don't you as a start would you contact him half a burger in my office in Burbank OK and give him the information. I'd like to follow through there's a couple of things. It's very apparent there one is did they cut enough money out of the budget that they couldn't train these officers I don't know the circumstances if you will get a hold of him you have a very good case as it sounds like and I'd like to get back to you as soon as we get more information but if you get a hold of Jim I'd like to follow through on it. We did turn in memos that said there was a suicide squad being set out on the street as far as the police were concerned and I think that the citizens need protection I know that that's what you want to do.

Thank you a lot. Thank you. That's the Kennedy gets back into the idea of cutting but you know training for police officers are there. They're putting themselves in a danger you know. There's a mentality that started literally in the mid 60s. The fact is I remember when I was first elected governor we didn't have that mentality businessman mentality of running against government you know this sort of government thing that you can do that to try to make it more efficient or if the government doesn't react for something or other. But just to beat up government government especially in the state of Alaska it finally comes home to roost and it's difficult to govern. Now yes cut fat you know if there's any fat there and they can show it don't cut the muscle. And right now we're getting right down to the muscle and so those are the things I'm trying to watch. OK. Let's go to our next caller from Kenai this time Kenai Good morning. Hello Kenai.

Good morning Governor. This is Bob Rubio from Kenai. I want to do to you Mr. backpacks reapportionment plan that was approved in committee yesterday if you're banned. Badcock took that go yeah ok. You know the the reapportionment plan that was approved is markedly different from either of the plans that had been brought forth for public comment and basically it seems to do is put two Democratic senators incumbent senators right now against each other in the upcoming elections. The House District 7. I have been lumped together which they have not done in the past and we're putting District 8 which is Seward and Sterling with a hillside in Anchorage. And you know the governor and mayor Gilman this morning borough mayor here down in the peninsula was quoted as saying that this was an arrogant act on the part of the committee in that it's basically Republicans getting Democrats.

And I was wondering is there going to be an opportunity for this plan to be reopened for public comment because I think you're going to get an awful lot of dissension in Barga difference with the kind of testimony that was given before that committee. If it is well planned going to be presented to me I think at 11:30 this morning I haven't seen it. I don't know what the public comments are at this time. I do know this that they had a difficult time with the one man one vote the Voter Rights Act and the court decisions what they made. It is that tough thing in a country like Alaska to try to get the right number of people in each district and keep the ethnic groups together. The best way you can. I'm not defending the plan or criticizing it. But I will be getting a present taken at 11:30 and find out a little bit more about it there but I can't speak any more and that on right now

because that's what I know. The last one that Tucker Babcock presented. The court's found was not acceptable. Is there a hope that you can or will not happen all of OIT going to court on this one well what I would hope so but what happened really was then when the Justice Department got in there they practically brought it back to where the board had it you know if you look at the plans the way it was what the court said and then what just department did. It was it was kind of a mixture of what they did and what they didn't do. Not defending anything but when you try to look at what how do you get the madness Cavalli represented right or how do you get the right you have one and a half senate district people in Southeast already a tight together. I don't have all those answers but I do know that they had a lot of him foot and the

past year they've worked pretty hard on it and I don't think I would hope it's not a Republican gives Democrat or Democrat or Republican or what they're trying to do but I'll know more by then. It's not an easy process. Everyone we've ever had ended up in court. Our next caller at 1 800 4 7 8 tall is from Dillingham Dillingham Good morning you're on the air. Hello Dillingham going to call Hello I'm distrustful. This is Russell Nelson in not doing it. Yes. I'm calling you about our satellite TV dish repair on earth station. I called acreage because we were having some problems and the guy that fixes it I'll charity fix it for the state at no cost or even have to send a technician no cheering. And because I guess they decided in the meanest thing in where the satellite dishes that they were going to stand they didn't have any more money to send people out here so we got a

local guy that volunteered his time to keep this station no jurisdiction and we got a piece of equipment that's gone bad and now they say they don't even have the money to ship the other piece of equipment that they have in Anchorage out your you know which is just a few dollars and then so I talk to him they said well you know you go up to called you know about that because our budget's been just cut for the year now so you know we got to be good and you know we're talking to you. We're talking right here now the right not receiver. Yes. OK. Who you calling in Anchorage what department. It's John Moore owns department was department administration there. OK yes OK. Well I I think that the supplemental was requested but. I don't know they've only funded enough of it to keep the satellite on. And with no repairs it gets back to what I talked about before that the public out there he's keeping his crying all the time cut the budget cut the budget I

meet with the leadership and try to convince them that there are certain things we have to have. We've absorbed over 11 percent of the growth in government has been down here and you can cut to the point where you can't take care of services. And now I'm watching that. And if there's any fat in there we want to take it out. But those are one of them. Look you know I can understand that but you know what I'm saying is you know for $10 or $20 we can get this part shipped out here. And until then you know we're having problems with our TV which are you guys are you know the state's already got this huge investment. All I'm asking for is just a little maintenance money not to build a new system but just a little bit of money. I'm with you on you're wasting our money by not having it on you. It was this big investment you know. I'm with you but at the legislature I can't bank all the I can do subtract my buddies down there and they're cutting it. How to cut it.

Now the Senate cut some more. And so you're you're talking to the choir here because I'm saying don't cut it that much we can make it work. Well I'll check in with you Theron and see if there's any options. But we're right we had a camera meeting on it this morning. That's one of the problems how do we get some of the things back in the budget we need I talked about that earlier like state trooper's attorney general's office and those things. You have a good point. And let me take a look at sound. It sounds easy but it's and I'm not just blaming it but the legislature presents the budget to me. I can add a and I can only subtract if you're talking about it 20 dollars of delivery thing. You know maybe maybe we're doing voluntarily and maybe there maybe the state senator from that area would be willing to contribute that much just to justify what he's done. This is a small amount to be able to get it out. Yeah I can understand his bro. Next caller is from Tel keep

Hello. Hi Hi governor. My my comment is regarding the opening of the Hall Road. I know several people who work using the Haul Road and are against the opening of the hall and it's an extremely dangerous place because the truck drivers and that can be proven by the incident with the survey crew who got rear ended by a truck and survey crew is not safe parking on a road like this. Certainly visitor pulling off just to look at something is in stream danger. There's not going to be enough trooper coverage and if you're going to add Troopers where are you going to take them away from and where are you going to house them. The condition of the road is not good in the summer and I think that this. It's a very bad idea I know you that you're absolutely hell bent on doing it and I say it's a horrendous idea. It's a term limit.

Let me talk about it. We were also we have to use our roads for work. Well that road was not built just for certain people. It's really should be a public road you could take the same case of all the acts that they have in Anchorage for banks or in the glen highway or whatever the road has to be brought up to shape we'd like to eventually put it under the federal aid highway act. I think it's some go through some of the most marvelous country in Alaska. And if the truckers or whoever are not obeying speed limits and things like that will who will have to be guided. But that's that's the way I see it. You make a good point but you can't. I think I think the road has to be open the public has to be brought up to standards and has to be patrolled just like the rest. And it's going to be part of the cost of doing business. Is there any kind of a warning at the Fairbanks into that road or the south end of that road there this is this is really not a suitable right right now to see the maintenance is down the road in bad shape.

We're not talking about opening it up the way it is we're talking about bringing you up to a certain standard first and. The real solution is to have a good road and not disclose a bad one. And that's part of the problem. And so I understand your position but I think that that part of the access to Alaska that people are entitled to. All right a quick couple of questions I want to ask you about the tourist season is just about to begin. We're seeing stuff. Seems you know get ready for the first cruise ship it's released will be here within a couple of weeks anyhow. It looks like this lower 48 threaten to boycott tourism in the state because of the wolf kill plan is not come about because of the wolf summit that you had there is that issue the idea of state supported or state approved will kill plans is that if you did for for the next day your

term comes up. They have a gay meeting I think in June and that will be addressed again. The thing that we did say they'd be no aerial hunting a bull. This year there's going to have to be some kind of a wolf control method. How. I don't know. GAME THE GAME board's going to address that as far as the tourist board trotting Alaskans are concerned. We didn't make a decision based on that. I don't think it had any merit. I don't think it was going to become a reality. And so to answer your question yes that'll come up the gameboard again in June to decide what and if and when something will be done about those fish and game is prepared. Yes definitely. It's going to be presenting to them to that. I think so yes. And but the game board will have to make that decision that had been a lot of research on it. You know like an area 20 for example or 20 a at they have a real problem

and the problem isn't that they don't know what the what it is it's how to handle it. It's hard to get access it's hard to have land and shoot for an example and so they're going to whether they can do it with honey whether they can do it with other methods of control. We'll have to wait. See our next caller at 1 800 4 7 8 talk and my engineer is putting a notice up that you know we got two lines open now so somebody give us a call here 1 800 4 7 8 8 2 5 5 and this caller is from Anchorage Anchorage Good morning good morning good morning Governor. Good. This is Bob nonstop. I'm on the Alaska Worker's Compensation Board. And it has been reduced for worker's comp ordered by 85000 this year. But the problem is there has been no deviation from the standpoint of the statute. I wonder if when a dollar amount is taken out of the budget and it.

It does. And then there's no money left for personal services. If that can't be tied into some of the statutory things that must be done as an example we have a requirement that compromises releases must be looked at by a hearing officer. And no but we have tried to do that and no more money to hire anyone. What suggestion do you have. The legislature in other words the same amount of money less and less money in the same manner more work and I understand that it's the same way in many parts of the operation of government. I do know that in the years that we had so much money people weren't watching how much was being spent. They weren't watching the statutes and laws that were passed. We're actively supporting computer enhancement to help the situation out.

But if the budget is cut to were it difficult to do that the only the only answer is find a better method. I don't know what that be or do. Get the money put back in the budget. It's a tough situation. The alternative there is stretching the time out as far as they're being able to handle it in bigger backlogs develop. That's what happens. It happens and in many cases the it's a hard thing because as I mentioned starting the program there were that the situation started in America. It just sort of beating up government 25 years ago. It's coming sort of through a head many times it was necessary many times it was appropriate to do that. But I think basically you have people in government trying to do a good job. You know people are like td they're they're down they're trying to represent the people. The legislators are elected and they and I've talked to the leadership they said we have a mandate to cut the budget cut the budget

cut the budget. And so that's that's where we are. Our next caller is from Fairbanks Fairbanks Good morning good morning good morning for banks Good morning. Well I would like to address the capital. Improvement plans that the school district and you know are funding and I'm going to be very different I don't want the money. Fairbanks has requested something that I don't think are necessary. Another former school board member and myself here have a have studied this extensively and we sent you some documentation I don't know if you ever received it or showed it to you. But in the last 17 years in Fairbanks we have the same secondary schools we had 17 years ago and we only have 49 students more than we had 17 years ago. Yet they're requesting money for 62 million dollars.

Sixteen hundred people high school in the documentation we sent you. We show you extensively with number. And figures from the school district itself that this project is not justified. I know under the law Section 14 11 over 1 3 that the department may reject project requests and omit them from the fixture schedule due to number to be terminated by the department that existing facilities can adequately serve the program requirements. The reason I don't feel that the school district in Fairbanks is honestly representing things is capacities the buildings are kind of a bogus thing a school that was built for a thousand people high school is claimed only Howells one hundred seven hundred forty five students now when in fact the district it self has admitted it will hold at least nine hundred thirty four. So it sounds it sounds like there's not a review here to stay at the state level as it is that's where the problem seems to be

well I don't I don't I don't know. You get the school district I suggest you need one thing then you get another group's they don't. I know some of the problems of overbuilding. The problem that we saw in Alaska 2000 wasn't so much. So much the need of new schools as it was the deferred maintenance. And in some places they had portable school schools. I'd like to look at her report just to see exactly what it is but well I don't know what we did mail it to you in to another copy of that I could easily do that. I would also indicate that I was at a meeting that the Department of Education held in Anchorage last week Monday and Tuesday concerning construction standards building standards and priorities. And it was pretty evident there that there isn't the personnel in the you know

we to really scrutinize these more than 100 requests that they get in effect they just don't even bother. Maybe let me mention one thing that's going to help us out in Alaska 2000 is we're going to get the districts more involved in local districts and the capital matching grant fund on the schools help that too so if the people of Fairbanks or any area have to pay thing a 25 or 30 percent of the costs they're going to see to it that what they what they build is needed and that's the reason the mentality behind getting these matching funds. So if the people of Fairbanks. You haven't let me ask a question. You have a disagreement with your district they say they need things and you say they don't is that right. Definitely when others see that as an argument and you've got to figure out who you're going to bleat and so you've got the official organization saying this is what we need and I'll get Jerry

Covey to look at that again. Specifically you might get a copy of that to Jim Hassel burger and see to it he gets it to me. Jim and he said they just aren't interested in boring about local matters. There's just five things that I see as a problem and figuring the new capacity or figuring out if a school is needed. First of all the enrollment of the school if it's going to the construction could pass. The justification should be given for calling it overcapacity because we have it. If there are attendance area students that are out of their attendance area schools shouldn't be claiming that they're overcapacity if they're holding a lot of attendance there you kid in their empty classrooms during the school day we have a high school where they claim it's overcast yet there are 6 to 8 empty classrooms every period of the day. If they are mandated programs in the school such as extending the kindergarten only that a local school district problem or what if. Well if this is a problem in our district and I don't know about other districts I mean.

Yes well I think somehow you're going to have to bring that to closure at the local school district. Well I don't know the answer we're getting we're getting state funding bill and the state funds are not being the request is not being scrutinized well enough and that's the point that. You know if somebody were to say here in the state the state level that that's a local concern. That's my money governor. Yeah and I understand and I understand it was wrong the numbers are very clear I know you you can look at it. All right let's go to our next caller who is also in Fairbanks Fairbanks Good morning good morning Fairbanks. Good morning Governor tickle This is Michele McCall. Yes I'm calling because I'm concerned about the funding that's been cut from the witch in the way any program. I've been a resident of Alaska for my entire life. I graduated from University of Alaska in Fairbanks last May and I've applied for medical school to here and I was really disappointed because I don't think people in Alaska are

aware of how residents students are at a disadvantage when applying to schools out of state and I think. The funding that's been cut from the witchy program has really hurt students a lot because it takes away that in the way program take away the only hope that the students have of getting into medical school. I have very competitive grades always healthy and had planned on attending medical school me as a freshman and college and work toward that. I graduate with a 3.9 and I have been accepted to an outside Kota. However I'm stuck paying anything out of state tuition is just ridiculous. The whammy program I don't think has been cut. No but the point I guess I should maybe it hasn't been cut but this year they only been opening for the whole state of Alaska and oh my the friend in Montana when for me they don't want Tara which I consider a lot more of a poor state than Alaska had 20 and I have to do with population and another one of them have to do

it. I thought it was just period revolving around the amount of funds that were available for the program itself. I know the way many programs a good program started about 25 years ago and in fact my fourth son became a doctor in the Wyoming program so I know what the Goodman let me check into and I know there's been no cuts there but now which has been cut when we haven't. OK let me let me find out. Let's get back to her. That's OK you're listening to the Alaska Public Radio statewide call in program with governor who is our guest here and you know this morning our number is 1 800 4 7 8 8 2 5 5. That's 1 800 forced to you. Good morning you're on the air.

OK thank you Governor. Yeah I have I heard from the news that there's going to be a bill going to the house today concerning that more control on pull tab. Yes I am really would like to state my opposition against even the selling of poll tabs. Camden is a very addictive behavior what you are good at and if you go to any bingo hall Krege in that 50 percent or less can eat it if you get it to feel like shit 90 percent maybe and 90 percent are supporting the deal. So it's unfair to ask them ask any distance apart. All the charities and Alaska. Well I totally agree we're trying to put a put a rein on it centric Tula gave a very emotional speech on it yesterday that said Pulled have should be illegal. That's another viewpoint of how party go. We're trying to get a gambling bill in there that will regulate the thing and limit the numbers you want

to expand it. See to it charities get more trying to do it within the framework of the law and what you say I totally agree with. Yeah but I really I mean if you're still here you're still not helping the people that have that Gamelin behavior I understand going to the millions and alcoholism and I understand them and it is just it's like it's legalized here. People are using their whole paycheck. They're you know they're taking their rent money if they're not paying their bills. I mean well you'd make a good test that would be good testimony to give the legislature. You're doing a beautiful job of dating it. Yeah and what the sad thing is is when race is going to get to this I understand it's a tough situation and we're trying to write a good bill to keep the donations where they belong. We're trying to keep it and keep it so they can't give it to politicians. We're doing many things that need to be done probably haven't gone far enough.

But your your concerns are well well taken and well understood and. And we'll just try to do better than we're doing. Our next our next caller is from Sandpoint Sandpoint Good morning good morning fanboy AB Good morning Governor how are you. I'm stressed but I am. I've got a son that's in the service. You graduated from high school near him and one other boy. He went into the service and he put in for his permanent fund check in every Tuesday because he was in the service he tends to come back go to the University of Alaska. He's exhausted everything writing down tell him I planned to come back. I lived in Sandpoint and we've all we wrote letters and answered all their questions and they still refusing to take up this offer. Serviceman or what not. Not that I know of. I'll have to check that out every time I

check it out. They tell me they've got 500 some thousand people to watch. And you can't be out of the state more than a certain number of days a year but I always thought the military was sort of exempted from that. I think I think they'll have to return to do this. I think they have returned over two years as he's been gone more than two years. Yeah he's been gone two years now Mark California right now. Well they have to if they're gone over two years then they're going to wait till he gets back to get reinstated I think that's it. That was just lengthened as I recall wasn't no effort to from one and one year one year here earlier because people were getting off the airplane and getting on the next flight south just to keep an extended period of time as I recall. But there is a limit as as I remember there is a limit. I think it's two years now. But anyhow I can feel for you but that's just one of the things that they have. And let's check it out. OK.

Our next caller is from Haynes Haynes Good morning. Hello Haines. I mean this is you. Dictator I'm calling for mine and I have a question for the governor. I'm here. Oh hey boss. Twenty five years. Great now consider this. You're wanting to reduce expenses. Have you ever considered a state commission of insurance. I mean there are hundreds of millions go out of this state every year on Manchuria. In fact the state alone spent a hundred and twenty million just for each employee that can't they cover the cover that you mean by starting it on starting its own insurance company as I mentioned. I don't know why I don't consider this.

Just spent over $60000 only trying to make me buy insurance because what should be good now might cause they might criminal. How's that what. Well describe or slice it. Why should I try to stay. You've got to have insurance for your current record. I don't have to. Yeah I can see that well if you start. If we start going to insurance company I'm not sure the state could run insurance company any more a fish and then anything else. But that's that's one of the price you have to have insurance and we had to start a company. I don't know. Putting the state in business. That's part I was pressured one to Liza's starting the good thought it. Have fun. Good.

Next caller is from Fairbanks Fairbanks Good morning good morning for ranks. Good morning Governor Ridge calling to follow up to the previous call from the person who said that we don't know. We were overcrowded she talked about 17 years ago and for some students more. We were overcrowded. Seventeen years ago we were overcrowded crowded twenty five years ago and I went to high school here and we're overcrowded right now my daughter's in the ninth grade. And her schools have been overcrowded the middle school of all of the high school that she's attending now. Not only do we need additional high school space we need additional middle schools. And we need additional elementary space as well as renovation to some of our older schools. And I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate the support that you have to giving the education system in our our kids this year. And I appreciate your vision there.

And I just want to know the pharynx does need new schools. The lady who called I've been working on a task force of the school district for quite some time and I'm familiar with the numbers. I know who she is. She was on the school board about I think 17 years ago. But she doesn't have kids in the school. I really don't think she's been in the school. It distresses me that people will make the statement when. Well as I say I have a daughter and overnight a classroom. I think it's taking away from our education you know. I appreciate your call. I really do and so I'm going to ask you Mr. Cavaney Covey to personally follow up on that Burbank situation and see if we can get a good clear picture and a good clear answer that could also make a comment. Jim have a burger he took a wonderful job up here I have been to various meetings. I don't advocate for other things. I find him is always there and always interested you could always point for you. I think you're probably very familiar with what's going on here.

Well and I've told you many times Jim does an excellent job in Fairbanks and I'm I'm honored to have him up there and I think Fairbanks is well represented by Jim has a burger. Absolutely. Thank you Governor. To continue that a moment Governor the idea that the school construction. You have your plan to spend money concern for school construction and the House of Representatives came up with a similar plan although it's only a one year temporary plan but apparently the Senate is not willing to go along with this yet. They have there been any negotiation on this is there any resolution of this well or how is that not a resolution yet the house is pretty close. I told the Senate you cannot solve the school problem when your time. Thats what got us into into the fix because theyll appropriate money one year but nobody can plan ahead on a two or three year cycle. And so they spend the money what is needed at the moment.

And thats what got us into the problem. So the Senate version one of the versions is this billion dollar fund. It wont do it. It will give us about 70 million a year. Well and we need double that amount to catch up. Pardon me for the next four years. Now the billion dollar might work if you had the six hundred eighty million requested to catch up in the next four years. It might help a maintenance problem but even our projected. Maintenance after That's about 100 million a year. So what we have to do is is spend the money now to catch up not just what happened today but what didn't happen the past 10 12 years. And that's what we're trying to do if they give me a program that'll solve the problem on a long year on a long term basis. I'll look at it but I haven't seen one yet because there's been talk that you would perhaps call them back in a special session in case they don't deal with this in a satisfactory way.

Well it's it's it's always an option I would hope I wouldn't have to do that. But I want to solve this problem. It's been one that the state has been looking at and facing for many many years. And even when they had excess money they took two and a half billion back in the mid 80s put it in the Permanent Fund. That's fine. But the quality of life of the obligation we have to the younger today. And so it isn't something 20 years from now. Ten years ago they said if we ever had. Twelve years ago that if we ever had 10 billion dollars in the Permanent Fund we'd everything solved. Well they've got that there now they say you need 20 billion Well the point is the problems go grow faster then the savings. You can't save yourself rich. Now we want to not waste money but we got to take care of this infrastructure of what this whole quality of life is about and that's that education's a very very important part of that. And I don't see a solution except to

what we saw and what we studied for a year and came up with the conclusion. Our next caller is from St. George St. George. Good morning. Hello Saint George. Good morning Governor. Yes. Yes sir. My name is Peter and I'm a state certified EMT key on the island here EMT emergency medical oh yeah ok. Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems to me that the M.S. budget has been cut in the substance abuse. But it was picked up in Iraq. Am I wrong or am I right on that. I'm not real sure on that but it stands for this year on continuing education for us to have an instructor flown to St. George so we can work on stepping up to it to a tree. My instructor had his farm me that he had due to the budget

cuts that he'd be having a lot harder time getting up here to the island for. Teaching us the two industry that we so need to be. Well all I know it's been pretty consistent over the past few years and it has been cut. By the House or Senate I'm not I'm not I won't see that like get it. And so I don't know how to exactly answer that. Maybe How would I go about finding out the answer to my question here. As you're probably aware there are no one trip on such a crabbing and the fishing season out here in the Bering Sea. We happen to take care of the commercial fishermen in the area here. I mean we are roughly about 800 miles from the nearest hospital which is in Anchorage at all. Practically all patients

that are particularly injured have to be better back off the island. I'm not sure that. Where the buds been cut or not. Maybe just the inflationary increases has made it more difficult to do everything had to be done. Let me get a hold of Ted mama and I'll try to see if I can get some kind of an answer for what you're talking about. I'm not I'm just not aware of it. OK our next caller is from Noma Noam Good morning good morning Marty. You know Arnie. Hi my name is Cammie Morgan and I'm a member of the public schools. Board of Education serving no. I kind of picked the Alaska school Price Index to ask you about the price index. Go ahead. I'm a little confused about this. When the last one when the figures were.

Derived from the price index figures did that come from. Did you start with the current area cost differential figures in the foundation formula. I'm not sure but 2000 has a new K to 12 formula and it had to do with the single flight schools and had to do a lot of things and I don't know specifically what specific thing you're looking for. Well I guess I've been talking. The other board members across the state and. There was some talk about when the area cost differential first came about and how it was how it even got started. Sure there was some concerns there and I was just wondering if the price index was a take off from that because if it was in my mind the price index isn't going to help the foundation formula problem but in

equities of whatever they do I'm sure the roof schools are going to be taken care of. Let me check into it I know that the formula thing is going to be change is going to be changed next year. And because it hadn't been working quite right in the past and I don't think it's for me a change is going to is designed to hurt schools. It's really designed to help them right. I sure hope so. Yes if. The price is that if the formula changes go through as they are proposed right now it will hurt public schools probably to the tune of about $600000. And so that's why I'd have to look at that I'm not sure. OK that's what I'm kind of on top of this right now I'm just trying to understand it because I certainly am in favor of a fair and equitable foundation formula for everyone. But you have to look out for No.

I don't blame you. Thank you a lot. OK our next caller is from Juno Juno Good morning. Hello do you know. Are you there you are beautiful. You know it's not there. OK well let's try Cooper Landing. Cooper Landing good morning hello. Hello Cooper lambing. Oh yeah. Good morning Governor. Yes I'd like to tell you first of all that I certainly appreciate your taking the time to have this. The governor talked it's a wonderful opportunity to understand a lot of problems and to voice our problems also. I'm on the Cooper Landing you land use advisory committee and the committee as well as most of the people here in the community have some current concerns regarding our highway through Cooper Landing. We're a small community built around the highway there are no shoulders it's near railroad we have lots of curves and steep banks and we're going to. Well it wasn't that haven't been appreciably upgraded since 1953. I know that it wasn't resurfaced

about eight years ago and there has been no no work done on the road since then though I understand the OT has a preliminary environmental impact statement for a road that will bypass Cooper Landing. I don't know about that one. Yes they do have it's a preliminary Yes. They don't have anything final on it but apparently this project continues. To be pushed back off of the priority list in favor of other projects and again course we're concerned and now we've discovered a new oil well in Cook Inlet and everything. All products that are consumed are sold on the Kenai pass through this little great community and it gets beginning to be it well it has been a safety hazard for a long long time we have no oil and there isn't even a shoulder to walk on here steep banks and and yes I know the road I've driven it.

It's a beautiful road I take it whenever right after I got elected I said I told the OT I want to bring all the existing highways in the next five years or so up to the National City standards and I think you're going to see more action. We just sort of. I had a little reorganization Indio T. I know your problem I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm just trying to expedite it and see if we can get these roads upped up to speed. As I said many times you know we have billions of dollars in the bank we can't fix the potholes with the ferry system has neglected the schools neglected what we have to do is take some of this income that we have that comes to this owner state and do the infrastructure work that has to be done and I need the support of the public to do that but that's what has to be done. And doesn't mean you have to touch the permanent fund it doesn't mean you have to touch dividends. But you just can't take any excess money you have and keep

putting it into a constitutional budget reserve or in the Permanent Fund and not take care of the problems we have now that's the problem. And that's the message I'm trying to get across. The same thing that the state keeps finding more money. ARCO. Has discovered you mentioned I think your recall of something probably produce eventually one hundred fifty million dollars a year in income to the state. Does that you have to fix the long range. Well it's what I mean what I've said from the day nearly 10 years ago when I got to believe in the very early 80s and 70s I said we can't just say we're self rich we have to enhance revenue and as brutal Bay declines when I came in here my first State of the state budget message I said we have to enhance revenue. And so we're going down that road. And everybody you know looks up the sky and says Pluto Bay is going to end Pluto Bay is

not the end of the beginning. It's the start. If we're just going to stop focusing on that. I mean just keep focusing on that don't look at anything else and don't allow an expansion of thought to where we can go out in this great wonderful land and enhance the revenue. We're not going to make it and that does not mean you degrade the environment. I think the environment our people people's needs and nature and those three things we watch I think the state of Alaska does a better job than any one else on that. But. Believe me I know I know the problems and that's how we're trying to sell. Our next caller is from Anchorage Anchorage Good morning good morning and morning good morning Anchorage. I thank you for you doing. Yes I just happened to get you. I have several things but since the timing issue are my biggest complaint is the lack of a personnel chart the job Jack Akio started earlier so you could get a handle on what a ludicrous amount of bureaucracy we have in the state. One case in

point is up and bets are the Cooperative Extension is a group who goes out and teaches people how to function and use local or foodstuffs and cetera to prepare prepare and learn how to to move from a gathering harvesting into a perhaps a small agricultural group. They have about 10 people some of them are part time right across our public assistance. They have over 80 people something is happening and we get 80 people who are in Bethel working for the public assistance. A public adult public assistance in Bethel has 80 employees at one point. True. That's not true but they were telling me something. Well listen I'll check on that. So we have put the government in yes things can be better but we can't use this mentality just cut government cut government cut government. That's what the caller talking about we don't have potholes fixed we don't have the

schools fix we don't have the Marine Highway fixed. And so we have absorbed about 11 percent of Koli increases in growth. There are board things we can do efficiently but in the state of Alaska the government has to do an awful lot more than they do in Kansas Oklahoma or some other other state because it owns everything on the regulatory side. That's when you're talking about it you're probably right in some cases there might be too many people. But on the on the ownership side where you have to generate revenue to make it work I think we're under funded and undermanned and that's the that's what I'm trying to turn around. Let's go to our next caller who is also in Anchorage Anchorage Good morning good morning. Good morning good morning. I say I don't buy her out. Kentish no region there in 10. You know we've been shut down now for nine years and the Park Service is answer to you know not mining out there

was to buy everybody out and they they came with a two hundred seventy six or sixty seven thousand dollar buyout when the Bureau of Mines had already done a study under an oak and that was mandated by Anelka that our property was worth 24 million. And. You know I mean there's there big Mr attrition out there and you know it's the first time I've ever asked for anybody in state to see if they could talk to those people and try to quit being an astute Philippi out there was probably yes I know something about those things. There might have to be. Maybe maybe you have legal action. I just don't know what you'd have against the federal government I know that we're filing and have filed a major lawsuit against the federal government for what we thought was infringing on the statehood compact. When your case. In there it's

probably one of access more than anything else or is it one of ownership. Well it it's our right to get to the mineral Yes and that's access. You know our local guaranteed us access for economic and other reasons and the only reason you would want to access a mining claim is for the gold in the ground it right. And but you know this has been going on for night right now and you know that the states being violated by the feds and and her citizens are being violated and it just seems to me that we need some legislation or June or some legislation out of Juneau won't do it. I understand but yeah you know when you get some to let them know that they just can't come up here and you know you're right.

That's the reason I filed these two major lawsuits we have more to file. But the only answer I can see because we don't have the political power in Washington to change some of those things and and so acts this is one that they were looking at. Strong I know what your what your problem is there are and and but I don't have a solution for it yet. Governor the mentioning of him fighting the federal government down on this particular issue I have a list that just came out this morning that I showed you earlier. The Department of Defense showing sites in Alaska where they have dumped ammunitions you know there are several sites there and there are major and there are big you know the Corps of Engineers has just department has tied up because of the Cordova road. Why don't they clean up their math. You know yes a little bit of dirt was pushed in the Cordova road. I mean the corridor the Copper River Road river. But if you look

up there Nature done you know 10 times that much. So if the federal government's worried about a couple of trees in the Copper River Why don't they clean up their mess around the state. So this this idea of the munitions dump Here are six sites that were listed to St. Lawrence two in Juneau Sitka in Anchorage right. And you know they they shouldn't. Call the kettle black. I understand also the DC has got a program of working with the military right now and some clean up stuff right. We've had good cooperation of the military. We've had excellent cooperation the military the corps been a little different problem but I think all in all will finally find the reasonable is what has to be done and I think that it's. Well anyhow they have a problem there and I just like for them to to realize that Alaska is a country of its own and not just just a colony.

That's all the time we have this morning. Governor thank you very much for being here you and also thanks to Kati OFDM in Juneau for helping get the program on the air today. Our producer was John Greeley the engineer Jeff Brown. For the Ask a public radio network I'm Dave Donaldson. Today. This special program is made possible by Alaskan communications for the last frontier. This is a PR in the Alaska Public Radio Network. OK. OK just a second I should just let you go first or second.