Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jun 2003
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2003 Associated Press
Author: Cathy Brown, Associated Press Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/props.htm (Ballot Initiatives)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hemp.htm (Hemp)

VOTERS MAY GET TO DECIDE TAXES, POT, CRUISE-SHIP FEES

JUNEAU - Alaska voters going to the polls in 2004 may get their say on 
taxes, bear baiting, cruise-ship fees, the draft and decriminalizing marijuana.

But they won't get to vote on seceding from the United States. The 
lieutenant governor's office turned down that proposal last week.

Lt. Gov. Loren Leman has certified two other proposals - one to ban bear 
baiting and one to set up a task force to study exempting Alaska from the 
draft - but has yet to decide on three other initiative applications filed 
this year.

Once an initiative application is certified, its supporters still must 
collect 23,286 signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

Citizen-initiated bills usually stem from dissatisfaction with something 
the Legislature has done - or failed to do.

Karen E. Bretz of Anchorage is backing a proposal to require voter approval 
or a 75 percent legislative majority to impose new taxes or increase 
existing ones. Bretz said she and other sponsors were inspired by talk in 
the last legislative session of sales or income taxes or raising the tax on 
motor fuel.

"We felt these taxes would fall disproportionately on the average Joe," 
Bretz said. "We think that the people who are going to be taxed should have 
some voice in it all."

The proposed initiative includes license and permit fees and other user 
fees that are similar to taxes.

Dissatisfaction with the Legislature's record in dealing with cruise ships 
led to a proposed initiative that would tax the ships and require them to 
get environmental permits. It's sponsored by Joe Geldhof, Gershon Cohen and 
Karen Jettmar.

Another idea the Legislature would likely never touch - a measure to 
decriminalize marijuana - is backed by Linda Ronan, Georgia Mario and 
Timothy J. Hinterberger.

They propose that production, distribution and consumption of hemp products 
not be prosecuted, although they'd allow the state to regulate "hemp 
intoxicating products" as it does alcohol and tobacco.

George R. Pollard, John E. Erickson, and former Lt. Gov. Lowell Thomas Jr. 
are sponsoring a measure to ban baiting or intentionally feeding bears.

Scott Kohlhaas, state chairman of the Libertarian Party, is pushing a 
proposal to require a state task force to study exempting Alaska men from 
federal requirements that they register for the draft.

Kohlhaas and fellow Libertarians Leonard Karpinski and Billy Toien also put 
forward the proposal that Alaskans vote on seceding from the union.

But that can't be done by initiative, said Sarah Felix, an assistant 
attorney general, whose advice prompted Leman to reject the proposal.

The state and federal constitution and court rulings limit the things 
citizens can do through the initiative process, and seceding from the union 
isn't one of them.

"Basically what they're seeking to do is amend the federal constitution and 
also to amend the state constitution," Felix said.

The initiative says if a vote on secession is not legal, the state must 
seek statutory and constitutional changes that would authorize a secession 
vote. But that language does not fix the basic problem with the initiative, 
Felix said.

Kohlhaas said he intends to appeal the state's decision in court.

There's no deadline for filing initiative applications, but citizens aiming 
to get proposals on the 2004 general election ballot would be wise to have 
them filed already, initiative veterans say.

It can take a few months to get an application through the Department of 
Law. Then, supporters must collect 23,286 signatures by Jan. 12, 2004, when 
the next legislative session starts.

That's a job best done in the summer, Kohlhaas said, when state fairs, 
bluegrass festivals and similar events are going on.

"Petitioning is the art of taking advantage of someone else's crowds," 
Kohlhaas said.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart