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Time	Speaker	Text
00:00:00	none	TRAVELING TO KANSAS AT 7:00 EAST COAST TIME TONIGHT. UP NEXT IN THE ALASKA GOVERNOR RACE THIS IS A RACE NOW VIEWED AS TOO CLOSE TO (music) (music) (music)
00:00:39	>>	GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO BY THE PEOPLE, A DEBATE FOR THE STATE 2006. THE LAST MAJOR DEBATE OF MANY DEBATES DURING THIS VERY BUSY ELECTION SEASON. I'M CHRISTOPHER CLARK, A REPORTER FOR KTOO IN JUNEAU. WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE KAKM STUDIO HERE IN ANCHORAGE. JOINING US TONIGHT ARE THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR. TONY KNOWLES, A DEMOCRAT, GOVERNOR FOR EIGHT YEARS AND MAYOR OF ANCHORAGE FOR SIX YEARS. SARAH PALIN, A REPUBLICAN WHO IS MAYOR OF WASILLA FOR SIX YEARS, SHE ONCE CHAIRED THE ALASKA OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION. AND ANDREW HALCRO, RUNNING AS A BEHIND, SERVED IN IF -- RUNNING AS A BEHIND, SERVED IN THE HOUSE FOR FOUR YEARS, IS PRESIDENT OF AVIS RENT A CAR OF ALASKA BASED IN ANCHORAGE. WELCOME. AND JOINING ME ON TONIGHT'S PANEL ARE LARRY, THE EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR FOR THE ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS. AND FAIRBANKS REPORTER LIBBY CASEY OF KUAC. WELCOME TO YOU ALL. NOW A FEW GROUND RULES. FOR OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE, THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT. WE ASK THAT YOU NOT APPLAUD OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAY DISRUPT THE DEBATE. AND FOR THE CANDIDATES, I WILL TELL YOU HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS. THIS WILL VARY FROM SEGMENT TO SEGMENT. WHEN YOU HEAR THIS BELL GO OFF, YOUR TIME IS DONE. TO HELP PACE YOURSELF, THERE ARE THREE LIGHTS OVER HERE. GREEN MEANS GO, YELLOW MEANS YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS AND RED MEANS STOP. THAT SAID, LET'S BEGIN. TO WARM UP, LET'S START WITH A BRISK ROUND OF QUESTIONS, A LIGHTNING ROUND, IF YOU WILL. YOU WILL HAVE 15 SECONDS TO RESPOND. TO DETERMINE WHO GOES FIRST, THE CANDIDATES DREW STRAWS BEFORE THE SHOW. THAT MEANS MS. PALIN GOES FIRST. READY? HERE WE GO. ONE RECKONING, AT LEAST 21 GUBERNATORIAL DEBATES ACROSS ALASKA SINCE THE AUGUST PRIMARY. HAVE THERE BEEN TOO MANY DEBATES AND TOO LITTLE TIME FOR OTHER THINGS? YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS.
00:02:39	>>	WELL, OUR LAND MASS IS SO HUGE HERE IN ALASKA, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE BEEN EVERYWHERE AT ANY ONE TIME. I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR CANDIDATES TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT, THERE MEET THE PEOPLE, SHAKE HANDS, LOOK THEM IN THE EYES AND HEAR FROM THEM. YEAH, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THERE WERE A LOT OF DEBATES AND I WISH THAT WE COULD HAVE PARED IT DOWN TO A FEW LESS SO WE CAN BE OUT THERE MEETING MORE PEOPLE.
00:03:00	>>	MR. KNOWLES, YOU ANSWER NEXT.
00:03:02	>>	I THINK THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY OF DEBATES. IT'S GOOD BECAUSE AN ELECTION SHOULD BE AND A CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE ABOUT COMPETITION OF THE BEST IDEAS. PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR IT, THEY WANT TO WEIGH IN ON IT AND THE CANDIDATES OUGHT TO BE THERE TO FACE UP TO IT.
00:03:16	>>	MR. HALCRO.
00:03:17	>>	I THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE. I THINK WE SHOULD BE STARTING THESE DEBATES IN SEPTEMBER. THIS IS A HUGE TASK. ARE YOU HIRING THE NEXT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE STATE OF ALASKA. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEBATE SCHEDULE, THEY'RE ALL STRUCTURED IN THE LAST THREE, FOUR WEEKS OF THE CAMPAIGN, WHICH CREATES PROBLEMS WITH GETTING AROUND THE STATE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE IN MORE VENUE, ESPECIALLY RURAL ALASKA.
00:03:37	>>	LIBBY HAS THE NEXT
00:03:38	>>	THANK YOU. WOULD HAVE HEARD FROM EACH OF YOU DURING THE CAMPAIGN SEASON ABOUT ISSUES LIKE THE GAS LINE, EDUCATION, ETHICS. WHAT'S ONE THING THAT'S BEEN IGNORED DURING THIS CAMPAIGN SEASON? WE WILL GO IN REVERSE ORDER.
00:03:49	>>	I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT HAS BEEN IGNOREDJ: TO SOME DEGREE HAS BEEN REALLY THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HEALTH CARE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOCUS ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ESPECIALLY. WE HAVE6wn HAD VERY FEW FORUMS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SOME OF THE CORE SOCIAL PROBLEMS THAT REALLY PLAGUE OUR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK OUT OVER THE FUTURE OF THE STATE, YOU CAN BUILD AS MANY PIPELINES, ROADS, BRIDGES, IF YOU DON'T HAVE76 HEALTHY, WORKABLE, LIVABLE COMMUNITIES YOU HAVE NOTHING AND THAT'S ONE REASON WHY I THINK WE HAVE STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS AS WE HAVE FAILED TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND SUSTAINABLE POLICIES REGARDING SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
00:04:28	>>	THANKS. WE'RE STILL STICKING TO 15 SECONDS. YOU NEXT, MR. KNOWLES.
00:04:34	>>	OKAY. I FOCUSED MY CAMPAIGN ON THREE THINGS. ONE, BUILDING A NATURAL GAS PIPELINE FOR ALASKA. ON OUR TERMS, WE CAN DO THAT. THAT'S GOING TO OPEN THE DOOR TO THE JOBS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND MY FOCUS THERE IS ON EDUCATION, THE BEST EDUCATION IN AMERICA AND HEALTH CARE, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL ALASKANS. SO THOSE ARE THE BIG THREE THINGS.
00:04:56	>>	MS. PALIN.
00:04:58	>>	LIBBY'S QUESTION IS WHAT HAVE WE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DISCUSS A WHOLE LOTB WE DISCUSSED THE GAS LINE A LOT, EDUCATION A LOT. SOME OF THE UNIQUENESS OF ALASKA AND NEED TO PROTECT THAT UNIQUENESS, INCLUDING OUR HUNTING AND FISHING RIGHTS, ACCESS TO OUR WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND MANAGING OUR RESOURCES FOR ABUNDANCE SO THAT ALL OF US WOULD HAVE MORE ACCESS TO OUR WILDLIFE RESOURCES. HUNTING AND FISHING IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T TALKED A WHOLE LOT ABOUT IN THIS CAMPAIGN. KIND OF SURPRISED ME.
00:05:24	>>	THANK YOU. LARRY HAS THE NEXT QUESTION. YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS.
00:05:27	>>	I WILL GO IN THE REVERSE ORDERR MR. KNOWLES, THIS IS NOT A TRICK QUESTION, WE HAVE CERTAINLY TALKED A LOT THIS CAMPAIGN ABOUT THE PPP, OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION TAX. ASIDE FROM, THAT WHICH WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A LOT DURING THE CAMPAIGN, DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TONIGHT, CAN YOU NAME ONE OTHER BILL THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THAT YOU DIDN'TLIKE, THAT YOU THINK WAS A BAD PIECE OF LEGISLATION?
00:05:51	>>	ONE OTHER BILL. THEY DIDN'T, THEY DIDN'T FULLY FUND DENALI KID CARE. IT HAD BEEN CUT BACK OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO 166%, SOME 2500 KIDS LOST THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FULLY FUND IT.
00:06:07	>>	MS. PALIN, CAN YOU NAME A BILL OTHER THAN PPP THAT YOU DIDN'T PASS, THOUGHT WAS A BAD BILL, MAYBE WOULD HAVE VETO FUD WERE GOVERNOR?
00:06:15	>>	IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI'S ENTIRE FOUR YEARS, ACTION HE TOOK I DON'T AGREE WITH, WISH WOULD HAVE BEEN REVERSED WAS HIS UNENTHUSIASTIC ACTION ON THE LANGUAGE GUEST BONUS MAKING IT NOT -- LONGEVITY BONUS, NOT FUNDED, GREAT MISTAKE. FOR THOSE ALREADY ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, NOT TO FUND LONGEVITY.
00:06:35	>>	IF YOU CAN THINK OF A BILL THAT PASSED THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE.
00:06:38	>>	CERTAINLY, LARRY. THE ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS SENATE BILL 141, RESTRUCTURED STATE EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT. I THINK IT WAS SHORT-SIGHTED, DRIVEN BY POLITICS. IN THE FUTURE IT WILL COST LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITIES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO MAKE UP FOR THIS POOR PUBLIC POLICY.
00:06:54	>>	THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION, SAME VEIN. CAN YOU THINK OF A BILL THAT PASSED, THIS PAST SESSION, THAT WAS A GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION? WE'LL START IN THE MIDDLE, MS. PALIN.
00:07:06	>>	I WANT TO TALK AGAIN ABOUT THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI'S TERMS THERE. I THINK AN ACTION TAKEN THAT WAS GOOD WAS THE PREDATOR CONTROL MEASURES THAT HE ENGAGED IN IN ORDER TO GROW MORE MOOSE, CARIBOU, INTERIOR ALASKANS BEGGING FOR ASSISTANCE THERE AND GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI DID DO THAT ONE RIGHT.
00:07:24	>>	MR. HALCRO, CAN YOU THINK OF A BILL THAT PASSED THIS PAST SESSION THAT WAS GOOD?
00:07:30	>>	YES, I CAN. I THINK PPT WAS GOOD. I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, A COMPROMISE, WANTED 2020, ENDED UP BEING 225. THE STATE NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO INCENTIVIZE, CONTINUE EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRUDHOE BAY. WHAT'S LEFT IS 35 BILLION BARRELS OF HEAVY OIL. I THOUGHT PPT WAS A GOOD BILL.
00:07:49	>>	MR. KNOWLES, A BILL THAT PASSED THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD TO SIGN AS GOVERNOR?
00:07:52	>>	I THINK THE GANG BILLS THAT WERE PASSED, THE GANG BILLS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP MAYOR/Hf-P6HCJ% BEGICH AND OTHER MAYORS AROUND THE STATE WHERE THAT MIGHT APPEAR, TO REALLY PUT THE BEST USE OF THE RULES THAT WE HAVE SEEN BE SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER STATES.
00:08:08	>>	THANK YOU. WE'RE NOW GOING TO CONTINUE ON TO THE NEXT ROUNDO TO QUESTION, YOU WILL HAVE A BIT MORE TIME TO RESPOND. YOU WILL HAVE UP TO ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER AND IF NECESSARY, 30 SECONDS TO REBUT. GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI CALLED LAWMAKERS IN TO A SPECIAL SESSION ON NOVEMBER 13th AS YOU ALL KNOW, TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF GIVING HEALTH AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO SAME SEX COUPLES WHO WORK FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. TODAY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE IN ANCHORAGE REJECTED THE STATE'S REQUEST TO DELAY IMPLEMENTING NEW RULES SETTING CRITERIA FOR WHOkjne WOULD ACTUALLY GET THE BENEFITS. WE NOW TURN TO LARRY, DYING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION ON THIS. I HAVE A COUPLE OF MY OWN. LARRY HAS THE NEXT ONE.
00:08:48	>>	WE'LL START WITH MR. HALCRO. MR. HALCRO, IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT SAID THE STATE HAS TO PAY HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS TO SAME SEX DOMESTIC PARTNERS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, WOULD YOU DO IT? OR WOULD YOU DUMP IT IN THE LAP OF THE LEGISLATURE?
00:09:01	>>	I WOULD DO IT. YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE FACT THAT ANYBODY WHO IS ACTUALLY READ THE 24-PAGE RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT CAN CLEARLY SEE THEY WERE RIGHT ON POINT. THIS IS NOW REALLY EVOLVED IN TO A DISCRIMINATION ISSUE. OUR CONSTITUTION STRICTLY PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION AS OUR NATION'S CONSTITUTION. WE NEED TO RESPECT THAT. THIS IS ABOUT 0W/V! CARE BENEFITS. THIS IS ABOUT FAIRNESS, BITS NOT DISCRIMINATING AGAINST.P+AEOPLE. I DON'T SEE WHAT'S SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND. THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATION WHO IS OPPOSED THIS EFFORT SINCE DAY ONE. IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI IS NOW CALLING AN ILL ADVISED SPECIAL SESSION.
00:09:34	>>	MS. PALIN.
00:09:35	>>	IT'S MORE THAN JUST HEALTH CARE BENEFITS, THOUGH. YOU WOULD HAVE TO JUST DO IT, LARRY, IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION. BUT NO, THIS IS ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE VOTERS SAID BACK IN '98 HERE IN ALASKA WHEN THEY DEFINED VIA THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHAT MARRIAGE IS. AND MARRIAGE WAS DEFINED AS TRADITIONAL, ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN WOULD CONSTITUTE A MARRIAGE. AND INHERENT IN THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT I BELIEVE WAS THE REFERENCE ALSO TO BENEFITS. SO YEAH, YOU WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE JUDICIARY'S RULE THERE UNTIL VOTERS WOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO THE BALLOT BOX AND CLARIFY THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IF NEED BE.
00:10:15	>>	MS. PALIN, AS A FOLLOW-UP, WOULD YOU, IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR, WOULD YOU FOLLOW THE COURT ORDER AS YOU SAID, PAY BENEFITS TO SAME SEX DOMESTIC PARTNERS. BUT WOULD YOU THEN STAND AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AND SAY WE NEED TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO ELIMINATE THIS?
00:10:27	>>	IT'S TOUGH TO SAY WHAT I WOULD DO TODAY NOT HAVING ALL THAT INFORMATIONu/n THAT GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI HAD IN FRONT OF HIM WHEN HE CALLED THAT. SO IT'S TOUGH IN A HYPOTHETICAL TO ANSWER THAT. BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT AGAIN, INHERENT IN THAT QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED ON THE BALLOT BOX THAT THE MAJORITY OF ALASKANS VOTED FOR AND APPROVED IN A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, I THINK WAS REFERENCE TO BENEFITS. SO I THINK WHAT THIS WILL LEAD TO IS CLARIFICATION OF THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
00:10:55	>>	MR. KNOWLES, UP TO A MINUTE TO RESPOND TO LARRY'S NALL QUESTION -- ORIGINAL QUESTION.
00:11:02	>>	WOULD YOU FOLLOW THE COURT ORDER OR DROP IT IN THE LEGISLATURE'S LAP IN A SPECIAL SESSION?
00:11:07	>>	I WOULD ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW THE COURT ORDER. IT IS BASED UPON OUR CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE OF DUE PROCESS. BUT THE OTHER ISSUE, DOESN'T NEED TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE. IT JUST NEEDS A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO WILL MAKE THE REGULATIONS TO PUT IT IN TO FORCE. APPARENTLY THE CURRENT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WON'T DO IT. KNOWLES BERKOWITZ TEAM WILL FOLLOW THE SUPREME COURT'S RULE. IT WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANYONE. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT. AND WE PUT IT IN TO EFFECT WITHOUT A SPECIAL(w@ SESSION.
00:11:38	>>	ANY MORE COMMENTS? MR. HALCRO.
00:11:40	>>	I THINK WE NEED THE REALIZE DEMOCRACY IS MORE THAN TOOLS AND A A SHEET VOTING ON WHAT TO HAVE FOR DINNER. WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT PROTECTS CITIZENS, GIVES US EQUAL RIGHTS. IN THAT 24-PAGE OPINION WRITTEN BY JUSTICE MATTHEWS, ARGUABLY THE MOST CONSERVATIVE JUSTICE ON THE BENCH, HE STATED THAT YOU CANNOT, YOU CANNOT COMBINE THE DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE AND THE DENIAL OF BENEFIT. THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE THINGS. WHEN I HEAR BOTH CANDIDATES AND POSSIBLE CONSTITUENTS TELL ME THAT THEY VOTED, INHERENT IT WAS BELIEF THAT SOMEHOW WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DENY BENEFITS, THE TWO ARE NOT THE SAME. YOU DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.
00:12:16	>>	FROM NOW ON, IF YOU WANT TO REBUT, GIVE ME A HAND SIGNAL AND I'LL GIVE YOU YOUR OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION THAT LIBBY HAS.
00:12:23	>>	THANK YOU. I WILL DIRECT THIS TO MS. PALIN. SUPPOSE SENATOR JOHN DOE PUTS FORTH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD OUTLAW ABORTION EVEN IN CASES OF RAPE OR INCEST. HE ASKED TO YOU ATTEND THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND SUPPORT HIM IN THAT. WOULD YOU DO IT?
00:12:39	>>	YOU'RE ASKING ME IF IN FRONT OF ME WERE LEGISLATION THAT I WOULD BE ASKED TO SIGN?
00:12:44	>>	NO, IF HE WAS GOING TO PUT FORTH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND HE JUST WANTED YOUR SUPPORT, THE PARTY, YOU KNOW, AS A PARTY MEMBER, AS THE LEADER OF THE STATE.
00:12:53	>>	I WOULD. I WOULD. YOU KNOW, IT'S NO SECRET THAT I'M PRO-LIFEB(FUn DON'T HIDE THAT AND NOR AM I ASHAPED OF THAT AND I AM PRO- LIFE. YES, A PROPOSAL LIKE THAT I WOULD STAND BY IT.
00:13:04	>>	OKAY. SO CHANGING A LITTLE BIT FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATES, T MR. KNOWLES AND MR. HALCRO, WE KNOW YOU'RE PRO-CHOICE. THE QUESTION FOR YOU IS, IF YOU'RE GOVERNOR AND A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN ABORTION GAINED STEAM IN THE LEGISLATURE, HOW WOULD YOU DEFEAT IT OR DEAL WITH IT? REMEMBER, OF COURSE THE GOVERNOR CAN'T VETO A RESOLUTION FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
00:13:24	>>	WELL, I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLACE BETWEEN A WOMAN AND HER DOCTOR. I BELIEVE MOST ALASKANS FEEL THAT ALSO. THEY HAVE A STRONG FEELING OF THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY STATED IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND IT SHALL NOT BE ABRIDGED. SO IN THAT LIGHT, I BELIEVE IN TERMS OF TALKING WITH ALASKANS, I WOULD CAMPAIGN AGAINST SUCH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, WERE THE LEGISLATURE TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
00:13:50	>>	MS. PALIN, IF I MAY INTERJECT. WE NOTICE YOU'RE PRO-LIFE, BUT CERTAIN DIFFERENT SHADES OF GRAY OF PRO-LIFEF I WOMAN WERE, SAY, RAPED AND GOT PREGNANT BECAUSE OF THE RAPE, WOULD THAT BE AN INSTANCE WHERE YOU WOULD ALLOW HER TO HAVE AN ABORTION?
00:14:04	>>	I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE UP TO ME INDIVIDUALLY AS AN INDIVIDUAL. BUT IN THE CASE OF THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER BEING IN JEOPARDY, I THINK THAT IS THE ACCEPTABLE EXCEPTION AND yc8n I THINK I HAVE GONE ON RECORD ON THAT.
00:14:17	>>	IF THE WOMAN HAD BEEN RAPED AND DIDN'T WANT THE CHILD, WOULD YOU ALLOW HER TO HAVE THE ABORTION?
00:14:22	>>	WITH MY RESPECT FOR THE SANCTITY OF LIFE AND MY BELIEF IN THE POTENTIAL OF LIFE, I KNOW THAT THIS ASPECT OF THE ABORTION ISSUE IS VERY SENSITIVE AND YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY PRIVATE MATTER ALSO. BUT PERSONALLY, I WOULD CHOOSE LIFE.
00:14:34	>>	LET ME ASK A QUESTION RAISED BY A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE ON THIS ISSUE. IF YOUR DAUGHTER WERE PREGNANT OUR SON WAS INVOLVED IN A PREGNANCY, WHAT WOULD YOUR REACTION, IF IT WAS BEFORE MARRIAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR REACTION AND ADVISE TO HIM OR HER?
00:14:49	>>	AGAIN, I WOULD CHOOSE LIFE AND CERTAINLY I'M QUITE CONFIDENT YOU WILL ASK MY OPPONENTS THE SAME
00:14:55	>>	I WILL. IF YOUR DAUGHTER HAD BEEN RAPED, WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING WOULD YOU FEEL --
00:15:00	>>	AGAIN, I WOULD CHOOSE LIFE.
00:15:01	>>	MR. KNOWLES, WOULD YOU CARE TO ADDRESS THAT?
00:15:08	>>	I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS. I WOULD BE SO TAKEN BY THE VIOLENCE AGAINST HER, I WOULD COUNSEL HER, I WOULD TALK WITH HER, BUT IT'S HER DECISION AND SHE WOULD BE THE ONE TO MAKE IT AND I WOULD LOVE HER AND SUPPORT HER NO MATTER WHAT DECISION SHE MADE.
00:15:30	>>	MR. HALCRO, YOU ALSO HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS.
00:15:31	>>	I DO HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS. YOU KNOW, I MEAN THIS IS ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONSwbu WHERE I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE ABILITY OF CHOICE. IN 2004, THERE WERE OVER 35 ABORTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY DUE TO WOMEN WHO WERE RAPED, JUST THE ONES REPORTED. YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY, BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO VERY GOOD PEOPLE AND CHOICES ARE PART OF LIFE AND THEY'RE PART OF ALLOWING WOMEN TO MAINTAIN DIGNITY AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THEIR OWN DESTINY. I JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE, IT IS. IT'S SUCH A PERSONAL ISSUE AND GOVERNMENT HAS NO ROLE. I MEAN LET'S LOOK TO HISTORY. COUNTRIES LIKE THE PHILIPPINES, ARGENTINA, HAVE A STRICT, STRICT OUTLAW AGAINST ANY AND ALL ABORTIONS STILL DO ALMOST 700,000 A YEAR. YOU KNOW, THE REALITY IS THIS IS A COMPLEX WORLD AND THESE BUMPER STICKER SLOGANS, DRIVE BY SHOUTINGS ABOUT PRO- LIFE, PRO-CHOICE, THE WORLD IS COMPLEX. GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO WHAT IT DOES BEST AND IS THATe Yn STAY OUT OF THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS.
00:16:28	>>	THANK YOU, MR. HALCRO. FOLLOW UP ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ANOTHER LIFE OR DEATH ISSUE. I'LL START WITH MR. HALCRO, ONE MINUTE TO RESPOND. DOCTOR-ASSISTED SUICIDE. IF SOMEONE IS DYING AND IS IN PAIN, SHOULD HE OR SHE BE ALLOWED TO END HIS OR HER LIFE? SHOULD A DOCTOR BE ALLOWED TO HELP THAT PATIENT DO SO?
00:16:48	>>	YES.VeI I DO. I SAY, THAT I SUPPORT DEATH WITH DIGNITY. I THINK THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL SHOULD HAVE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES AND, YOU KNOW, GOD WILLING, I'LL NEVER BE IN THAT POSITION. I THINK THAT'S AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE FOR INDIVIDUALS.
00:17:03	>>	THANK YOU. MR. KNOWLES, LET YOU GO NEXT.
00:17:06	>>	I DON'T LIKE GOVERNMENT IN MY BEDROOM,iCki ON MY PHONE, OR TELLING ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY LIFE. AND THAT TO ME IS THE ESSENTIAL PART OF THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY THAT IS SO WONDERFULLY STATED CLEARLY IN THE ALASKAN CONSTITUTION AND CERTAINLY REFERRED TO BY CASE LAW AND AMERICA'S CONSTITUTION.
00:17:26	>>	SO NERZ, WOULD YOU ALLOW THAT PERSON TO HAVE A DOCTOR-
00:17:29	>>	ABSOLUTELY.
00:17:31	>>	MS. PALIN UP TO A MINUTE.
00:17:33	>>	YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE SANCTIONING OR ASSISTING, ENDING LIFE. I THINK THAT THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO ALLEVIATE PAIN OF COURSE AT THE END OF LIFE. AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL AND PRIVATE AND SENSITIVE ISSUE.Yu I DO RESPECTwQen OTHER'S OPINIONS ON THIS. BUT PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT NO GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE SANCTIONING OR ASSISTING TAKING LIFE.
00:17:57	>>	THANK YOU, MS. PALIN. SPEED UP TO THE NEXT ROUND OF QUESTIONS, LARRY IS DYING TO ASK YOU ANOTHER ONE.
00:18:04	>>	TRYING TO LIGHTEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT. MR. HALCRO, ASIDE FROM WINNING THE JOB AS GOVERNOR, GOING TO JUNEAU, YOU LIVE IN ANCHORAGE NOW. IF YOU COULDN'T LIVE IN ANCHORAGE, DIDN'T LIVE IN ANCHORAGE, HAD TO LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN ALASKA, WHERE WOULD YOU LIVE?
00:18:17	>>	OH, BOY. YOU KNOW, I HAVE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT QUESTION. I TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD, COULDN'T WAIT TO GET HOME. VERY TOUGH QUESTION. I WOULD LIVE PROBABLY SOME PLACE WARM AFTER SPENDING MY ENTIRE LIFE IN ALASKA.
00:18:32	>>	THE QUESTION IS, WHERE ELSE IN ALASKA WOULD YOU LIVE.
00:18:38	>>	WHERE ELSE IN ALASKA.
00:18:39	>>	THE SOUTHEAST, I LOVE THE SOUTHEAST AND I WOULD LOVE TO LIVE IN KETCHIKAN OR PETERSBURG, SITKA.
00:18:46	>>	GET RAIN GEAR.
00:18:48	>>	IF YOU COULDN'T LIVE IN WASILLA, WHERE ELSEWHERE WOULD YOU LIVE?
00:18:51	>>	I HAVE BEN BLESSED TO LIVE IN SOUTHEAST, SKAWAY, EAGLE RIVER AND ANCHORAGE ALSO FOR A BIT. BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE IN THE VALLEY WHERE IT IS THE MOST PROGRESSIVE AND FASTEST GROWING AREA OF THE STATE. THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF UNIQUENESS THAT IS TRULY ALASKANA OUT THERE, SNOW MACHINE FROM YOUR FRONT YARD, IN FACT YOU CAN GET ON A TRAIL FROM THE VALLEY AND HIT NOME, YOU CAN HUNT, FISH, ALL THOSE GOOD THINGS THAT SO MANY OF US LIVE IN ALASKA FOR.
00:19:20	>>	IF THE QUESTION WAS YOU COULDN'T LIVE IN WASILLA YOU WOULD JUST MOVE TO PALMER OR SOME OTHER PLACE IN THE VALLEY?
00:19:28	>>	LAUGH IF YOU WILL, BUT IS THAT MY ANSWER, YES, THE VALLEY IS LARGE, YOU KNOW, IT'StcAFc THE BOROUGH IS THE SIZE OF WEST VIRGINIA, HUGE, PLENTY OF PLACES TO CHOOSE FROM.
00:19:40	>>	MR. KNOWLES, YOU LIVE IN ANCHORAGE. IF YOU COULDN'T LIVE IN ANCHORAGE, WHERE ELSE WOULD YOU LIVE?
00:19:45	>>	LOVE SNOW, SO MAYBE UP AROUND FAIANKS AREA. OR KOTZEBUE. FAIRBANKS, KOTZEBUE.
00:19:54	>>	VERY GOOD. SPEAKING MUCH FAIRBANKS, A QUESTION.
00:19:59	>>	YOU GUYS ARE HAVING TOO MUCH FUN. I'M BRINGING IT BACK DOWN AGAIN. IN THE COMING MONTHS, THOUSANDS OF VILLAGERS WILL COME HOME TO ALASKA, MANY TO FAIRBANKS, MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS, FAMILY MEMBERS WORRIED ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE COMMUNITY BEING ABLE TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HLTH NEEDS, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION. MILITARY HAS ITS RESOURCES. BUT WHAT IS THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THE COMMUNITY DEAL WITH THIS? I'LL START WITH MR. KNOWLES.
00:20:26	>>	THE STATE HAS AN ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY AS OF COURSE OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE SEND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE OFF TO WAR, WE WANT THEM TO BE THE BEST EQUIPPED AND BEST TRAINED. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE READY TO RECEIVE THEM WHEN THEY COME BACK AS THE VIETNAM VETERAN, I KNOW AND I KNOW MANY PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE SUDDENLY THE GOVERNMENT DIDN'T STAND UP FOR THEM AFTER THEY STOOD UP FOR THEIR GOVERNMENT. WE ALWAYS MUST WELCOME THEM BACK, NOT JUST WELCOME IN A SENSE OF HELLO, THANK YOU FOR SERVING, WE MUST MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE ABSOLUTE BEST MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS, THAT'S WHY THE FOOTBALL IS BEING PLAYED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WITH VETERANS' HEALTH CARE BENEFITS. THEY SHOULD BE MANDATORY FUNDING. THE STATE ALSO HAS A RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AND I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE VA AND THE STATE OF ALASKA TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT JUST THE VETERANS THEMSELVES BUT ALSO THE FAMILY HAD THE KIND OF COUNSELING AND CARE AND NEEDS ATTENTION BOTH WITH NOT JUST IN THE CASE OF THE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS, BUT ALSO EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITIES TO COME BACK AFTER A LONG VACANCY.
00:21:33	>>	15-SECOND RESPONSE. DO YOU THINK THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO START NOW?
00:21:38	>>	ABSOLUTELY. THE CURRENT 297 INFANTRY BRIGADE DEPLOYED TO MISSISSIPPI AND THEN IRAQ FOR A YEAR AND LET US PRAY THAT THERE ARE NO EXTENSIONS, THAT WE NEED TO START PREPARING FOR THAT NOW. THAT'S WHY I HAVE OFFERED AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN, PATRIOT BONUS TO HELP THEM RELIEVE THE FINANCIAL STRESS.
00:21:58	>>	MS. PALIN, SAME QUESTION TO YOU. WHAT IS THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP THE VETERANS AND FAMILIES?
00:22:04	>>	I AM SUCH A SUPPORTER OF OUR MILITARY AND IN MY MY THANKFULNESS, GRATEFULNESS, RECOGNIZING THE STATE'S OBLIGATION TO FULFILL PROMISES TO THOSE MILITARY TROOPS WHO ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND TO PROTECT OUR SAFETY. WE NEED TO DO ALL THAT WE CAN. I AGREE WITH TONY KNOWLES' PROPOSALS THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE 100 A MONTH WILL SUFFICE, THOUGH AS A BONUS. I THINK THERE ARE MANY MORE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO FULFILL THOSE PROMISES TO THE MILITARY. NOT JUST THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE THAT YOU'RE MENTIONINGHBE8THAT WOULD BE NEEDED, ABOUT OVERALL HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR MILITARY SHOULD BE RECEIVING AS THEY RETURN, ALL THAT WE CAN DO AND AS GOVERNOR, ALL THAT I CAN DO TO SUPPORT OUR MILITARY. THEY CAN COUNT ON ME FOR THAT.
00:22:52	>>	MR. HALCRO, YOU HAVE A MINUTE.
00:22:53	>>	THANK YOU. THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE. HEALTH CARE IN THIS STATE IS REALLY UNDER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STRAIN. YOU HAVE NOT ONLY THOSE SOLDIERS RETURNING TO FAIRBANKS, BUT YOU HAVE 600 GUARDSMEN RETURNING FROM RURAL ALASKA THAT LIVE IN SMALL VILLAGES, LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, EXPENSE TO GET TO THE TREATMENT CENTERS. WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR THEM. REPORTS SHOW ON AVERAGE 64% OF RETURNING IRAQ VETERANS HAVE SOME SORT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME, WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THAT. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE STATE OF HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE, 350 PHYSICIANS SHORT, NURSES ARE AT A CRITICAL SHORTAGE, LABORATORY AND HEALTH CARE TECHNICIANS, WE NEED TO BE READY, BE READY FOR TODAY WHEN THEY COME HOME, TOMORROW WHEN THEY COME HOME AND THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS. TACIT CALL ISSUE. THE STATE NEEDS TO TAKE STEPS CURRENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE READY TO ACCEPT THESE AND PROVIDE THE TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND THE HEALTH CARE THAT THEY NEED.
00:23:51	>>	THANK YOU. WE STILL HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT IN THIS SEGMENT. WHILE COLLEAGUES ARE DECIDING WHAT QUESTION TO ASK NEXT, I WILL BUTT IN WITH A QUESTION. START WITH MR. HALCRO. STEM CELL RESEARCH AS YOU MAY KNOW NEXT WEEK IN MISSOURI, FOLKS THERE WILL BE VOTING ON WHETHER TO ALLOW STEM CELL RESEARCH, EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH IN THAT STATE. OPPONENTS SAY THIS WILL LEAD TO MEDICAL ADVANCES. OPPONENTS SAY THIS INVOLVES THE DESTRUCTION OF A EMBRYO, SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. SHOULD ALASKA ALLOW STEM CELL RESEARCH HERE?
00:24:20	>>	ABSOLUTELY IT SHOULD. IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS DAY BEAT TEASE IS UP 25% IN THIS -- DIABETES IS UP 25%, RAGING RATE OF OBESITY, DRIVES DIABETES, DRIVES KIDNEY AND LIVER FAILURE. BIG ISSUE. LET'S FACE IT NO, SURPRISE HERE, WE'RE NOT A HEALTHY SOCIETY. STEM CELL RESEARCH IS PROVEN TO BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE. IT'S VERY DOABLE. CURRENTLY, THE PREDICTIONS ARE ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 500,000 FROZEN EMBRYOS DISCARDED EVERY YEAR. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CELLS THAT ARE SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT ON THE HEAD OF A PIN, THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS HEALING POTENTIAL, PARKINSON'S, DIABETES, ALL KINDS OF DISEASES. AND WE HAVE TO EMBRACE THIS. YES, WE HAVE TO JEKT A MORAL AND ETHICAL -- INJECT A MORAL AND ETHICAL COMPONENT. I DON'T SUPPORT CLONING. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY DOES. THERE IS A BALANCE THAT COULD BE ACHIEVED HERE. NOT TO MENTION THERE'S WHOLE INDUSTRIES OUT THERE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT STEM CELL RESEARCH, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY ADVANCEMENT IN THE LAST 30 YEARS HAS BEEN FUNDED BY NASCENT GOVERNMENT FUNDING. FEDERAL FUNDING AND STATET/2CU
00:25:25	>>	MS. PALIN, UP TO A MINUTE. SHOULD ALASKA ALLOW STEM CELL RESEARCH.
00:25:29	>>	ANOTHER HYPOTHETICAL BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT ON THE DOCKET THERE IN OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, STEM CELL RESEARCH. BUT HERE AGAIN, WITH A PRO-LIFE POSITION AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT SO MANY QUESTIONS I GUESS DO REVOLVE AROUND THAT, BUT CENTEREDNESS THAT I HAVE FROM RESPECTING LIFE AND THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY HUMAN LIFE, THAT NO, STEM CELL RESEARCH WOULD ULTIMATELY END IN DESTRUCTION OF LIFE. I COULDN'T SUPPORT.
00:25:55	>>	THANK YOU. MR. KNOWLES, UP TO A MINUTE.
00:25:58	>>	I THINK JUST THE HUMANITY OF IT DEMANDS WE PURSUE STEM CELL RESEARCH. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A SINGLE MINDEDNESS, NARROW MINDEDNESS, FORGOTTEN TO DO THAT. YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE NANCY REAGAN, CHRISTOPHER REEVES, MICHAEL FOX, PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING EXAMPLES, WHO ARE LIVING EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. YOU HAVE STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA WHO HAVE ACTUALLY TAKEN IT ON THEMSELVES. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, YOU FIND THE SITUATION WHERE ALL OF THE RESEARCH THAT IS BEING DONE ON THIS IS BEING ACTUALLY EXPORTED OVERSEAS WHERE THEY DO ALLOW IT AND THE WHOLE MEDICAL RESEARCH AND THINK OF WHEN MEDICINES ARE PRODUCED OF WHAT THAT DO FOR AN ECONOMY, THAT WE'RE JUST GIVING IT AWAY. YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED IS LESS POLITICS IN OUR SCIENCE SO WE CAN PUT MORE SCIENCE IN OURW;ul POLITICS.
00:26:49	>>	LIBBY HAS A QUICK FOLLOW-UP.
00:26:51	>>	I GUESS I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THAT RELATES TO RESEARCH.
00:26:54	>>	I'M AFRAID WE'RE OUT OF TIME. KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY, I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE MORE TIME LATERO TO THE NEXT TOPIC. BALLOT MEASURES. THERE ARE TWO ON TUESDAY'S BALLOT, WE NOW HOW THED CANS FEEL ABOUT THEM. TO HELP OUR AUDIENCE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY DO, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A MINUTE OR TWO TO REVIEW THEM. FIRST WOULD REQUIRE LAWMAKERS TO GET THEIR WORK DONE IN 90 DAYS.
00:27:17	>>	MEMBERS PLEASE PROCEED TO VOTE.
00:27:19	>>	UNDER CURRENT LAW, THE LEGISLATURE CAN MEET FOR UP TO 121 DAYS FROM JANUARY TOv3ro MAY. VOTERS APPROVED THIS LIMIT IN 1984. THE STATE CONSTITUTION PROVIDES AN EXCEPTION TO IT, IF LAWMAKERS NEED MORE TIME, THEY OR THE GOVERNOR CAN HOLD A SPECIAL SESSION LASTING UP TO 30 DAYS. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN ALL BUT EIGHT OF THE PAST 22 YEARS. NOW ALASKANS ARE BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON BALLOT MEASURE 1 TO SHORTEN LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS TO 90 DAYS. ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF THIS NEW LIMIT INCLUDE COST SAVINGS, UP TO $700,000 A YEAR FORCING LAWMAKERS TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE BY GIVING THEM LESSn/ -?c AND LESSENING DEMAND OF SERVING IN THE CAPITAL, AWAY FROM FAMILY, HOME, REGULAR JOBS, THUS ENCOURAGING MORE PEOPLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE. HOWEVER, OPPONENTS SAY BALLOT MEASURE 1 WEAKEN IT IS LEGISLATURE AND GIVES TOO MUCH POWER TO THE GOVERNOR, MAKE IT EASIER FOR SPECIAL INTERESTS TO KILL LEGISLATION THROUGH PARLIAMENT TIER MANEUVERING. WILL ONLY LEAD TO MORE AND MORE SPECIAL SESSIONS, AND CREATES A LEGAL CONFLICT. THE CURRENT 121-DAY LIMB IS SET IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION -- LIMB IS SET, BUT 290 DAY LIMIT WOULD ONLY BE SET IN STATUTE. IF A BILL WERE TO PASS ON THE 91st DAY OF A SESSION, WOULD IT BECOME LAW? THE STATUTE WOULD SAY NO. BUT THE CONSTITUTION WOULD SAY YES. WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, THE CONSTITUTION PREVAILS. IF APPROVED, THE 90-DAY LIMIT WOULD START IN 2008.wm rn WHICH IS IT? A MEASURE THE SAVE TIME AND MONEY OR SOMETHING THAT GIVES TOO MUCH POWER TO ONE OF THESE GUYS? MR. HALCRO, YOU'RE VOTING FOR BALLOT MEASURE 1, FORMER LAWMAKER. IS YOUR INNER LEGISLATORhwS3 IN CONFLICT WITH YOUR INNER GOVERNOR ON THIS? WE KNOW YOU WILL VOTE FOR IT. WHY ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR IT?
00:29:10	>>	THERE IS NO CONFLICT. I CAN TELL YOU AS A FORMER LEGISLATOR THAT THE FIRST 30 DAYS WERE REALLY A WASTE OF TIME. I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY ARGUE. THE FACT IS GIVE THEM 90 DAYS, GIVE THEM 120 DAYS, EVERYTHING WILL GET ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST FOUR WEEKS.hi=3 THIS IDEA THAT SOMEHOW YOU GIVE THE GOVERNOR MORE POWER IS NONSENSE. THE LEGISLATURE CAN CALL THEMSELVES IN TO SPECIAL SESSION AT ANY TIME.
00:29:33	>>	I'LL PASS THAT ON TO IF HOUSE AND SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
00:29:35	>>	OF COURSE I SUPPORT IT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER, I ALWAYS ENJOYED THE TIME WHEN THEY WERE TRYING, TOOK THEM ALMOST A COUPLE DAYS TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER YOU COULD DO IT ON, WHETHER IT WAS THE 121st DAY, 120st DAY. OF COURSE YOU DO THE JOB WITHIN THE REASONABLE TIME THAT YOU NEED TO GET IT DONE, 90 DAYS IS FINE.
00:29:52	>>	MS. PALIN.
00:29:54	>>	90 DAYS IS FINE. I'M SUPPORTING THAT BALLOT MEASURE. IN FACT BOTH MY OPPONENTS WHO SERVED FOR THOSE YEARS DOWN IN JUNEAU, I WISH THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PASSED A LAW BACK THEN EVEN FOR THE 90-DAY SESSION.
00:30:05	>>	THANK YOU. NOW FOR A PERSPECTIVE FROM RURAL ALASKA. OUR FRIENDS AT KYUK VISITED THE BETHEL ALTERNATIVE BOARDING SCHOOL, STUDENTS WANTED TO ASK QUESTIONS. HERE'S THE FIRST ONE.
00:30:20	>>	HI, I'M STEPHANIE WATSON, I'M A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN BETHEL ALTERNATIVE BOARDING SCHOOL. THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN ALASKA. ONE OF THEM THAT CONCERNS ME MOST IS HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE. WHAT WILL YOU DO TO REDUCE THE HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE IN ALASKA?
00:30:38	>>	WHERE DO CANDIDATES STAND ON THIS? MS. PALIN, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS. HOW DO YOU REDUCTTi SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES? SOMETIMES AS HIGH AS 40%.
00:30:48	>>	STEPHANIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION, THAT IS GREAT. WE NEED TO GET KIDS EXCITED ABOUT BEING IN SCHOOL. THAT'S THE WHERE WE DO IS THAT ENCOURAGE MORE OPTIONS TO BE OFFERED TO YOU IN YOUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THERE. WE NEED MORE VO-TECH OPPORTUNITIES, KIDS DECIDING NOT TO GO TO COLLEGE, FEELING THAT'S THEIR ONLY OPPORTUNITY OUT OF SCHOOL, IS TO GET THE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO ENTER OUR WORK FORCE, SO WE'RE NOT IMPORTING THE WORK FORCE. GET KIDS EXCITED ABOUT BEING IN SCHOOL, LETTING THEM LEARN SKILLS THEY NEED TO GET GOOD JOBS AFTER THAT. KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL.
00:31:20	>>	THANK YOU. MR. HALCRO, 30 SECONDS, WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE HIGH HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE.
00:31:26	>>	I THINK IT HAS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH, EXPAND PRE- K PROGRAMS READY TO LEARN AND READ BEFORE THEY SHOW UP FOR SCHOOL. MIDDLE SCHOOL MY PROPOSAL IS TO PUT A LAPTOP IN THE HANDS OF EVERY ONE OF THE 20,000 MIDDLE SCHOOLERS. THIS HAS BEEN PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN MAINE, CALLED ONE TO ONE LEARNING, TIES KIDS TO ED EDUCATORS, FELLOW CLASS MACE, GIVES THEM A HOLD TO EDUCATION AT A CRITICAL TIME. IN HIGH SCHOOL,EXPANDctz7"VYm ]jT8URJ. TRAINING. CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN ALASKA PROVIDES 33% HIGHER WAGES THAN ANY OTHER STATEA LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES. WE NEED TO GIVE KIDS CHOICES TODAY.
00:32:00	>>	MR. KNOWLES, 30 SECONDS.
00:32:02	>>	40% OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES DON'T GRADUATE. THAT IS JUST A STUNNING FIGURE. WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT. YOU DO START OUT WITH EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND THAT'S WHAT I PROPOSE, ALASKA'S ONLY ONE OF TEN STATES THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN EARLY LEARNING SO THEY CAN MAKE THE SUCCESS IN THE K-THROUGH TWELVE. WE NEED TONE RICH THAT CURRICULUM. ART, MUSIC, HISTORY, THE VOCATIONAL, TECHNICAL TRAINING TO KEEP THEM INTERESTED AND THEN THE UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS, LET'S NOT HAVE ANY INCOME BE A BARRIER TO GETTING IN TO THE UNIVERSITY. THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
00:32:34	>>	THANK YOU. MOVING RIGHT ALONG, NOW WE'RE READY FOR A SECOND QUESTION FROM BETHEL.
00:32:42	>>	MY NAME IS ANNA, I'M FROM BETHEL, ALASKA. I GO TO BETHEL ALTERNATIVE BOARDING SCHOOL AND I HAVE A TWO-YEAR-OLD SON. WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS GOVERNOR TO HELP PROTECT HIS SUBSISTENCE HUNTING AND FISHING RIGHTS?
00:32:58	>>	uoH MR. KNOWLES, RURAL SUBSISTENCE HUNTING AND FISHING, I'M SURE YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS. HOW TO PROTECT THIS WAY OF LIFE AND DO SO IN 30 SECONDS.
00:33:06	>>	LET ME SAY HOW WONDERFUL IT IS THAT BETHEL ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL HAS BEEN, I HAVE BEEN THERE, THE SAFE, WARM, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY TAKE KIDS AT RISK IS A REAL ADVANTAGE. SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT HER SON'S HUNTING AND FISHING, DO YOU THAT BY A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, ALLOW ALASKANS TO VOTE TO PROTECT SUBSISTENCE, PUT THAT IN TO THE FABRIC OF OUR GOVERNMENT THAT WILL UNIFY ALASKA. PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT IT AND IT WILL BRING BACK FISH AND GAME MANAGEMENT TO THE STATE OF ALASKA AND GET THE FEDS OUT.
00:33:35	>>	THANK YOU. MR. HALCRO.
00:33:37	>>	TWO THINGS. I THINK YOU DO NEED TO ADOPT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT GRANTING RURAL PREFERENCE DURING TIMES, I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. ABOUT TIME WE SHOW RURAL ALASKA THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE. SECOND THING IS UNDOING WHAT MURKOWSKI DID BY COMBINING THE BLUE SHIRT.mn AND BROWN SHIRTS. I THINK OUR ENFORCEMENT, GAME ENFORCEMENT SUFFERED OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE INVESTING MORE IN GAME MANAGEMENT ESPECIALLY WITH CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE HORIZON BECAUSE ALASKA IS GOING TO HAVE MORE IMPACT, GREATER IMPACTS REGARDING CLIMATE CHANGE IN OUR NATURAL RESOURCES THAN ANY OTHER STATE AND WE NEED TO BE READY FOR IT.
00:34:10	>>	MS. PALIN.
00:34:11	>>	THANK YOU. IT WAS GREAT TO BE IN BETHEL JUST RECENTLY. AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR TWO- YEAR-OLD'S RIGHTS. THEREFORE, THE SUBSISTENCE USE. PERSONAL USE OF RESOURCES ARE SO IMPORTANT, THEY'RE WITH WILDLIFE AND TO PROTECT THOSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES IN ABUNDANCE. WE NEED TO MANAGE OUR WILDLIFE FOR ABUNDANCE SO THERE AREN'T THE SHORTAGES, AREN'T THE SQUABBLES. THAT'S HOW WE PROTECT YOUR SON'S RIGHT TO HARVEST. THOSE WHO NEED TO HARVEST THE RESOURCE MOST NEED TO BE ABLE TO HARVEST IT FIRST. WE CAN DO THAT THROUGH THE FLEXIBILITY THAT'S ALREADY THERE IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
00:34:49	>>	MS. PALIN, LET ME APOLOGIZE TO MR. KNOWLES. I SAID THE WRONG THING. I THINK YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE ISSUE, NOT NOTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE. MY APOLOGIES.
00:34:57	>>	I HAVE BEEN GOVERNOR, I HAVE BEEN TREATED THAT WAY.
00:35:00	>>	BY ME NO LESS. A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
00:35:01	>>	SPEAKING OF BEING GOVERNOR, HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION BECAUSE NONE OF YOU ARE GOVERNOR NOW, SO EVERY QUESTION IS HYPOTHETICAL. HYPOTHETICALLY, YOU'RE A LEGISLATOR, MEMBER OF THE HOUSE, MEETING ON THE FLOOR AND THERE'S A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR SUBSISTENCE TO PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS TO PUT A RURAL PREFERENCE IN THE STUTION. THE HOUSE SPEAKER IS WAITING FOR TO YOU HIT THE BUTTON GREEN OR BLUE. DO YOU VOTE FOR OR AGAINST IT?
00:35:28	>>	I VOTE FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. I HAV I'M ON RECORD AS VOTING FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
00:35:33	>>	I WOULD NOT STAND IN THE WAY OF ALLOWING THE ALASKAN VOTER TO HAVE THEIR SAY VIA THE BALLOT BOX ON THIS ISSUE. AGAIN, I KNOW WITHIN THE FLEXIBILITY THAT'S ALREADY GIVEN IN OUR CONSTITUTION THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN MANAGE RESOURCES FOR ABUNDANCE TO MAKE SURE THERE AREN'T SHORTAGES SO WE DON'T HAVE TO REACH THAT POINT. THERE HAVE BEENwv l THE PAST FAILED EFFORTS FOR YEARS AND YEARS IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS SUBSISTENCE IMPASSE THAT HAVE JUST NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. LET'S NOT GO BACK TO THE PAST AND REPEAT MISTAKES. INSTEAD, LET'S WORK TOGETHER WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS WITH, THE NATIVE GROUPS, WITH THE HUNTING GROUPS, WITH ALL THOSE WHO ARE OUT THERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND READY TO UNITE IN ORDER TO SOLVE THE SUBSISTENCE IMPASSE.
00:36:15	>>	MS. PALIN, JUST SO I MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE AUDIENCE, WOULD YOU VOTE TO PUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT, BUT THEN IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR TO YOU VOTE IN THE BALLOT BOOTH, 0 THE AMENDMENT, WOULD YOU VOTE AGAINST IT.
00:36:28	>>	I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING HYPOTHETICALLY WHETHER I WOULD ALLOW IT TO BE PUT ON THE BALLOT. I SAID THAT I WOULD.
00:36:36	>>	THEN HYPOTHETICALLY, IT'S ON THE BALLOT, NOW NOVEMBER, WOULD YOU VOTE FOR OR AGAINST IT?
00:36:41	>>	NO, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE HYPOCRITICAL OF ME TO BE STANDING HERE TODAY SAYING I BELIEVE THAT ALREADY WITHIN OUR CONSTITUTION WE HAVE THE ABILITY VIA FLEXIBILITY IN THERE AND SEASONS, MEASURES, MEANS TO MANAGE RESOURCES FOR ABUNDANCE SO WE DON'T HAVE THE SHORTAGE. HYPOCRITICAL OF ME TO TELL YOU THAT AND THEN TO TURN AROUND AND CHANGE MY POSITION THERE.
00:37:03	>>	INI MAY INTERRUPT. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS IN THE PAST TO INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MAKE A RURAL PREFERENCE TO, DO IT ON THE BASIS OF PROXIMITY. IN OTHER WORDS, BASED ON THOSE PEOPLE IN THE AREA. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING AS WELL, TRYING TO HAVE IF YOU WILL, A PROXIMITY PREFERENCE?
00:37:20	>>	WELL, AGAIN, WE HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY WITHIN OUR CONSTITUTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO NEED THE RESOURCE MOST GET TO HARVEST IT FIRST. THROUGH MEASURES AND MEANS THAT WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL NOW, I THINK THAT THOSE IN CERTAIN AREAS, CERTAINLY THAT ARE PROVEN TO NEED THE RESOURCE MOST, YES, THEY SHOULD HAVE FIRST PRIORITY.
00:37:40	>>	MR. KNOWLES.
00:37:43	>>	TED STEVENS, LISA MURKOWSKI, DON YOUNG, JAY HAMMOND, BILL SHEFFIELD, STEVE COOPER, THE ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES, ANCHORAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE LIST GOES ON, OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR RURAL PREFERENCE BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER WAY THAT THE STATE CAN GET BACK MANAGEMENT OF ITS FISH AND GAME AND SECONDLY, THAT IS THE WAY THAT WE CAN PROTECT THE SUBSISTENCE WAY OF LIFE IN THE FABRIC OF OUR CONSTITUTION. SO TO SAY THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT PUTS A PERSON ON THE FRINGE OF EVERY ATTORNEY GENERAL, OF ALMOST EVERY GOVERNOR, AND ALL OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION AS TO HOW TO GET THAT JOB DONE.
00:38:29	>>	30 SECONDS TO REBUT.
00:38:31	>>	WELL, I WOULD, TONY REFERS TO THE FRINGE AS NATIVE LEADERS WHO AGREE WITH ME THAT THOSE PAST EFFORTS AND TRYING TO SOLVE THE SUBSISTENCE IMPASSE VIA PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATE THE EQUALITY CLAUSE IN THE CONSTITUTION, REFERRING TO NATIVE LEADERS AS THE FRINGE? I THINK THAT THAT'S DISRESPECTFUL TO BOTH WHO ARE READY TO TRY A NEW APPROACH, RESOLVING, TO RESOLVING THE ISSUE. NOT ANOTHER TACTIC OF DIVISIVENESS HERE IN ALASKA, BUT A BUILDING UNITY, WORKING TOGETHER, COMING TOGETHER TO SOLVE THIS IMPASSE.
00:39:10	>>	WE HAVE A DESIRE FROM TWO OTHER CANDIDATES TO RESPOND. 15 SECONDS TO REBUT. MR. HALCRO.
00:39:14	>>	LET ME SAY NATIVE LEADERS THAT DO NOT SUPPORT THAT. THE AFN UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED IN THIS LATEST CONFERENCE THAT THEY HAD OVER 3,000 MEMBERS, EVERY SINGLE LEADER SUPPORTED AS THEIR TOP FRY YORT A CONSTITUTIONAL -- PRIORITY A CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND TO PROTECT RURAL PREFERENCE FOR SUBSISTENCE.
00:39:33	>>	MR. HALCRO, LAST WORD.
00:39:34	>>	TO SHARE INSIGHT, IN SEPTEMBER OF 1999, SPECIAL SESSION ON ADOPTING A SUBSISTENCE AMENDMENT, TEN DAYS BEFORE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER. I WENT IN TO AN OFFICE OF A STATE SENATOR, REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR WHO OPPOSED THE AMEND. I ASKED WHY. HE SAID BECAUSE PRIOR YEARS HE HAD SUPPORTED IT BUT HADN'T BEEN GIVEN CREDIT DUE TO HIM BY RURAL ALASKA. LOOK, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS ABOUT POLITICS. WE NEED TO FINALLY SHOW RURAL ALASKA THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE.
00:40:00	>>	DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME, BUT I THINK LIBBY YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SQUEAK YOUR QUESTIONS, MAKE ANSWERS REALLY BRIEF, 20 SECONDS.
00:40:06	>>	OKAY, BRIEFLY, IN THE EVENT A RURAL SCHOOL IS NOT MAKING ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS, IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S EYES, FAILING SCHOOL, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THOSE CHILDREN? WHERE CAN THEY GO?
00:40:16	>>	YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS, TIGHTER THAN THAT.
00:40:18	>>	10 SECONDS.
00:40:20	>>	RURAL EDUCATION, GO.
00:40:22	>>	THE REALITY IS, WE HAVE 23% OF ALASKA SCHOOLS HAVE THREE OR FEWER TEACHERS. NO WAY WE WILL MEET ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS IN ALL REQUIREMENTS IN NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND. THAT'S WHY9fobt NEED TO WORK WITH CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO GET FIRM WAIVERS WHEN THE ACT COMES UP FOR REVISION, RENEWAL
00:40:38	>>	MS. PAL YIN.
00:40:40	>>	WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS -- PALIN, PROVIDE TOOLS AND TEACHERS THAT RURAL ALASKAN STUDENTS DESERVE IN ORDER TO ALLOW MORE ADEQUATE EDUCATION SYSTEM OUT THERE. AND WE DO HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, ALLOWING FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE MANDATES THAT COME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT EFFECT RURAL COMMUNITIES.
00:40:57	>>	MR. KNOWLES.
00:40:59	>>	THE QUESTION WAS WHAT WOULD WE DO WHEN THEY DO NOT GET ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS. AS WE KNOWS, WASHINGTON MANDATE IS TO GIVE THEM, SHUT THE SCHOOL DOWN, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, SHOWS YOU HOW THE RIDICULOUS THE WASHINGTON, D.C.-DRIVEN NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND IS. YOU DON'T HAVE AN OPTION TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL. YOU WORK WITH EACH STUDENT TO GUARANTEE THEIR SUCCESS.
00:41:19	>>	I AM TOLD WE HAVE TO MOVE ON AND APPARENTLY WE'RE GOING TO GO IN TO A BRIEF LIGHTNING ROUND AGAIN WHERE YOUK TO ANSWER A QUESTION. I HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. IT'S EVEN TIGHTER THAN THAT. WE HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK. GIVE ME YOUR ANSWERS IN ONE SECOND. THANK YOU, CANDIDATES AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. NOW TIME FOR A SHORT BREAK. WE WILL BE BACK, I
00:41:44	>>	WELCOME BACK TO THE SECOND HALF OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE. IN THE FIRST HALF WE TOUCHED PENNY A BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD LIMIT LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS TO 90 DAYS. BUT AS MANY OF ARE YOU AWARE, THERE'S ANOTHER MORE CONTROVERSIAL INITIATIVE THAT'S ON TUESDAY'S BALLOT. A GAS RESERVE TAX. IF APPROVED, IT WOULD SLAP A HUGE PENALTY ON OIL COMPANIES FOR NOT SHIPPING ALASKA GAS TOARKET. BALLOT MEASURE 2 WOULD IMPOSE A NEW TAX ON THE TWO LARGEST GAS FIELDS ON THE NORTH SLOPE, PRUDHOE BAY AND POINT THOMPSON, ROUGHLY $1 BILLION A YEAR. IT WOULD GO AWAY AS SOON AS A GAS PIPELINE IS BUILT AND GAS STARTS TO FLOW TO ENERGY- STARVED MARKETS IN THE LOWER 48. THE INITIATIVE ALSO PROVIDES A TAX CREDIT TO ALLOW OIL COMPANIES TO RECOVER A PORTION OF THE RESERVES TAX AS SOON AS GAS IS SENT DOWN A PIPELINE. THERE ARE VAST INTERPRETATIONS OF WHAT THE MEASURE DOES. BUT IN A NUTSHELL, BACKERS SAY THIS TAX WILL CREATE A HUGE INCENTIVE FOR OIL COMPANIES TO STOP WAREHOUSING ALASKA GAS AND MOVE IT TO MARKET QUICKLY BY MAKING IT COSTLY TO DELAY BUILDING THE $25 BILLION PIPELINE. THIS, THEY ARGUE, CAN BE DONE AT NO COST TO THE PROJECT ITSELF AND WITHOUT HURTING FUTURE OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT. AND ALL OF THIS, THEY SAY, WILL STIMULATE A JOB BOOM, FIRE UP THE ECONOMY, AND GENERATE MONEY FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. BUT OPPONENTS STRENUOUS STRENUOUSLY DISAGREE, THEY SAY THE TAX WILL KILL, NOT ENCOURAGE CONSTRUCTION OF A GAS LINE, THAT IS ALREADY A COSTLY AND RISKY VENTURE. THEY CLAIM THE TAX WILL TRIGGER EXPENSIVE AND LENGTHY LAWSUITS. THEY ASSERT IT WILL DISCOURAGE NEW INVESTMENT AND IS A HUGE DISINCENTIVE FOR COMPANIES TO DISCOVER, DRILL AND DEVELOP NEW OIL AND GAS FIELDS. THEY SAY THIS TAX SENDS ATVK/[pGRIM MESSAGE ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT ALASKA IS A BAD PLACE DO BUSINESS. AND THEY ARGUE IT WILL BLOCK JOB GROWTH, HURT THE ECONOMY ANDWQ9+ STIFLE NEW SOURCE OF TAX REVENUES FOR CITIES AND THE STATE.
00:43:50	>>	SO WHICH IS IT? A PIPELINE KILLER OR A PIPELINE INCENTIVE? WE ALREADY KNOW THAT ALL THREE CANDIDATES OPPOSE BALLOT MEASURE 2. SO LARRY HAS ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THIS. YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO RESPOND. TAKE IT AWAY.
00:44:05	>>	BACK TO HYPOTHETICAL. MR. KNOWLES, YOU'RE GOVERNOR, BALLOT MEASURE 2 PASSES. WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT? DO YOU INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO AMEND IT? DO YOU INCORPORATE SOMETHING IN TO A GAS LINE CONTRACT AND NEGATE IT? DO YOU GO TOT0Q;iQ(Rp & ELECTION TO OVERTURN IT, SPECIAL ELECTION OF THE PUBLIC?
00:44:21	>>	CONSTITUTION SAYS IT'S TWO YEARS TOtlyn REPEAL SOMETHING, BUT ALSO SAYS THE LEGISLATURE MAY AMEND IT AT ANY TIME. SINCE THE PURPOSE OF EVEN THOSE WHO ARE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE IS TO ACTUALLY GET A7$ PIPELINE BUILT, IF WE HAD SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON, IF WE HAD A CONTRACT AND LINE BEING CONSTRUCTED, I WOULD LOOK TO AMEND TO FORGO AND TO DELAY ANY PAYMENTS THAT WERE NECESSARY SO YOU DON'T HAVE THAT $1 BILLION A YEAR ADDITION TO THE COST OF THE PROJECT THAT COULD IRONICALLY KILL THE PROJECT. THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO. WE WANT A GAS LINE.
00:44:54	>>	MS. PALIN, WOULD YOU INTRODUCE LEGISLATION AT THE START OF YOUR TERM? WOULD YOU PUT IT IN THE CONTRACT OR WOULD YOU WAIT TILL YOU HAD A CONTRACT, MAYBE GO FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION OF THE PUBLIC TO OVERTURN IT?
00:45:04	>>	IF THE PEOPLE DECIDE TO SAY YEA ON THIS ON NOVEMBER 7, THAT'S THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. IN THAT TWO YEARS OF THE AMENDMENT OPPORTUNITY, THOUGH, WE USE THIS MEASURE, THEN, AS LEVERAGE. THEY'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR THIS LINE. IT'S THAT IMPORTANT. WE NEED THE GAS LINE, CATALYST TO HEAT OUR ECONOMY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALASKAN JOBS, MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO REDUCE ENERGY COSTS HERE IN ALASKA. WE NEED THAT GAS LINE. SO WE USE THIS MEASURE FOR LEVERAGE.
00:45:30	>>	MR. HALCRO, YOU STATED OPPOSITION. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU'RE GOVERNOR AND YOUR STUCK WITH BALLOT MEASURE 2?
00:45:34	>>	I DISAGREE. IT DOESN'T PROVIDE LEVERAGE. IT PROVIDES A FREE TRIP TO COURT WHICH BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL ON A NUMBER OF GROUNDS. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THE STATE WILL SPEND YEARS IN COURT WITH AN UNCERTAIN OUTCOME AND WE WILL BE NO CLOSER TO WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE. IF IT DOES PASS, I WOULD CERTAINLY VRK VERY HARD ON PARALLEL TRACKS TO GET A GAS CONTRACT SIGNEDF A GAS CONTRACT IS SIGN, MOVING FORWARD, INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO DELAY PAYMENT TO, SOMEHOW FORGO THE TAX BECAUSE AFTER ALL, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE DESIRE IS FOR THIS TAX TO BUILD A PIPELINE.
00:46:08	>>	FOLLOW-UP?
00:46:09	>>	SURE, STICKING ON THE GAS LINE, START WITH YOU, MR. HALCRO. A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THE STATE TAKING A OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN THE GAS LINE. DO YOU SEE A CONFLICT IN THE STATE OWNING SOMETHING IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR REGULATING?
00:46:20	>>	I DON'T. WE HAVE TO MANAGE OUR RESOURCES EVERY DAY. TO SOME DEGREE, WITH WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT. THE FACT IS WE'RE AN OWNER STATE, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO GET UP AND MANAGE OUR RESOURCES AND MANAGE HOW THEY GET TO MARKET AND BE RESPONSIBLE. EVEN JAY HAMMOND ONCE TOLD ME IF HE COULD GO BACK AND DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT WITH THE TRANSALASKA PIPELINE, STATE WOULD HAVE OWNERSHIP BECAUSE HE FELT THE STATE LOST OUT BY NOT HAVING A SEAT AT THE TABLE. GREAT OPPORTUNITY TORE THE STATE. I THINK WE HAVE BRIGHT MINDS IN THIS STATE. THEY CAN CERTAINLY MANAGE OUR RISK AND EXPOSURE. AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOOD REWARD.
00:46:54	>>	MR. KNOWLES DO, YOU SEE ANY CONFLICT IN THE STATE REGULATING A PIPELINE IT OWNS?
00:46:59	>>	I THINK WE COULD MANAGE THAT PART. I THINK THE MORE SERIOUS QUESTION IS, IS IT A GOOD HARD-NOSED BUSINESS DEAL? THE CURRENT 20% OWNERSHIP WOULD COST $4 BILLION. IS THAT WHAT WE WANT TO PLACE OUR MONEY? WHAT KIND OF RETURN DO WE GET FOR THAT INVESTMENT? I DON'T6e KNOW THAT NECESSARILY BEING A MINORITY OWNER AND SITTING AT THE TABLE GAINS ANY GREAT ADVANTAGE F IT DOES, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT DISCUSSED AND BROUGHT FORWARD AND MIGHT SUPPORT ON IT THAT REGARD. BUT IT HAS TO BE FIRST AND FOREMOST, A GOOD BUSINESS DEAL. IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE NEED TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE IT IS A GOOD BUSINESS DEAL.
00:47:32	>>	MS. PALIN, DO YOU SEE REGULATORY CONFLICT IN REGULATING SOMETHING THAT THE STATE OWNS?
00:47:37	>>	YEAH, THAT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH LINE THERE, LARRY, BECAUSE WE ARE THE OWNERS OF THE RESOURCE, WE ARE GOING TO BE EXPECTED TO BE REGULATORS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT THE PUBLIC HAS STILL HEARD THAT COMPELLING REASON WHY WE NEED TO BE 20% OWNERS OF THIS PROJECT. NOT MAJORITY OWNERS. YOU KNOW, WHY NOT MAJORITY OWNERS IN THIS LINE? OR WHY NOT COMPLETELY STEP OUT AND ALLOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO OPERATE THIS, BUILD AND OPERATE? THEN WE DO OUR JOB AS THE REGULATORS? OF COURSE, BEING OWNERS OF THE RESOURCE. THAT COMPELLING REASON STILL HASN'T BEEN, I THINK, ACCEPTED BY THE PUBLIC.
00:48:10	>>	THANK YOU. NOW FOR ANOTHER SEGMENT IN WHICH YOU SL HAVE MORE TIME, I PROMISE, TO ANSWER A QUESTION, UP TO A MINUTE TO RESPOND AND 30 SECONDS TO REBUT. EARLIER THIS WEEK THE LEGISLATURE FILED A LAWSUIT IN FAIRBANKS TO BLOCK GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI FROM SIGNING A GAS LINE CONTRACT. THIS MORNING AFTER NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE MURKOWSKI ADMINISTJdaa)n AND A LAWYER HIRED BY THE LEGISLATURE AN AGREEMENT HAD BEEN RE MURKOWSKI HAD AGREED NOT TO SIGN A CONTRACT BEFORE NOVEMBER 14th, THE DAY AFTER THE SPECIAL SESSION STARTS, BUT HE MADE NO PROMISES AFTER THAT. AND HE AGREED TO GIVE LAWMAKERS ATozi LEAST 48 HOURS NOTICE BEFORE HE WILL SIGN# K A DEAL. HOWEVER, LATER TODAY ALL THAT FELL APART SO THE PARTIES WILL RESUME THE DEBATE IN COURT NEXT WEEK. SO STARTING WITH MS. PALIN, WILL LAWMAKERS, WERE LAWMAKERS RIGHT TO SUE THE GOVERNOR OVER THIS? OR AS POTENTIAL FUTURE GOVERNOR SHOULD IN THE A GOVERNOR BE ALLOWED TO EXERCISE OR HER CONSTITUTION RIGHT TO SIGN A CONTRACT? YOU HAVE UP TO A MINUTE.
00:49:09	>>	SHE SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO SIGN SUCH A CONTRACT UNILATERALLY WITHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF SUCH A PROJECT HERE. SO THE LEGISLATORS ARE, I RESPECT THE ACTION THEY TOOK THERE UP/8Q2 IN FAIRBANKS. IT'S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI TO GIVE KIND OF A NEBULOUS, BENIGN RESPONSE THERE AND MAYBE HE WILL, MAYBE HE WON'T SIGN THIS CONTRACT, UNILATERALLY. THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH. THE LEGISLATORS FELT THEY HAVE TO TAKE A MEASURE TO ENSURE THAT GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI WON'T SIGN THIS CONTRACT THAT IS NOT IN ALASKA'S BEST INTEREST. THERE ARE DEFICIENCIES IN THIS CONTRACT. THEY NEED TO BE TIGHTENED UP. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GAS LINE CONTRACT IS IN ALASKA'S BEST INTEREST. AND EVIDENTLY IT'S NOT IN ALASKA'S BEST INTEREST. IT HAS BEEN REJECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE. THEY TOOK THE MEASURE THAT THEY DEEM NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI DOES NOT SIGN THE CONTRACT. I MET WITH GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI AND JIM CLARK SOME WEEKS AGO ASKING HIM THE SAME THING. PLEASE PROMISE TO LEAVE IT TO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. THE PALIN PARNELL TEAM WILL BE READY TO NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF ALL ALASKANS TO GET A BETTER DEAL.
00:50:13	>>	JUST TO CLARIFY, THEY HAVEN'T FULLY REJECTED THE CONTRACT. LET'S SAY THEY HAVEN'T APPROVED NECESSARY CHANGES TO ALLOW IT.
00:50:19	>>	THEY DID REJECT IT IN THE LEGISLATURE. THEY SAID NO TO GOVERNOR 34URKSKY.
00:50:24	>>	WE WILL LEAVE IT -- GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI.
00:50:27	>>	THE GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT SIGN A CONTRACT5)Zz WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL. I THINKu6qP LEGISLATURE WAS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THERE WERE HINTS THAT HE MIGHT DO SO WOULD BE TO TAKE IT TO COURT. I'M SORRY TO SAY NEGOTIATED IT, THOUGH TO, THE POINT THEY GAVE HIM STILL A TWO-WEEK WINDOW TO DO IT. THE GOVERNOR NEEDS TO HAVE THE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF ALASKANS AND THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE CONTRACT THAT IS SIGNED IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALASKA. THAT'S WHY I PROPOSED COMING OUT WITH ALASKA'S TERMS ON ALASKA HIRE WITH A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE USE OF ALASKA BUSINESSES TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SPUR LINE TO SOUTH CENTRAL AND THAT NO OIL TAXES ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN A GAS LINE PROJECT. FURTHERMORE, I WANT TO WARN GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI NOT TO SIGN A GIVE AWAY ON POINT THOMPSON, WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN THREATENED, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT GOVERNOR HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THAT AS A NEGOTIATING TOOL FOR THE GAS LINE.M THIS FIELD.
00:51:34	>>	THANK YOU. MR. HALCRO, PRETEND YOU'RE IN THE STATE HOUSE. WOULD YOU JOIN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE IN SUING THE GOVERNOR OVER THIS?
00:51:42	>>	I WOULD, I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE. IT'S KIND OF IRONIC. FOUR YEARS AGO STARS WERE ALIGNED, ENDED UP SUED BY THE SA8y PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH HIM. I THINK THIS TELLS THE PEOPLE OF ALASKA ONE THING. YOU NEED TO HOLD CANDIDATES ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE YOU ELECT THEM INSTEAD OF AFTER. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, YES, I WOULD SUPPORT SUING THE GOVERNOR AND FILING THE LAWSUIT. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES. I THINK THE LEGISLATURE HAS A KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN APPROVAL OF ANY NATURAL GAS PROJECT. BY SIGNING IT UNILATERALLY,rnO GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI WOULD SUFFER DIRE RAMIFICATIONS, VERY UNFORTUNATE TO PEOPLE IN THE STATE.
00:52:21	>>	BACK TO LARRY, GAS LINE QUESTION. FAR MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN I AM.
00:52:25	>>	GOING BACK WITH THE STATE OWNERSHIP ISSUE. ASSUMING THE SURPLUS IS GONE BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT THE SURPLUS FOR INCREASED SCHOOL FUNDING, LONGEVITY BONUS, CAN SPEND THE SAME DOLLAR TWICE. SO ASSUME THE STATE TAKES 20% OWNERSHIP IN THE GAS LINE, MEANS ABOUT $1 BILLION FOR DOWNPAYMENT. MR. HALCRO, WHERE YOU WOULD TAKE THAT $1 BILLION FROM THE STATE TO MAKE THIS DOWNPAYMENT ON BUYING IN TO THE PIPELINE?
00:52:50	>>	CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT $2.3 BILLION IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL BUDGET RESERVE. WE HAVE ABOUT 3 1/2 BILLION IN THE EARNINGS RESERVE ITSELF. YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN OPPi9v9ITY FOR THE STATE. WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO MANAGE, IF OUR 20% EQUITY OWNERSHIP MAKES THISPROJECT POSSIBLE, THIS PROJECT IS WAY TOO IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE NOT TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND NOT TO BE A PLAYER IN IT. AND THIS GETS BACK TO ONE OF THE THINGS I TALKED ABOUT AD MAUS YUM ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, -- NAUSEAM TO HAVE FISCAL STABILITY. WITH SO MANY CHALLENGES, SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE AHEAD, BEING IN POSITION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND ADDRESS ALL OF THEM.
00:53:28	>>	IF I MAY INTERJECT. MR. HALCRO, 30 SECONDS TO FOLLOW-UP. WHY STOP AT 20%? WHY NOT HAVE A GREATER OWNERSHIP STAKE?
00:53:37	>>	I THINK 20% IS A EQUITABLE AMOUNT. I THINK THE STATE CAN EVEN DIVERSIFY RISK BY ALLOWING INDEPENDENTS, NATIVE CORPORATIONS TO BUY IN TO THAT 20%, CREATING OUR OWN SUB LL C.
00:53:48	>>	STILL A MINORITY OWNER.
00:53:49	>>	THAT'S CORRECT, BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU CHANGE THE CONTRACT TO ENSURE THAT ANY DISCREPANCIES, ANY DISAGREEMENTS ARE SETTLED IN COURT RATHER THAN TRIBUNALS, IiA.NK THE STATE WOULD HAVE ADEQUATE LEGAL PROTECTION.
00:54:03	>>	MR. KNOWLES ASSUMING IT'S A GOOD BUSINESS DEAL, HAD YOU TO COME UP WITH A BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TO BUY IN, WHERE WOULD YOU GET THE BILLION ASSUMING THERE IS NO SURPLUS LEFT TO SKIM OFF?
00:54:14	>>	WELL, THE ALASKA PERMANENT FUND, THAT BOARD HAS THE AUTHORITY TO PUT MONEY BASED ON THE PERSON RULE WHERE THERE IS THE GRAYEST RETURNF IT PASS IT IS TEST, LIKE THEY BUY REAL ESTATE, THEY BUY OTHER EQUITIES TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND IT IS NOT TOO MUCH, DON'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET, THAT THAT WOULD BE THE PROPER PLACE TO DO IT. WE DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA BILLION DOLLARS LAYING AROUND ANYWHERE. THE CONSTITUTION BUDGET RESERVE, THE PURPOSE OF THATa RESERVE IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BUFFER IN CASE THERE IS A FLUCTUATION OF OIL PRICES AND THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFSET THE INSTABILITY THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PROVIDING FOR EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION. SO WE DON'T HAVE JUST A BUNCH OF IT LAYING AROUND. IF IT IS A GOOD BUSINESS DEAL, THEN IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE ARRANGED OUTSIDE OF THAT.
00:55:06	>>	WHAT ABOUT MY QUESTION ABOUT BEING A 20%, HAVING 20% SHARE VERSUS MAYBE LARGER SHARE IN THE PIPELINE?
00:55:13	>>	WELL, AGAIN, IF IT'S A HARD BUSINESS DEAL, THAT'S A BIG PROJECT. SO 20% WOULD BE $4 BILLION. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE $4 BILLION. YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO PUT ALL ASSETS IN A SINGLE PORTFOLIO. THAT WOULD NOT BE THE PROPER WAY TO MANAGE THE MONEY AND I DON'T THINK THAT ANY, THE PERMANENT FUND WOULD CERTAINLY NOT AGREE WITH THAT.
00:55:34	>>	MS. PALIN, IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO INVEST AND YOU NEEDED A BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE DOWNPAYMENT, WHERE WOULD YOU GET IT?
00:55:39	>>	AGAIN, THIS IS GOING ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT 20% OWNERSHIP WAS DEEMED THE KEY TO MAKING SURE THAT THE GAS LINE ACTUALLY GETS BUILT. WE DO HAVE HEALTHY CBR, EVEN THOUGH IT HASN'T BEEN REPAID TO THE LEVEL IT SHOULD BE REPAID, THAT'S HEALTHY. THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY OF COURSE TO ASK THE PEOPLE IF THEY ARE WILLING TO INVEST THEIR MONEY, VIA THE PERMANENT FUND, VIA VOTE OF THE PEOPLE IN TO THIS PROJECT. AND IF ALAc $G SAID YES TO THAT, THAT WOULD BE WHERE A BILLION DOLLARS COULD COME FROM ALSO.
00:56:10	>>	WHAT ABOUT A 20% OR GREATER SHARE?
00:56:12	>>	THERE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE COMPELLING REASON OF THE 20% FIGURE, I DON'T THINK HAS BEEN YET ACCEPTED BY THE PUBLIC. THERE NEEDS TO BE WORK ON THAT STILL WITH THE LEGISLATURE. THE LEGISLATURE WHO HOLDS THE PURSE STRING. YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM, NOT AGAINST THEM. THAT'S ONE OF THE FAULTS OF THE PAST COUPLE ADMINISTRATIONS WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN GRIDLOCK AND NOT A LOT OF PROGRESS EVEN ON THIS GAS LINE HAS BEEN AN UNWILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON SUCH A PROPOSAL.
00:56:37	>>	MR. KNOWLES, 15 SECONDS, YOU'RE EAGER TO RESPOND.
00:56:40	>>	JUST TO SAY THAT IN TERMS OF VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, THE PERMANENT FUND, YOU DON'T NEED A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. THE PERMANENT FUND BOARD HAS AUTHORITY THROUGH MONEY MANAGERS ADVICE TO 37 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ASSETS THAT THEY ARE PLACING IN TO THE EQUITY MARKET, IN TO THE REAL ESTATE MARKET AND TO VARIOUS TYPES OF RETURNS ON INVESTMENT. THAT'S THE DECISION PROCESS THEY SHOULD MAKE AND SHOULD ONLY BE BY THAT, WITH NO POLITICAL DECISIONS MADE.
00:57:03	>>	I CAN'T RESIST, YET YOU SAY THAT THE PEOPLE SHOULD VOTE ON USING PERMANENT FUND EARNINGS FOR NEARLY ANYTHING ELSE.
00:57:09	>>	WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PERMANENT FUND PRINCIPLE, WHICH BY DEFINITION HAS TO BE INVESTED, CONDITION BE SPENT UNLESS YOU CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION. NOBODY PROPOSES THAT. PERMANENT FUND EARNINGS I BELIEVE SHALL OTHER THAN HOW THEY ARE BEING SPENT NOW, SHOULD HAVE THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
00:57:25	>>	UNDERSTOOD. MR. HALCRO.
00:57:28	>>	Iw% THINK AS AN OWNER STATE YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, IF WE ARE NOT WILLING TO INVEST IN THIS 30 BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE THE LARGEST OIL AND GAS PROJECT IN THE WORLD, IF WE DON'T SEE IT AS A GOOD DEAL, IF WE DON'T SEE IT AS A WORTHY INVESTMENT THAT WILL GET RETURN ON INVESTMENT BACK, THEN WHY SHOULD WE BE FORCING THE PRODUCERS TO DEVELOP THE LOT? WE WANT THE GAS, BUT IF WE'RE NOT READY TO STEP UP AND BE A PARTNER, THIS IS OUR RESOURCE, WE HAVE GREAT BENEFITS COMING DOWN THE PIPE AS WELL, HOW DO WE PUSH OTHERS TO DEVELOP A PROJECT THAT WE OUFERS SELVES -- OURSELVES AREN'T WILLING TO INVEST IN?
00:58:01	>>	15 SECOND RESPONSE.
00:58:03	>>	SIGNIFICANCE IS THIS IS ALASKA'S PROJECT THIS. WILL BE A PROJECT THAT UNITES ALASKANS, THE BEST ECONOMIC LIFELINEF WE UP THE 20% THE MAJORITY OWNERSHIP AND WE'RE LOOKING AT 4 OR MORE BILLION DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED, VIA PERMANENT FUND REVENUES, IT WOULD REQUIRE, I BELIEVE, A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE, ASKING THE PEOPLE OF ALASKA IF THEY ARE WILLING TO PERMANENT FUND IN THIS PROJECT. IN ALASKA'S ECONOMICNNh LIFELINE. DO YOU THAT BY ASKING THECJ% PEOPLE.
00:58:30	>>	THANK YOU. I THINK LARRY- Q REQUEST QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PIPELINE UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME. WE NEED THE MOVE ON TO LIBBY, SIMILAR RELATED SUBJECT.
00:58:39	>>	ACTUALLY CHANGING GEARS A LITTLE HERE, GAL THAT WORKING ON ARRANGEMENT -- GALENA WORKING ON POWER TO BRING POWER TO THE VILLAGE. SHOULD THE STATE PLAY A ROLE IN THIS? IF THE PROJECT FAILS WITHOUT STATE HELP, SHOULD THE STATE GET INVOLVED? MR. HALCRO.
00:58:56	>>	I WOULD LOOK AT IT. NUCLEAR ENERGY HAS THIS H. THIS REVIVAL IN THE COUNTRY, MORE AND MORE WHO ARE CRITICAL OF NUCLEAR ENERGY ARE SAYING HMM, MAYBE IT'S NOT SO BAD. I CERTAINLY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I DO BELIEVE THIS STATE KNEE TO DO MORE WITH ADOPTING PRACTICES WITH REGARDS TO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY. WE HAVE GREAT, GREAT, WE LIVE IN THE WORLD'S GREATEST ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LABORATORY, CLASS 5 WINDS IN THE ARCTIC NORTHWEST, GEOTHERMAL, INTERIOR, TIDAL, I THINK THE STATE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AND POSSIBLY LOOK AT INVESTING.
00:59:27	>>	MS. PALIN.
00:59:28	>>	ONE MINUTE.
00:59:29	>>	I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. IT WAS SO GOOD TO BE THERE IN GALENA OVER THE WINTER BE ABLE TO VISIT WITH THE PEOPLE SO INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS PROJECT, THIS PROPOSAL. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD AND HEALTHY FOR MORE RESEARCH GOING TOWARDS THIS. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL HERE. AND REALLY ALASKA SHOULD BE THE CATALYST. ALASKA CAN BE THE LEADER HERE IN THE NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY THAT IS GOING TO BE REVOLVING AROUND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES. THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS REALLY NEED TO START GETTING PLUGGED IN TO THE IDEA OF BEING LESS RELIANT ON OUR PETROCHEMICALS, START LOOKING AT NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES, NOT AS JUST THE STAPLE FOR ALL OF OUR ENERGY SUPPLY BUT RENEWABLE RESOURCES. HERE IN ALASKA WE ARE BLESSED MORE SO THAN ANY OTHER STATE WITH RESOURCES, WITH WINDS AND BIOMASS AND TIDES AND GEOTHERMAL, WITH ALL OF THOSE RICH BLESSINGS WE HAVE HERE, IT SHOULD BE ALASKA LEADING THE NATION WITH A NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY REVOLVING AROUND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES INCLUDING NUCLEAR, INCLUDING THERE IN GALENA.
01:00:33	>>	MR. KNOWLES, UP TO ONE MINUTE.
01:00:35	>>	I NOTICE AS I RECALL, I THINK THAT PROJECT WAS BEINGWn"k PROPOSED BY A JAPANESEH & COMPANY THAT WANTED A PILOT PROJECT AND IT WAS INTERESTING THAT THEY WANTED ABOUT 6,000 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE THEY WERE. SO I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT ONLY THROUGH THE MOST STRICT NATIONAL REGULATORY NUCLEAR POWER AUTHORITY THAT WE HAVE. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT SUSTAINABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY, BUT HOW ABOUT TRYING THE OLD FASHIONED HYDROELECTRICNu#jn IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA TO KETCHIKAN, THE LAKE PROJECT IN VALDEZ, HOW ABOUT MAKING SOME OF OUR RURAL PEOPLE, THE WIND HOUR THAT ANDREW MENTIONED, BIODIESEL, KODIAK, ALREADY HAS 800,000 GALLONS, WE HAVE A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN BE AT THE LEADING FRONT EDGE OF WITHOUT NECESSARILY BEING A PILOT PROJECT FOR A JAPANESE NUCLEAR PLANT.
01:01:34	>>	THANK YOU, MR. KNOWLES. LIBBY, ANOTHER ENERGY QUESTION?
01:01:39	>>	THIS TOUCHES ON ENERGY SORT OFjIlV LOOSE WAY. I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THE UNIVERSITY, OF COURSE BEING FROM FAIRBANKS. GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI TOLD SCIENTISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA THEIR RESEARCH SHOULD HELP HIS ADMINISTRATION, QUOTE, DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST CLAIMS OF OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS THAT THREATEN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. DO YOU BELIEVE RESEARCH SHOULD HAVE THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF BACKING THE STATE'S GOALS AND AGENDA,
01:02:02	>>	I DON'T THINK THE RESEARCH THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO SHOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS OR WITH A GOVERNOR'S POLITICAL AGENDA AT ALL. SO NO, THE ANSWER IS NO.
01:02:11	>>	OKAY. MR. HALCRO.
01:02:12	>>	ABSOLUTELY NOT. I MEAN I THINK POLITICS AND SCIENCE, THAT'S PARTS OF THE PROBLEM WHY WE HAVE STUMBLED ALONG WITH REGARDS TO STEM CELL RESEARCH. YOU HAVE TOO MUCH POLITICS AND SCIENCE. THE UNIVERSITY'S GOALS SHOULD BE TO DO INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION RESEARCH IN MANAGEMENT OF THOSE RESOURCE PRACTICES, NOT BE AN ECHO FOR THE GOVERNOR.
01:02:31	>>	THANKS.
01:02:33	>>	ONE OF THE MOST IRRESPONSIBLE PIECES OF LEGISLATION, OR BUDGET ITEMS THAT WENT THROUGH WAS TO SPEND $3 MILLION THAT WAS SOLE-SOURCED TO AN OUTSIDE FIRM IN OREGON TO ]a(opRg ALASKA TO THE REST OF AMERICA. APPARENTLY THAT'S NOT ENOUGH AND WANTS NOW THE UNIVERSITY TO TAKE ITS GOOD NAME AND RESEARCH TO DO THE SAME. OF COURSE IT SHOULDN'T BE DONE. WHAT WE SHOULD BE ISn:L,n A CENTER OF RESEARCH FOR HOW THAT YOU CAN ENGINEER AND BUILD AND UTILIZE ARCTIC CONDITIONS, NOT TO EXPLAIN IT TO THE REST OF AMERICA. THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD BE AT THE LEADING EDGE. THE UNIVERSITY HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN THIS AREA IN A APPLAUD THE PRESIDENT HAMILTON, BOARD OF REGIONS, UNIVERSITY FOR DOING THAT. NEW SCIENCE BUILDING HERE IN ANCHORAGE, WHAT A GREAT WAY TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT.
01:03:21	>>	THANK YOU, MR. KNOWLES. SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, BACK TO LARRY. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER LARRY'S QUESTION.
01:03:26	>>	GOVERNOR KNOWLES IS PUSHING HARD AT HIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO RUSH AN ISSUE, CONTRACT FOR ABOUT THREE MILES OF GRAVEL ROAD WHICH COULD SOME DAY BECOME AN APPROACH TO THE KETCHIKAN AIRPORT BRIDGE. HE WANTS THAT SIGNED BY DECEMBER 1st.
01:03:40	>>	YOU MEAN GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI.
01:03:42	>>	I'M SORRY, GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI.
01:03:43	>>	THE OTHER GOVERNOR.
01:03:46	>>	NOT YOUR BOSS.
01:03:47	>>	THIS IS NEWS.
01:03:49	>>	WORKS FOR BOTH GOVERNORS. GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI PUSHING THIS TO BE SIGNED BY DECEMBER 1st. MS. PALIN, WOULD YOU TAKE OVER 72 HOURS LATER. WOULD YOU TRY TO CANCEL THAT CONTRACT?
01:03:57	>>	I WOULDN'T. I'M NOT GOING TO STAND IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS THAT OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, POSITION OF STRENGTH THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE MAKING THOSE EFFORTS FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA TO BUILD UP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. I WOULD NOT GET IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS OF THIS PROJECT OR OTHER PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE WORKING SO HARD ON. SO NO, NOT TO CANCEL A CONTRACT IN THE FIRST 72 HOURS OF MY ADMINISTRATION, THAT WON'T BE PART OF MY GEND THAT.
01:04:19	>>	MR. HALCRO.
01:04:20	>>	I WOULD. I THINK IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THE GOVERNOR'S LAST-MINUTE POLITICAL PUSHES, I THINK IT'S POOR PUBLIC POLICY AND I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF STANDING IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS EITHER. BUT THIS ISN'T PROGRESS. THIS IS A ROAD TO A BRIDGE THAT WILL NEVER BE BUILT THAT I CAN SEE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THAT MONEY COULD CERTAINLY BE UTILIZED ELSEWHERE IN THIS STATE GIVEN OUR TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES.
01:04:42	>>	MR. KNOWLES, YOU TAKE OVER DECEMBER 4, WOULD YOU TRY TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT?
01:04:48	>>	I DON'T NECESSARILY GIVEs[KSn POLITICAL ADVICE TO GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI. IF HE HAD THIS MUCH ENERGY IN THE FIRST PART OF HIS TERP, HE MIGHT BE GOING ON TO HIS SECOND TERM. YOU KNOW, THESE LAST-MINUTE EFFORTS, WHETHER IT'S A SPECIAL SESSION FOR THE SAME SEX BENEFITS, WHETHER IT'S HAVING A MIDNIGHT PARDON OF EXXON ON POINT THOMPSON, LAST-MINUTE CONTRACTS JUST SO SO YOU GET SOMETHING DONE. IF THEYS w CAN'T STAND THE LIGHT OF DAY IN A NEW ADMINISTRATION, THEN MAYBE IT'S NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I CERTAINLY HAD CONTINUITY GOING ON FROM MY ADMINISTRATION TO GOVERNOR MURKOWSKI. AND THERE WERE NO LAST-MINUTE RUSHES TO GO THINGS DONE. WE WANTED TO HAVE A SMOOTH TRANSITION AND LET THE PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN ELECTED TO HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THAT'S RESPONSIBLE WAY TO DO IT.
01:05:39	>>	WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SEGMENT. I WANT A QUICK QUESTION WITH A QUICK ANSWER, 15 SECONDS TO RESPOND. NO WIGGLE ROOM. LET'S SAY WE'RE FACING OUR WORST BUDGET DOOM'S DAY SCENARIO. MR. HALCRO, YOU HAVE TO RAISE REVENUE. I MEAN I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE ALL THE CUTTING YOU CAN DO, YOU HAVE THREE OPTIONS. I WANT YOU TO PRIORIZE ONE, TWO, THREE, WHERE YOU DRAW THE NEW REVENUES. STATE INCOME TAX, STATE SALES TAX OR PERMANENT FUND EC8;GS. MR. HALCRO, 15 SECONDS.
01:06:06	>>	CHRIS, YOU WERE THERE WITH ME IN 1999, WALK IN THE FRONT DOORS OF THE CAPITOL, FACE A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT. PERM NUNT FUND EARNINGS NUMBER ONE, STATE SAY IT SALES TAX, NUMBER THREE. PERMANENT FUND IS NEW MONEY, NOT RECYCLING OF DOLLARS, IT'S WHAT WE PUT THAT MONEY AWAY FOR, FOR A RAINY DAY.
01:06:26	>>	MS. PALIN.
01:06:28	>>	SALES TAX, WHEN WE(r8sc EXEMPT IMMEDIATE CALLING AND GROCERIES. -- MEDICAL, TIED FOR LAST WOULD BE INCOME TAX AND PERMANENT FUND.
01:06:40	>>	ONE, THREE, THREE. MR. KNOWLES.
01:06:43	>>	INCOME TAX, SALES TAX, PERMANENT FUND. THE REASON WHY I PUT THE PERMANENT FUND LAST, IF YOU PUT IT FIRST OR TIED FOR SECOND OR WHATEVER IT'S PHRASED, THAT IS THE ONLY INCOME THAT IS TIED DIRECTLY TO ALASKANS. NORE / OUTSIDER CAN GET A PERMANENT FUND CHECK, SO WHY SHOULD JUST ALASKANS PAY FOR SERVICES. I WOULD LIKE TO CATCH SOME OF THE MONEY FROM PEOPLE WHO EARN MONEY HERE, PARTICULARLY BUILD A GAS LINE, LET'S GET THEM TO PAY FOR IT.
01:07:07	>>	TRY TO REVISIT THIS LATER. ON TO THE NEXT SEGMENT. WE WILL GO BACK AND LISTEN TO OUR FOLKS FROM RURAL ALASKA AGAIN, A BIG THANK TO YOU FRIENDS AT KYUK IN BETHEL FOR THEIR HELP IN THIS. ENOUGH OF ME, ON TO THE QUESTION.
01:07:25	>>	I'M JOE HAMILTON, ORIGINALLY FROM CHE VAK, LIVE AND WORK IN BETHEL. BECAUSE OF REMOVAL OF FUNDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, VILLAGES ACROSS RURAL ALASKA ARE REPORTING HIGHER RATES OF CHAOS AND CRIME. WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IN RURAL ALASKA?
01:07:49	>>	MS. PALIN, WE'LL START WITH YOU. YOU'LL HAVE 30 SECONDS. WHAT DO YOU TELL JOAN? HOW DO YOU ADDRESS HIGH RATES OF CHAOS AND CRIME IN RURAL ALASKA?
01:07:58	>>	I SHARE THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT RURAL ALASKAN CRIME AND VIOLENCE AND OUTSTANDING NUMBERS THAT ARE VERY ABHORRENT IN THE STATE OF ALASKA WITH ABUSE OUT THERE IN RURAL ALASKA AND WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS. WE DO THAT THROUGH BEEFING UP THE PROGRAMS IN RURAL ALASKA, DO THAT BY REMEMBERING PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THE CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED SERVICES THAT STATE GOVERNMENT HAS TO PROVIDE. WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE FOR THAT. MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GIVING THE TOOLS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN RURAL AND URBAN ALASKA TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING A HANDLE ON THESE ABUSES AND CRIMES THAT ARE REALLY DESTROYING SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE.
01:08:36	>>	MR. KNOWLES, 30 SECONDS.
01:08:38	>>	THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IN RURAL ALASKA IS REALLY IN A CRISIS. WE HAVE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF VILLAGES THAT HAVE NO PUBLIC SAFETY WHATSOEVER, SO IF A CRIME TAKES PLACE, IT MAY BE THREE, FOUR, DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER, LONGER DAYS BEFORE THERE'S ANY ACTION TAKEN. THAT IS JUST NOT, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS RETURNING A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T RECRUIT ANYBODY. IT IS MISMANAGEMENT AND CHAOS. WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE GROWTH OF VPSOs, MORE TROOPERS SO THERE IS NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY DIVIDE.
01:09:14	>>	MR. HALCRO, 30 SECONDS.
01:09:15	>>	CURRENTLY I BELIEVE WE SPEND A LITTLE UNDER $6 MILLION A YEAR ON THE VPSO PROGRAM, A NUMBER OF VILLAGES THAT HAVE NO VPSO ON THE GROUND. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. VPSO, ESPECIALLY SMALL RURAL VILLAGES ARE AN INVESTMENT. THE LONGER YOU HAVE SOMEONE ON THE GROUND THAT CAN KEEP ORDER AND MAINTAIN A SENSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE LESS IT COSTS. IT'S BETTER FOR FAMILIES, BETTER FOR COMMUNITIES, BETTER FOR THE STATE. WHAT I CAN SEE HAPPENING IS WE NEED TO BOOST NOT ONLY TROOPER REGIMENT BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING TROOPERS BUT ALSO NEED TO BOOST THE VPSO PROGRAMS BY INCREASING WAGES, TRAINING, SUPPORT.
01:09:53	>>	LIBBY, A FOLLOW-UP.
01:09:54	>>	FOLLOW-UP. SHOULD WE TRANSITION FROM VILLAGE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFIRS IN TO MORE OF A FULL-FLEDGED POLICE FORCE, ONE THAT CAN ALLOW MEMBERS TO CARRY A GUN, MAKE ARRESTS, HAVE MORE POWER?
01:10:07	>>	I DO BELIEVE THAT. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT. I THINK THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU'RE SEEING OUT IN RURAL ALASKA ARE GETTING WORSE AND WORSE EVERY YEAR, ESPECIALLY IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A VPSO. I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE BETTER TRAINING, BETTER EQUIPMENT, BETTER FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
01:10:22	>>	30 SECONDS.
01:10:23	>>	THE ANSWER IS YES. WE ARE TRANSITIONING, PARTICULARLY AS COMMUNITIES GET LARGER, NOW OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE, NO LONGER A SMALL VILLAGE AND WITH THAT GROWTH, THERE BECOMES ADDITIONAL ISSUES. ONE VPSO OFFICER DOESN'T CUT IT THAT. PERSON IS THEN ON 24-7. YOU CAN'T DO THAT. YOU NEED TO HAVE A MORE PROFESSIONAL FORCE THAT ALLOWS BETTER TRAINING AND BETTER EQUIPPED.
01:10:48	>>	MS. PALIN.
01:10:50	>>	MANY AREAS, YES, LIBBY, BUT IN AREAS SMALL ENOUGH THAT CAN ADEQUATELY BE SERVED BY A VPSO. WE NEED TO ELEVATE THE PROFILE OF THE OFFICER OUT THERE AND ADEQUATELY PAY THAT OFFICER MAKING SURE THERE ARE INCENTIVES TO STAY, MAKING SURE INCENTIVES TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT A" RETAIN VPSO OFFICERS. YES, SOME GROWING AREA, LARGER AREAS WHERE VPSO IS NOT ABLE TO HANDLE ALL ISSUES IN THE REGION, CERTAINLY WE SHOULD GO MORE TO A FULL-FLEDGED PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT.
01:11:23	>>	THANK YOU, MS. PALIN. NOW LET'S HEAR OUR LAST QUESTION FROM WESTERN ALASKA.
01:11:33	>>	HI, I'M ZENNA PETERS, I ATTEND THE BETHEL ALTERNATIVE BOARDING SCHOOL. MANY VILLAGES OF ALASKA THERE IS NO WATER AND SEWER AND IT AFFECT AS LOT OF PEOPLE. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ACTIONS WOULD YOU TAKE TO IMPROVE HEALTH FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGES?
01:11:51	>>	MR. HALCRO, 30 SECONDS, HOW DO YOU IMPROVE HEALTH IN THE RURAL VILLAGES?
01:11:55	>>	I THINK THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION. WHEN YOU LOOK TO THE FUTURE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, IT'S BEEN THE DENALI COMMISSION THAT INVESTED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT IN HEALTHY COMMUNITIES IN PUBLIC, SEWER, IN PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS. I THINK THIS STATE NEEDS TO BE IN A POSITION TO BE INDEPENDENT, TO STAND ON ITS OWN TWO FEET TO FUND SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS. YOU HAVE TO GO IN, PRIORITIZE THE COMMUNITIES BY NEED AND ESTABLISH SOME KIND OF A POLICY AND HAVE SOME KIND OF APPROPRIATION WHERE WE'RE INVESTING. BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY DOES NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THESE FACILITIES.
01:12:29	>>	MS. PALIN.
01:12:31	>>	TO ANSWER THIS ISSUE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS SO NEEDED OUT THERE IN RURAL ALASKA IS GOING TO TAKE COOPERATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OUR TRIBES AND NATIVE CORPORATIONS AND THE STATE. AND TO PAY FOR IT IN THOSE REGIONS, NOT ONLY WITH THOSE ENTITIES THAT I JUST MENTIONED BUT WE NEED TO ALLOW RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN THESE COMMUNITIES TO REVITALIZE SOME OF THE ECONOMIES OUT THERE. DEVELOPING OUR RESOURCES ALLOWING VALUE-ADDED INDUSTRY TO BE THERE IN THESE COMMUNITIES ALSO, IN ORDER TO HELP FUND THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE DEFINITELY NEEDED AS SHE SAID, THESE ARE NEEDED OUT THERE.
01:13:04	>>	MR. KNOWLES, 30 SECONDS.
01:13:07	>>	NO QUESTION THAT CLEAN SANITATION, WATER FACILITIES IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO HEALTH AND SAFETY IN RURAL ALASKA. AS GOVERNOR, I PLEDGE TO PUT THE HONEY BUCKET IN A MUSEUM, START THE DIRECTION OF DOING THAT. WE WENT FROM 55% OF THE COMMUNITIES, 55% OF RESIDENTS O RURAL ALASKA WITHOUT, THAT HAD WATER AND SEWER, WE WENT TO 84% HAD WATER AND SEWER. BUT THE MISSION GOES ON. IT WON'T BE FINISHED UNTIL IT'S ENDED. WE NEED TO LOOK AT MORE AFFORDABLE ENERGY, LANDFILLS AS THE NEXT GENERATION OF FACILITIES THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
01:13:43	>>	FOLLOW-UP FOR THAT, I WILL MOVE ON BECAUSE NOW IS THE CHANCE FOR THE CANDIDATES TO ASK EACH OTHER QUESTIONS. SO HOLD ON TO YOUR.fN[ HATS. KEEP YOUR QUESTIONS BRIEF. YOU WILL HAVE A MINUTE TO RESPOND. 30 SECONDS TO REBUT. MS. PALIN, LET'S GO AHEAD AND START WITH YOU. WHOM DO YOU WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION?
01:14:01	>>	TONY KNOWLES SADZ NO LAST- MINUTE MANEUVERING IN HIS ADMINISTRATION AS HE LEFT OFFICE. WE CAN LEARN FROM THE PAST, IN THE PAST IN FACT DURING YOUR LAST YEAR AS GOVERNOR, THERE, TONY, CHIEF OF STAFF ISSUED A MEMO TO CABINET THAT ASKED THEM TO COME UP WITH PROPOSALS TO PUT LEGISLATORS IN A BOX, ESSENTIALLY MAKE IT DIFFICULT ON THE LEGISLATORS AS YOU WERE LEAVING OFFICE. AT THE TIME THAT YOU RESPONDED TO THAT TO A REPORTER'S QUESTION SAYING THERE'S WAS NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN. ARE YOU AWARE NOW OF THE IMPACT OF THAT LACK OF LEADERSHIP IN YOUR GRAD GRIDLOCK, WHAT THAT CAUSED THE PEOPLE OF ALASKA?
01:14:34	>>	ONE MINUTE TO RESPOND, MR. KNOWLES.
01:14:36	>>	I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE DRIVING AT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE HAD IN MY LAST YEAR IN OFFICE, I THINK SO GREAT DIRECTIONS IN TERMS OF KEEPING THE ECONOMY MOVING, IN KEEPING DENALI KID CARE, IN KEEPING THE JOB SITUATION GOOD IN ALASKA. WE WERE EMPHASIZING THE THINGS THAT CONTINUED THAT WE HAD DONE FOR THE PREVIOUS SEVEN YEARS. I'M PROUD OF THE THINGS WE DID. WE WORKED WITH THE LEGISLATURE. THERE WERE CHECKS AND BALANCES AND I'M PROUD OF THE WAY IN WHICH THE TRANSITION TOOK PLACE.
01:15:09	>>	MS. PALIN, 30 SECONDS TO REBUT.
01:15:12	>>	WHAT I WAS DRIVING AT WAS EXACTLY THAT, THAT THERE WAS GRIDLOCK. MUCH OF THAT WAS CAUSED IN THAT LAST YEAR BY THAT MEMO ASKING AND YOUR CABINET TO FIND WAYS TO PUT THE LEGISLATORS IN KINDS OF MORE UNTENABLE POSITIONS. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND IN THE PUBLIC ARENA AND ALL THESE YEARS IS THAT IT IS AMAZING HOW MUCH YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN YOU DO COMMIT TO WORKING WITH OTHERS, NOT AGAINST THEM, BUT WITH OTHERS. ALSO AMAZING TO CONSIDER HOW MUCH YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN YOU DON'T CARE WHO GETS THE CREDIT AT THE END OF THE DAY. AS LONG AS YOU ALL HAVE A GOAL IN MIND AND YOU'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO REACH THAT GOAL.
01:15:45	>>	MR. KNOWLES, YOU GET TO ASK THE NEXT QUESTION, PAYMENT IN KIND OR TO MR. HALCRO.
01:15:49	>>	I WOULD LIKE TO ELEVATE THE DISCUSSION TO AN INTEREST THAT THE PUBLIC, SOMETHING THE PUBLIC IS A LITTLE MORE INTERESTED IN. IT GOES BACK TO SUBSISTENCE. NOW, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE LIST OF ALASKAN LEADERS, LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS IS LONG. OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS THAT HAVE FOUGHT TO GET A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT. SO THAT ALASKANS2t BRING UNITARY MANAGEMENT TO FISH AND GAME. I WOULD ASK SARAH PALIN SINCE SHE DOES NOT SUPPORT THAT, THAT THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ATTRACTIVE IN THE FEDERAL MANAGEMENT OF 2/3 OF OUR LAND AND WATER. WHAT IS THATcQ ATTRACTIVE IN THAT? YOU CAN SHARE IT WITH US.
01:16:33	>>	I THINK YOU NEED TO REVISIT YOUR ASSUMPTION THAT I FIND IT ATTRACTIVE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CONTROL OVER OUR RESOURCES. WE FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO MAKE SURE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS OR CONTROL OVER OUR OTHER RESOURCES, LIKE MINERALS AND OIL AND GAS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WITH OUR WILDLIFE ALSO THAT IT'S STATE-CONTROL. TONY, THERE ARE WAYS AGAIN THAT WE CAN GET TO THAT COMMON GOAL THAT I THINK WE ALL HAVE AND THAT IS AGAIN, WITH THE SUBSISTENCE IMPASSE, THOSE WHO NEED A RESOURCE MOST SHOULD BE ABLE TO HARVEST IT FIRST. WE CAN GET THERE WITHOUT THE DIVISIVE ISSUE OF HAVING TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION AND START TRYING TO DEFINE RURAL IN ORDER TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN, THEN, TONY. IT WOULD BE HORRIBLE TO TRY TO START DEFINING RURAL. YOU KNOW, TODAY BETHEL HAS A LARGER POPULATION THAN THE CITY OF PALMER. IS BETHEL GOING TO BE CONSIDERED NOT RURAL AND PALMER IS RURAL? THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE DIVISIVENESS WILL BEGIN IF WE GO DOWN THE ROAD THAT YOU HAD GONE DOWN FOR ALL THOSE YEARS, TONY, IN TRYING TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.
01:17:38	>>	MR. KNOWLES, 30 SECONDS.
01:17:39	>>	I WISH YOU WOULD SHARE THIS SECRET PLAN WITH ALASKANS. I SAT DOWN AND JUST LISTENS, LISTENED TO ALASKAN, JAY HAMMOND, CHARLIE COLE, BYRON MILLOTT, FRAN ULMER, BRUCE POTELLO, MIKE MILLER FROM FAIRBANKS, GAIL PHILIPS, WE SAID LET'S WORK OUT THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN BRING FISH AND GAME MANAGEMENT BACK TO ALASKA AND HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. WE STRUGGLED ALL SUMMER. IT WAS AT THE END OF THAT SUMMER WE CAME UP TO UP WITH A PROPOSAL, PUT IT IN FRONTS OF THE LEGISLATURE ONLY TO HAVE IT VOTED DOWN BY A VERY NARROW MAJORITY OF NARROW-MINDED PEOPLE.
01:18:19	>>	MR. HALCRO INVOLVED IN THIS. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR A CANDIDATE? IF SO, WHAT IS IT? TO WHOM?
01:18:26	>>	THE GUY ON 2 END. MY QUESTION IS FOR TONY KNOWLES. LOOK, I LOVE YOUR ADS, SLEEVES ROLLED UP, WORKING AWAY, LOOK LIKE YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING. HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, I SERVED FOUR YEARS, EVERY YEAR OF YOUR LAST TERM, I VERY RARELY SAW YOU WITH YOUR SLEEVES ROLLED UP. I GOT TO TILL HONESTLY, I THINK I SAW THE GHOST OF BILL EGAN WORKING HARDS ORE A LONG-RANGE FISCAL PLAN THAN YOU DID. YOU'RE RUNNING ON LEADERSHIP, GETTING A DEAL DONE, WORKING ACROSS PARTY LINES. HOW DO YOU RECONCILE YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES NOW WITH THE FACT THAT WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, YOU NEVER EVEN ATTENDED ANY HEARINGS OR MEETINGS ON FISCAL POLICY ISSUES?
01:19:03	>>	MR. KNOWLES, A MINUTE TO RESPOND.
01:19:05	>>	WELL, PROBABLY FORGETTING, ANDREW, THE NIGHT THAT YOU AND AT LEAST I THINK YOU WERE THERE, AND WE INVITED THE FISCAL GROUP OVER TO THE HOUSE, THE BIPARTISAN FISCAL GROUP TO TALK ABOUT SOME WAYS THAT WE COULD HELP PUSH THROUGH A FISCAL PLAN. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WORKED VERY HARD WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN 1999 TO GET A PLAN THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE. WE DID, WE CAME UP, IT WAS SUPPORTED BY YOURSELF AND OTHERS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU VOTED THAT THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A VOTE ON USING PERMANENT FUND EARNINGS. SO WE WORKED TOGETHER ON THAT. IT DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH. IT WAS VOTED DOWN. SO THE NEXT PLAN THAT CAME THROUGH, I ALSO WORKED ON THAT AND IT ENDED UP WITH A PLAN THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY BOTH REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND DEMOCRATS TO PUT FORWARD AN AMENDMENT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL, FOR A STATE INCOME TAX. BOTH YOU AND I HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED SEVERELY BY'#zj THE OTHER OPPONENT AT THIS TABLE FOR COMING UP WITH A PLAN. BUT THE FACT IS, WE DID COME UP WITH A PLAN AND IT WASN'T THE GHOST OF BILL EGAN. IT WAS TONY KNOWLES WORKING WITH YOU TO GET IT DONE.
01:20:08	>>	30 SECONDS.
01:20:10	>>	WELL, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER AT ONE OF THE LONGEST DAYS OF THE FISCAL POLICY CAUCUS, BIPARTISAN GROUP WE PUT TOGETHER, I TURNED TO ONE OF MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES, YOU HAD BEEN AWOL, ABSENT WITHOUT LEADERSHIP. I SAID WHERE IS GOVERNOR KNOWLES SNOW SAID DON'T ASK ME, I HAVE BEEN HERE SIX YEARS AND THE GUY HAS NEVER BEEN TO MY OFFICE. YOU KNOW WHAT --
01:20:29	>>	WEIGHTS HIS NAME?
01:20:32	>>	ETHAN BERKOWITZ. GOVERNOR KNOWLES, I REMEMBER THAT EVENING IN MARCH OF 200 1, I ALSO REMEMBER AN EXCHANGE WHERE SOMEBODY CRITICIZED YOU FOR NOT SIGNING THE BILL AND NOT WORKING WITH THE STATE SENATE WHEN THE BILL CAME OVER FROM THE HOUSE THAT DID NOT REQUIRE A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE. YOU SAID IN YOUR OWN WORDS, NO GOVERNOR HAS EVER BEEN ELECTED IN THE STATE OF ALASKA WITHOUT PROMISING A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE TO USE PERMANENT FUND EARNINGS.
01:20:52	>>	TO BE FAIR, MR. KNOWLES HAVEnS/ IF YOU FOLKS ALSO WANT A 15 SECONDS, I'LL GIVE TO IT YOU. MR. KNOWLES.
01:20:59	>>	WELL, I'M SORRY, ANDREW, THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT WORDS IN THAT ETHAN BERKOWITZ'S MOUTH. ETHAN BERKOWITZ NEVER SAID SUCH A THING, IT'S NOT TRUE. LET'S UP THE LEVEL OF THIS CONVERSATION. I KNOW IT'S DOWN TOWARDS THE LAST WEEK OF THE CAMPAIGN, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES RATHER THAN TRYING TO PUT BLAME AND FALSE STORIES ON PEOPLE.
01:21:20	>>	MS. PALIN, YOU WANT TO ENTER THIS? 15 SECONDS.
01:21:23	>>	GLAD I'M SITTING HERE IN-BETWEEN THEM TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T GET OUT OF HAND.
01:21:30	>>	THAT'S MY LINE.
01:21:31	>>	MR. LCRO, 15 SECONDS.
01:21:32	>>	IT DID HAPPEN. IT REALLY DID HAPPEN. WE WALKED TO THE FLOOR, TOOK SOME OF THE TOUGHEST VOTES THAT PUBLIC POLICYMAKERS WOULD EVER MAKE. IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS PROGRAM FROM BEAR TO KETCHIKAN, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THAT THE PROBLEMS IN THIS STATE HAVE BEEN DUE TO LACK OF FISCAL STABILITY. THE FACT IS FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, MY FOUR YEARS, GOVERNOR KNOWLES VERY RARELY ENGAGED. 99 VOTE, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE BRIAN PORTER HAD TO CALL HIM AND TELL TO HIM CALL US BACK IN TO SPECIAL SESSION SO WE COULD RESUME DISCUSSIONS.
01:22:04	>>	I'M AFRAID WE NOW HAVE TO WRAP THINGS UP WITH JUST ONE MORE QUESTION AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO LARRY TO ASK IT AND WE WILL GIVE YOU 20 SECONDS TO RESPOND TO IT.
01:22:13	>>	GET ALONG FOR THE LAST QUESTION. THAT IS MS. PALIN, YOU'RE ELECTED GOVERNOR. WOULD YOU HIRE YOUR OPPONENT'S FOR A STATE JOB? IF, SO FOR WHAT JOB.
01:22:22	>>	ANDREW HALCRO WOULD BE THE MOST AWESOME STATS DECISION THAT THE STATE COULD EVERY EVEN LOOK FOR. HE WOULD BE GOOD. ANDREW WOULD BE THE STATS DECISION.
01:22:33	>>	WOULD YOU HIRE MR. KNOWLES FOR A JOB?
01:22:36	>>	DO THEY NEED A CHEF IN JUNEAU? I KNOW THAT IS WHAT HE ENJOYS DOING. I SAW THE PROFILE, I KNOW HE'S REALLY GOOD AT THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF HE WOULD BE WILLING TO COME TO JUNEAU TO WORK FOR SARAH PALIN.
01:22:47	>>	MR. KNOWLES, WOULD YOU HIRE MS. PALIN OR MR. HALCRO?
01:22:51	>>	I DON'T HIRE ANYBODY TILL I GET HIRED. ASK ME THAT NOVEMBER 7.
01:22:55	>>	MR. HALCRO.
01:22:56	>>	I'M SURE I COULD FIND A PLACE FOR BOTH TONY AND SARAH.
01:23:00	>>	WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY WHERE?
01:23:02	>>	PROBABLY AT THE KIDS TABLE AT THANKSGIVING DINNER. NO, YOU KNOW, I THINK CERTAINLY IF NOT OFFERING THEM A POSITION, I THINK IF I'M ELECTED GOVERNOR I WOULD CERTAINLY DRAW ON THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THEIR IDEAS THAT THEY HAVE FORWARDED DURING THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
01:23:14	>>	THANK YOU. I'M AFRAID THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE. BIG THANK YOU TO THE CANDIDATES, PANELISTS, AUDIENCE, ABSOLUTELY THE CREW. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th, IS ELECTION DAY. POLLS ARE OPEN FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 8:00 P.M. REMEMBER TO VOTE! I'M CHRISTOPHER CLARK. THANKS FOR LISTENING TO US. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. [APPLAUSE] CAPTIONED PERFORMED BY CAPTIVISION

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