90 days later, we get marmots

Below you will find a press release, verbatim, exclaiming the passage of a piece of legislation.

Between the House and Senate, 440 bills were introduced during the past 90-day state legislative session. Of those, 60 were passed. Marmot Day made the cut.

It could be argued that we’re lucky another 380 laws, acts or holidays didn’t pass. But it begs the question: Which of the 380 bills that weren’t worthy of being enacted were less important than Marmot Day?

For kicks, we looked at a bill that didn’t pass muster this session:

HOUSE BILL NO. 138

01 “An Act relating to cruelty to animals.”

02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

03 * Section 1. AS 11.61.140(a) is amended to read:

04 (a) A person commits cruelty to animals in the first degree if the person

05 (1) knowingly inflicts severe and prolonged physical pain or suffering

06 on an animal; 07 (2) [WITH CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE, FAILS TO CARE FOR AN 08 ANIMAL AND, AS A RESULT, CAUSES THE DEATH OF THE ANIMAL OR 09 CAUSES SEVERE PHYSICAL PAIN OR PROLONGED SUFFERING TO THE

10 ANIMAL; 11 (3)] kills or injures an animal by the use of a decompression chamber;

12 or

13 (3) [(4)] intentionally kills or injures a pet or livestock by the use of

14 poison [; OR

15 (5) KNOWINGLY KILLS OR INJURES AN ANIMAL, OTHER 01 THAN AS PROVIDED IN (1) OR (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION, WITH THE

02 INTENT TO INTIMIDATE, THREATEN, OR TERRORIZE ANOTHER PERSON].

There’s more to this bill, but that’s crux of it.

Causing the prolonged suffering of an animal gets stuck in committee, but glorifying a rodent cleared all the hurdles.

Read all about it in the official release:

Mark your calendar:

Marmot Day is Feb. 2!

Juneau – The state of Alaska has a new holiday after Sen. Linda Menard’s Senate Bill 58, better known as the Marmot Day bill, passed the Legislature today.

Marmot Day will take place in Alaska each year on Feb. 2, and can be celebrated in many ways by schools, the Alaska Zoo and countless other groups.

Celebrating Marmot Day will embody the unique spirit of Alaska, and create a new tradition and symbol for residents and students alike.

Remember, nearly 20 percent of Alaska residents are students. Marmot Day will certainly be a great event to wrap lessons around for these kids.

Abundant all over Alaska, especially the Hatcher Pass area, marmots epitomize the wonderful nature we live in.

Rep. Bill Stoltze, R-Chugiak, carried the bill on the House floor for Sen. Menard.

“I am so appreciative to Rep. Bill Stoltze for his articulate, convincing and inspiring speech he gave in support of establishing Marmot Day in the state of Alaska,” Sen. Menard said.

On the floor, Stoltze expressed his support for the bill.

“I don’t care if I get ribbed for introducing this here,” Stoltze said, as he spoke of the bill’s origination and its special meaning to the Menard family.

Originally introduced by the late Sen. Curt Menard more than 20 years ago, Marmot Day has been a long standing piece of legislation waiting to be passed.

The Marmot Day bill does not establish a new “state animal.” Its purpose is to put a new tradition on Alaska’s calendar using “local hire.”

Sen. Menard is looking forward to joining all Alaskans in celebrating Marmot Day each February.