Subsistence another special session

In an attempt to head off the Oct. 1 federal takeover of fish and game management in Alaska, the governor has called for the Alaska Legislature to meet in special session on subsistence beginning Sept. 22.

Local legislators say they are less than thrilled with the governors proposed amendment to the state constitution on the subsistence issue but at least some of them are adamant that this special session on subsistence not be a waste of state time and dollars.

There have been numerous special sessions on the issue in the past two decades, including placing the question on the 1982 general election ballot. There have been special sessions on subsistence almost every gubernatorial election year since then, including 1998, when Gov. Tony Knowles tried to put the question on that years general election ballot when the Legislature voted not to let the public vote on it. Thus, in all the special sessions on subsistence to date, nothing has been accomplished that would prevent the federal takeover this Oct. 1.

For this years special session, the governor is asking legislators to approve language very similar to the language he wanted on the 1998 ballot, only this time he wants it on the 2000 general election ballot. The 31-word amendment reads:

The Legislature may, consistent with the sustained yield principle, provide a priority to and among rural residents for the taking of fish and wildlife and other renewable natural resources for subsistence.

The key word is rural. Presently, Alaskas Constitution includes both urban and rural in its subsistence language. Federal law only addresses rural subsistence preferences, and it is this difference that could lead the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the federal Department of the Interior, to take over Alaskas fish and game management in October.

A number of legislators agree with the governors proposal, including Senate President Drue Pearce and House Speaker Brian Porter, both Anchorage Republicans.

The Frontiersman believes it is time to let the public vote on the governors proposal. We believe the issue has been discussed plenty in the past 20 years and this should be sufficient to inform the voting publics discretion on subsistence. Residents do not have to wait until the year 2000 to make their views known between now and Sept. 22, they should be contacting their respective legislators, urging them to let the public decide the issue by putting it on the ballot.