Alaskans should be able to vote on subsistence.

I support a constitutional amendment resolution be passed by the legislature and placed before the people of Alaska for them to decide this issue. If this is done the state would regain control of subsistence management. Alaskan interest groups could enter a dialogue in open public forums to resolve the unique concerns of each. This would guarantee Alaskans would be making these important decisions. Our congressional delegation has warned the legislature not to challenge this issue in federal courts or to bring this issue to congress before resolving it here in Alaska.

Senator Ted Stevens has said, "As far as the federal courts are concerned, whether we like it or not, in my judgment, they'll come down with an opinion that says this demonstrates we don't have the ability to manage fish and game consistent with the federal constitution." Senator Stevens has warned, "My fear is that if we are required as Alaska's congressional delegation to obtain enactment of legislation to deal with this, it means we will face the necessity of getting a bill through-- added to that bill will be several subjects. The closure of ANWR, the transition of the Tongass to a nonproductive timber area, we will lose our conventional access to federal lands..." Senator Stevens further states: "We will all lose, the state will lose tremendously if this issue has to come back at the federal government for action in the federal congress."

As your state senator I will make sure we build an Alaskan solution to subsistence to regain control of our resources to the federal government.

VOTE GREG MIDDAG FOR STATE SENATE.
RUNNING FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.