Governor Sarah Palin, seen here with Soldotna Rep. Kurt Olson, signs HB 78 “Extending the Board of Public Accountancy” into law at the Kenai/Soldotna Chambers of Commerce Luncheon on June 16, 2009.
Governor Sarah Palin, seen here with Kenai Peninsula lawmakers Rep. Kurt Olson and Speaker Mike Chenault, addressed the Kenai/Soldotna Chambers of Commerce at a luncheon on June 16, 2009. The Governor signed five bills into law, and announced her pick for Alaska’s attorney general.
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin [on June 16, 2009] signed five house bills in Soldotna (Five Bills, 2009, ¶1). The first piece of legislation — House Bill 93 — will outlaw unwanted telephone solicitations to cellular phones. The bill was signed at a joint luncheon meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce (Five Bills, 2009, ¶1).
House Bill 93, sponsored by House Speaker Mike Chenault, adds mobile phones to the “unlawful, unwanted telephone advertisements and solicitations” section of state law. Mobile phone users not wishing to receive solicitations will have the added protection of state law (Five Bills, 2009, ¶2).
The Governor also signed four other bills into law, including House Bill 221, which allows the state to participate in the federal Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry. This will bring the state in compliance with this portion of the Secure and Fair Enforcement of Mortgage Lending Act of 2008. HB 221 will give borrowers greater protection from unscrupulous lenders. It was sponsored by Soldotna Representative Kurt Olson (Five Bills, 2009, ¶3).
House Bill 78 is sponsored by the House Labor and Commerce Committee, which is chaired by Representative Olson. The bill extends the Board of Public Accountancy from 2009 through June 30, 2013. The seven-member board regulates and controls applications, licenses, and permits of the accounting profession (Five Bills, 2009, ¶4).
House Bill 175, also sponsored by the House Labor and Commerce Committee, will streamline Alaska statutes to bring them in greater compliance with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners standards. HB 175 will in part allow the director of the Division of Insurance to suspend a license when needed for the protection of the public, provide greater confidentiality requirements and clarify how deposits of an insolvent insurer will be treated (Five Bills, 2009, ¶5).
House Bill 170, also sponsored by House Speaker Chenault, who represents Kenai and Nikiski, repeals the authority established for day fines. Day fines were established by the legislature in 1994, but never implemented. The fines were meant to impose punishment equally across economic levels by basing an offender’s fine on a calculation of his daily income. Establishing this calculation proved to be unachievable (Five Bills, 2009, ¶6).
Commentary
This blog author absolutely loves Governor Palin’s in situ bill signings, for they underscore and display her Transformational Leadership methodology. If only more elected officials followed her example of bringing the political process directly into the public square as she does. Once pictures are made available, they will be posted. This comes on the same day that Governor Palin appointed her new attorney general.
Analyzing the bills themselves — each one will result in some improvements in the lives of constituents — from stopping those annoying ads on cell phones, to making a dent in predatory lending, to protecting insurance policy holders, ensuring proper accountancy practices and repealing unenforceable legislation.
This outcome occurs when the executive and legislature work together to produce a desired result. But, it’s the executive who signs the bills into law and as such they are her accomplishments.
References
Governor Palin signs House bills
at Kenai and Soldotna chamber luncheon. (2009, June 16). State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved June 16, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1905
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