429 



Alaska. There will not be a slow-down because of our efforts. When 

 I speak of changing the rules, I am talking about the proposed can- 

 cellation of the 50-year contracts with Alaska Pulp Corporation, 

 APC, and Ketchikan Pulp Corporation, KPC, that were agreed to 

 in the mid-1950s. 



Let us say two teams, APC/KPC and the Feds, decide to play a 

 game of baseball with the rules spelled out in advance. When the 

 game is half way over, an observing fan, environmentalist, con- 

 vinces the umpires, elected officials, that a 50-year contract is not 

 fair and decide to change the rules by pitching the APC/KPC team 

 beach balls while the opposing team continues to be pitched base- 

 balls. Hardly fair, is it? How can we, as business people, make long- 

 term decisions with these demands to change constantly hanging 

 over our heads? We have been to the bargaining table several 

 times, settling with compromises. How many times does it take? If 

 we are going to renegotiate, let us go back and reopen all the com- 

 promises. 



Let me say here and now that I will join the first group in any 

 lawsuit filed over the cancellation of these 50-year contracts. 



Our Federal Government is notorious for identifying situations 

 that someone has identified for change, and overreacts, over-identi- 

 fies, and then over-legislates to correct it in their eyes. Our recent 

 income tax revision is a prime example of this type of reaction. 



I find it very difficult to understand, as I am sure others do, that, 

 if S.346 was such a good idea, why was it not proposed by one of 

 Alaska's own elected officials? They have over 42 years of com- 

 bined experience in serving our great state. I strongly believe that 

 those supporting Tongass timber reform have little or nothing to 

 lose. I believe further that the vast majority of those people do not 

 even live in this area. Why do others outside of Alaska keep pro- 

 posing what is best for us? 



I encourage each and all Senators to oppose S. 346 and to support 

 Senator Murkowski's S. 237. 



Thank you. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you very much. 



Elaine Sunde. 



STATEMENT OF ELAINE SUNDE, PRESIDENT, RETAIL 

 MERCHANT'S ASSOCIATION OF SITKA 



Ms. Sunde. My name is Elaine Sunde. I am testifying as presi- 

 dent of the Retail Merchants' Association of Sitka. I think that was 

 identified when I submitted my name, but it got lost and I do not 

 mind. 



I have a statement here that describes our retail business com- 

 munity, but if you had a chance to walk around, you already know 

 what it is like. It is very small and locally owned. Three-quarters of 

 our businesses in our downtown area are either owned and operat- 

 ed by women alone or operated and owned by men and women 

 working together. 



Being particularly characteristic of our retail business communi- 

 ty puts us in a very unusual situation. Senator Wirth. We are a 

 part of the people that are concerned that the sky may be falling 

 and I guess I feel some concern with that metaphor because if it is. 



