Posted:
July 17, 2019
Alaska Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy earlier this month used a line-item veto to terminate the Alaska Ocean Ranger program, which had been authorized to continue by a vote the state's legislature on May 14. The line-item veto eliminates more than 20 American seagoing jobs, which are filled each year by specially trained licensed marine engineers represented by American Maritime Officers.
Ocean Rangers will continue to work through the 2019 cruise season in Alaska, after which the program will end.
In Alaska, there are a total of 60 state legislators between the House of Representatives and Senate, and 45 votes are required in the state to override a line-item veto. Following his line-item vetoes of several elements of the state's budget approved by the legislature in May, Governor Dunleavy called for a special session of the legislature to convene at a middle school in Wasilla, Alaska.
More than 20 legislators chose to recognize Wasilla Middle School as the site of the special session, while 37 members of the state legislature convened at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. One legislator traveled to Juneau during the week and voted against overriding the line-item vetoes. The vote was 37-1 in favor of an override.
The governor's termination of the Ocean Ranger program became official at midnight July 13 when the deadline to override the line-item veto arrived while the state legislature remained unable to bring enough members to one location to achieve the minimum number of 45.
The Alaska Ocean Ranger program does not cost the state or Alaska taxpayers anything, nor does it have any effect on the state's budget. The program has been funded since its inception by a $4 per berth cruise passenger fee paid by the foreign cruise lines operating in Alaskan waters. According to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the fee generates an estimated $4.1 million annually, which pays for the program. Under the ballot initiative that created the program, the fee may continue to be collected and deposited in the state's coffer, but spending the money on any program other than the Ocean Ranger program is not permitted.
U.S. Ocean Rangers sail aboard foreign-registered and operated cruise ships with berths for more than 250 passengers while they are in Alaskan waters, and independently monitor operations involving vessel discharges, safety and environmental protection. Ocean Rangers also work to ensure that passengers and crew are protected from improper sanitation, health and safety practices.
The program provides Alaska with a reliable and valuable American inspection, monitoring and reporting system for foreign cruise lines, some of which have become notorious for violations of pollution regulations in other cruise markets.
The program was established by the approval of Ballot Measure 2 by Alaska voters and became law on December 17, 2006. Ballot Measure 2 included the $4 per berth cruise ship passenger fee.
This program is managed by the Commercial Passenger Vessel Environmental Compliance Program, which was created in 2001 to monitor cruise ships in Alaskan waters.
Alaska governor terminates Ocean Ranger program, eliminates American seagoing jobs
Alaska Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy earlier this month used a line-item veto to terminate the Alaska Ocean Ranger program, which had been authorized to continue by a vote the state's legislature on May 14. The line-item veto eliminates more than 20 American seagoing jobs, which are filled each year by specially trained licensed marine engineers represented by American Maritime Officers.
Ocean Rangers will continue to work through the 2019 cruise season in Alaska, after which the program will end.
In Alaska, there are a total of 60 state legislators between the House of Representatives and Senate, and 45 votes are required in the state to override a line-item veto. Following his line-item vetoes of several elements of the state's budget approved by the legislature in May, Governor Dunleavy called for a special session of the legislature to convene at a middle school in Wasilla, Alaska.
More than 20 legislators chose to recognize Wasilla Middle School as the site of the special session, while 37 members of the state legislature convened at the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. One legislator traveled to Juneau during the week and voted against overriding the line-item vetoes. The vote was 37-1 in favor of an override.
The governor's termination of the Ocean Ranger program became official at midnight July 13 when the deadline to override the line-item veto arrived while the state legislature remained unable to bring enough members to one location to achieve the minimum number of 45.
The Alaska Ocean Ranger program does not cost the state or Alaska taxpayers anything, nor does it have any effect on the state's budget. The program has been funded since its inception by a $4 per berth cruise passenger fee paid by the foreign cruise lines operating in Alaskan waters. According to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, the fee generates an estimated $4.1 million annually, which pays for the program. Under the ballot initiative that created the program, the fee may continue to be collected and deposited in the state's coffer, but spending the money on any program other than the Ocean Ranger program is not permitted.
U.S. Ocean Rangers sail aboard foreign-registered and operated cruise ships with berths for more than 250 passengers while they are in Alaskan waters, and independently monitor operations involving vessel discharges, safety and environmental protection. Ocean Rangers also work to ensure that passengers and crew are protected from improper sanitation, health and safety practices.
The program provides Alaska with a reliable and valuable American inspection, monitoring and reporting system for foreign cruise lines, some of which have become notorious for violations of pollution regulations in other cruise markets.
The program was established by the approval of Ballot Measure 2 by Alaska voters and became law on December 17, 2006. Ballot Measure 2 included the $4 per berth cruise ship passenger fee.
This program is managed by the Commercial Passenger Vessel Environmental Compliance Program, which was created in 2001 to monitor cruise ships in Alaskan waters.