|
Alaska Travel Industry Association
Position on
Ballot Measure #2- the Anti-Tourism Ballot Initiative:
How would you like being forced to reveal your pricing structure to the public and to your competitors?
Do you think predatory attorneys should have the green light to file frivolous lawsuits in order to collect 50% of any fines they can convince a jury to impose?
Do you think Alaska needs a whole new classification of state employees who get to ride cruise ships all summer long?
Oh, and do you think that a family of four won't worry about an extra $200 charge tacked onto their Alaska vacation?
On Tuesday, August 22, 2006 Alaska voters will answer these questions with their vote for or against Ballot Measure #2 - the anti-tourism initiative. We need your help to defeat this attack on our industry:
First - and most importantly we need each and every Alaskan working in the industry to go to the polls and vote in the primary election on August 22. And, to do that, we need to make sure that they are registered to vote before the deadline of July 23. If you or your employees are not going to be at home on August 22 make sure to request and return an absentee ballot - every vote is critical!
Second - we need you to talk to your friends, business associates and neighbors about why this isn't just a cruise ship head tax, it's legislation designed to cripple the tourism industry. When Alaskans learn the facts about all the anti-business goodies the initiative's sponsors loaded into this ballot measure they get it - they realize that this will be bad for Alaska.
It's not about making Joe and Mary Tourist pay for Alaska's government services: it's really about making Alaska businesses reveal their pricing structure; it's about opportunistic attorneys getting big $'s; it's about adding redundant environmental regulation and a new state bureaucracy to manage those regulations - without providing any benefit to Alaska's environment; it's about punishing an industry that brings nearly 2.4 billion dollars and 31,000 jobs to Alaska's economy; and finally, it's about Joe and Mary having less to spend at your business on their Alaska vacation.
Below you'll find links to resources including voter registration forms and absentee ballot request forms as well as materials you can use to educate yourself and your employees about the issues. I'd particularly like to direct your attention to the "Fast Facts" envelope stuffer we've designed it for you to print, cut into thirds and stuff into envelopes with paystubs, bill payments or invoices - it's an easy way for you to help get out the facts about ballot measure 2.
We know that it's summer - you're busy and don't have time to mess around with trivia. However, Ballot Measure 2 isn't trivial - it will impact the industry and most likely your bottom line. We'll be working to defeat it, but we'll fail without your help: please make sure to vote on August 22, and in the meantime, help us spread the word. We wouldn't ask if it wasn't important.
AlaskaTIA Government Relations Committee:
Brett Carlson – Chair
Charlie Ball, Roark Brown, Bob Dindinger, Ken Dole, Don Habeger, Patti Mackey, Bonnie Quill, John Shively and Stan
Stephens – Members
Gary Odle & Ron Peck – Ex Officio
|
