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Cruise ship initiative pits state against industry over signatures

By Bluemink, Elizabeth
Publication: Alaska Journal of Commerce
Date: Sunday, January 30 2005

The cruise ship industry's battle against a voter initiative to increase taxes and environmental scrutiny on Alaska's cruise lines intensified Jan. 18 when 14 tourism groups filed a lawsuit to block the initiative from the 2006 ballot.

The lawsuit filed against the state in Anchorage's Superior

Court accuses the Alaska Division of Elections of inadequately scrutinizing signatures collected during the cruise ship initiative drive last year.

The initiative proposes new taxes for the cruise ship industry, including a $50 head tax on cruise ship passengers. It also would require environmental observers on cruise ships.

At present, the city of Juneau is the only community in Alaska that charges a head tax on cruise ship passengers.

One of the plaintiffs in the suit - the North West Cruiseship, Association, representing nine major cruise lines claims the new taxes and regulation would damage tourism in Alaska. Shortly before filing suit, the group hired a former Secret Service agent to review the petition's signatures.

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Subject: Lobbying, Cruise lines
Location: Alaska
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