WASHINGTON -- Alaska Sen. Frank Murkowski said he continues to push the Clinton Administration and congressional appropriators to accept a modified version of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) in end-of-session negotiations that are continuing today.

Murkowski, who Tuesday reached agreement with Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D N.M., ranking minority member of the Energy Committee, and House Resources Committee Chairman Alaska Congressman Don Young, and George Miller, the ranking minority member of the panel, on a compromise version of a CARA bill, said he is continuing efforts to win support for the six-year bill from the Administration and House-Senate budget negotiators who are attempting to reach agreement on a conservation plank to place in the Interior Appropriations bill for FY 2001.

Murkowski said he can not accept a counter proposal offered by Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., that would fund land acquisition efforts, but not include guaranteed funding for coastal impact aid, funding of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program (PILT), and money for state wildlife and game management programs.

"We are still deliberating the processes we feel should be adopted... I feel the appropriators¹ proposal is unacceptable. It is no different than what we face now, which is never getting funding for coastal assistance or full funding of PILT. If we taxpayers have to pay our taxes, the government should have to fully pay its Œtaxes¹ to local communities," said Murkowski, referring to PILT that provides aid to local communities based on the amount of non-taxable federal land they hold.

"The Administration seems willing to abandon the needs of cities and states for conservation funding in a frenzy to increase funds for increased federal land management,² said Murkowski.

Murkowski said supporters of CARA have compromised, agreeing to reduce a 15- year program to a six-year authorization of guaranteed funding, beginning at $1.8 billion, instead of the $3 billion per year originally proposed. The compromise would require $150 million of funding for the state-side portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, -- full-funding of $450 million a year not required until the fifth year of the program.

The compromise also started funding for coastal states at $610 million a year, not rising to $905 million until year five. It starts funding for wildlife management programs at $170 million, not rising to $350 million until the fifth year. It would require full funding for PILT and refuge revenue sharing starting next year.

Murkowski said he is not yet ready to say what action he will take should there be no agreement in budget negotiations over the CARA bill.

MEDIA NOTE: There will be a satellite feed of comments from the senator on CARA and on his efforts to gain the authorization of the Southeast Alaska power intertie. The feed will be from 1 to 1:15 p.m. ADT this afternoon on Telestar 6, transponder 8H, channel 8, downlink 3860. Note Telestar 6 is the satellite. Audio is available by calling 1-800-545-1267 then pressing 322. Digital audio is available on the web at: www.senate.gov/SRC/radio/murkowski.