From the Desk of
Senator Johnny Ellis
Representing the neighborhoods of Campbell Park, College Village, Downtown, Fairview, Geneva Woods, Government Hill, Midtown, Rogers Park, Spenard, South Addition, Tudor and Waldron

e-mail: Senator_Johnny_Ellis@legis.state.ak.us
On the web at www.akdemocrats.org
Toll free: 1-888-330-3704

Dear Neighbor,
Compared to past years, this legislative session seems to be off to a very slow start. That's largely because the Murkowski administration is far behind and won't even introduce a budget until March 6th (December 15 was the legal deadline). All indications point to deep cuts in numerous public services. We will have to wait to see where he makes the cuts and who gets hurt.

I was very honored to deliver the official response to the Governor's State of the State address. Click here if you would like to read the response.

Last Wednesday Governor Murkowski invited me over to the mansion for lunch and conversation. I focused on my support of increased education funding and opposition to private for profit prisons. I reminded the Governor of his campaign promises on those subjects and told him I would work with him whenever possible and hold him accountable whenever necessary.

To achieve these goals I am sponsoring or co-sponsoring these bills:

Prime-Sponsor of the following bills:

• Senate Bill 17 Medicaid for Breast and Cervical Cancer
  · Extends a program to aid poor women for treatment of breast and cervical cancer
• Senate Bill 27 Tracking of Pesticide Use
  · Establishes a program to track commercial pesticide use in Alaska
• Senate Bill 28 Group Health Insurance for Private Groups
  · Allows businesses and non-profits to pool for health insurance for employees
• Senate Bill 33 Political Party Reporting Requirements
  · Requires reporting by political parties of "soft money" donations
• Senate Bill 34 Electronic Mail
  · Limits use of email to prevent consumers from getting "spam"
• Senate Bill 37 Adult Day Services Facilities
  · Addresses issues of safety and licensing for adult day care facilities and providers
• Senate Bill 52 Special Election for U.S. Senate Vacancy
  · Creates system for special election of a U.S. senator that is the same as for U.S. Representative
• Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 Children's Environmental Health
  · Acknowledges children's unique vulnerability to toxins and pollutants in our environment

Co-Sponsor of these bills:

• Senate Bill 3 Inflation Proof Foundation Formula
  · Requires an annual inflation adjustment of the base student allocation used in the formula for state funding of public education
• Senate Bill 4 Forward Funding for Education
  · Establishes forward funding account for education to ensure funds are available one year in advance of the fiscal year in which the funds will be spent
• Senate Bill 5 Psych. Evaluation/Treatment for Students
  · Creates standards for recommending or refusing psychotropic drugs or certain types of evaluations or treatments for children
• Senate Bill 9 Cleanup of Illegal Drug Sites
  · Requires properties used for manufacturing of illegal drugs be cleaned up before new tenants can move in
• Senate Bill 10 Education Funding: Instructional Component
  · Requires districts spend a minimum expenditure for the instruction component in a public school budget based on number of schools in a district
• Senate Bill 11 Foundation Formula Increase
  · Requires an annual inflation adjustment of the base student allocation used in the formula for state funding of public education
• Senate Bill 13 Insurance Discrimination by Credit Reporting
  · Prohibits discrimination in insurance rates based on credit rating or credit scoring
• Senate Bill 19 Group Health Insurance for Private Groups
  · Allows businesses and non-profits to pool for health insurance for employees
• Senate Bill 64 Credit Information
  · Requires certain consumer reporting agencies to provide individuals with certain information (credit report) without charge
• Senate Bill 65 Correctional Facility Expansion
  · Allows for expansion of public prison system by allowing Dept. of Corrections to enter into agreements with municipalities
• Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 Sobriety Awareness Month March 2003
  · Resolution naming March Sobriety Awareness Month and encourages agencies statewide to promote sobriety

Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you.

Best regards,

Senator Johnny Ellis

P.S. As always, it is my honor and privilege to serve you.