JUNEAU— Today, the Alaska House of Representatives unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 7 proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Child abuse is at epidemic levels in Alaska, which currently ranks among the top 5 states for the rate of child abuse. HCR 7 is sponsored by Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage).
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JUNEAU- Today, the Senate Resources Committee unanimously moved House Bill 70 out of committee. The bill, sponsored by Representative Adam Wool (D-Fairbanks), seeks to expand the Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge in the Fairbanks area by adding four state-owned parcels.
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Last week the Senate passed additional major cuts to public school teachers, job counselors and education staff. Last year I and others tried to amend a three-year “education” plan that required educator cuts in many districts, and that was made worse last month when the Republican-led House Majority passed a budget deleting $32 million in promised education funds. Things got worse Friday when the Republican-led Senate hit schools with yet an additional $47 million in cuts. I believe in smart budget cuts, but not cuts with a bludgeon, or cuts that harm educational opportunity for the next generation.
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The legislative session is starting to pick up pace now that there are only 16 days left in the 90-day session. The operating budget was voted on by the Senate today and soon the House and Senate will choose their conference committee members to work out the differences. One of those differences is the funding of education, which is discussed below along with some important information regarding the Anchorage Municipal elections.
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The legislative session has picked up the pace as we near the home stretch. With less than a month left, the House is holding Floor sessions nearly every day. The operating budget will be a big focus as we close in on the end of session, but since there is a lot of information out there already (see “Fiscal Reality with David Teal” and “As the Alaska Legislature makes cuts”), I’d like to focus my comments on something even MORE engrossing: audits.
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