Rep. Josephson’s Newsletter: The Education Session: What are we really talking about?
This year’s legislative session has been deemed the “education session.” Big topics include public school funding, vouchers, early education, and the High School Graduating Qualifying Exam. I am dedicated to ensuring our public schools get funding they can count on. I also think that is important to have an open, public conversation about education, and it is long overdue. I am very interested in hearing from you on these issues so please contact me with your questions and comments.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Threatening the People of Ketchikan: Can’t We All Get Along?
Class, welcome to the first day of Third Grade. Oops. I just got reality mixed up with, well, disturbing reality. As you may know, the Governor, and according to him, some unnamed Legislators, threatened they would deny infrastructure and other projects to the people of Ketchikan because the community filed a lawsuit against the state. See here. At least the Governor was honest.
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Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Alaska’s Finances Fall into Ruin while Oil Companies Make Blockbuster Profits
The final session of the 28th Alaska Legislature is well underway. As we wrestle with such issues as a constitutional amendment change to allow state funding of private schools, or whether Alaska should become an investment partner in a future gas pipeline, it is critical that we also stay focused on Alaska’s fiscal situation.
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Rep. Drummond’s Dispatch: Opening ceremonies, closing testimonies
Today, the House Education committee moved House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR1) out of committee. This resolution would ask Alaskans to vote on changing our state constitution to allow public funds to go to private and religious schools. The problem is that we have no idea what kind of fiscal impact it will have on our public schools because no one has revealed what a voucher system will look like.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Oil Tax Rollbaack: Documents Undermine “Million Barrels a Day” Promise
When does 370,000 equal 1 million? Only in politics.
Last year, to get the votes to roll back Alaska oil revenue by over $12 billion in the next decade, the Governor told voters they could expect a 100% increase in production by 2023 to “1 million barrels” of oil a day. Nice sound bite. Not accurate.
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