Bill Protecting Public Access To Fishing Streams Passes Legislature
Today Representative Les Gara’s legislation to ensure future public access to Alaska’s fishing streams, House Bill 144, passed the Senate. It now goes to the Governor. The bill passed the House last year with a vote of 38 Yeas, and today passed the Senate by a vote of 20 to 0.
“We want to protect fishing stream access for this and the next generation. In other states you have to pay access fees, into the thousands of dollars, to fish a stream. We don’t ever want that to happen in Alaska,” said Rep. Les Gara (D-Anch.), an avid fisherman and fishing writer. The legislation will inexpensively promote access to important fishing streams by encouraging voluntary land trades or purchases with willing landowners so Alaskans have public easements to travel to and along fishing streams that will otherwise be lost over time.
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Legislation to Ban Unlimited Corporate and Union Election Spending Passes Committee
Today legislation calling for an end to unlimited corporate and union election spending passed the House State Affairs Committee.
“Unlimited spending by corporations and organizations to influence elections drowns out the public’s voice, and damages the basic democratic priniciple of one person one vote,” said Prime Sponsor of HJR 33, Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage). The legislation calls on the United States Congress to pass a constitutional amendment reversing the controversial 2010 Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court, which reversed decades of precedent allowing states and Congress to ban corporate and Union “independent expenditures” by third party groups seeking to influence election outcomes.
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Rep. Tuck Introduces Bill to Allow Witnesses to Airport Security Pat-downs
“Having a witness at private pat-down searches will prevent inappropriate procedures”
JUNEAU - Today, Representative Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage) introduced legislation (HB 348) to allow travelers to request that a witness be present during private pat-down airport security searches.
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Democrats’ Resolution Calls on Governor to Opt-Out of No Child Left Behind
“The federal program has never worked for Alaska. It’s time we set our own standards”
JUNEAU – Today, Rep. Bob Miller and three other Democrats in the Alaska House of Representatives introduced a resolution (HJR 39) calling on the state of Alaska to opt-out of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program and to develop its own Alaska-appropriate education standards.
“No Child Left Behind was a federal mandate that never worked for Alaska,” said Rep. Miller. “It’s time we develop our own Alaska-appropriate standards and get out from under this federal program that set too many of our schools up to fail.”
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Rep. Petersen Bill Would Allow Repayment of Energy Upgrades on Utility Bills
Bill would make it easier for Alaskans to pay off loans for upgrades that lower their energy bills
JUNEAU – Rep. Pete Petersen introduced legislation this week to allow Alaskans to pay off home energy upgrades with the savings they earn on their utility bills from the improvements.
“With energy costs as high as they are these days, we need to do everything we can to make it easier for Alaskans to make their homes more efficient and lower their energy bills,” said Rep. Petersen.
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