Rep. Guttenberg’s Legislative Report: Public Testimony, Operating Budget
We are half way through the 2012 Legislative Session. What happens in the next 45 days is crucial to many Alaskans. In the Interior, we need energy relief, jobs and education funding. I will continue to work on issues important to the Interior.
Public Testimony: Operating Budget
The House Finance Committee will take public testimony this week on the FY13 Operating Budget. The operating budget contains funds for the cost of state government, the University, and programs across Alaska.
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Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: Native Language Council Plus: Budget Testimony Opportunity
Yesterday marked the half-way point for session. Things are starting to heat up and more attention is being focused on the big issues – education, budget and oil and gas taxes. This week you’ll have the opportunity to testify on the operating budget (more information below).
I also want to share with you an important piece of legislation designed to revitalize and support Native languages in Alaska. This week’s hearing on the bill provided some of the most inspiring and touching testimony I’ve heard in the Legislature.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. I appreciate hearing from you, so please stop by my office, call, write or email.
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Rep. Doogan in Juneau: SPECIAL RAGING AGAINST THE MACHINE EDITION
To Tell the Truth
We had big fun in the House of Representatives Wednesday.
First, we listened to a speech by the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. I have lots and lots respect for the chief justice – especially since a guy never knows when he might get hauled in front of the court – but I have to say that the hour-long speech might have been just a skosh longer than my attention span. But then I’ve never been accused of having the longest attention span anyway.
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Berta’s Briefings from Rep. Gardner: A Pipeline to Poverty?
I think we all want to find a way to harness our state’s natural gas to help Alaskans with high energy costs as well to take our natural resources to market. Unfortunately, a bill which just passed the House Resources Committee – with the stated goals of bringing gas to Alaskans as quickly as possible and as cheaply as possible – has identified the right problems and found a very expensive and wrong solution, which is likely to do the opposite of what it intends.
House Bill 9 puts the Alaska Gasline Development Agency (AGDC) in charge of building a small gas pipeline to bring gas from the North Slope to the Railbelt, including Anchorage, of course.
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Rep. Miller’s District 7 Interior Update: Oil Taxes Back in the Forefront
Hello from Juneau, and Happy Leap Day! The 2012 Legislative Session is in full swing, and here is a brief rundown of some of the things I’ve been working on.
The Oil Tax Debate
Just like last year, the debate over oil taxes has gripped the Alaska Legislature. Governor Parnell continues to push for support of his House Bill 110, which would give oil companies a $2 billion dollar tax break, with the hopes it will spur more investment. I voted against this giveaway last year, and I am glad the Senate has taken a stand against it this session.
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