Note from Rep. Gara: The Unspecial Session: A Solution Requires A Radical Political Concept - Talking Without Lines In The Sand. And An Engaged Governor.
I’ve done my best these past two weeks to share what I learned as an attorney who started my career on a very contentious case – representing the State in its civil prosecution of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill case. Sticking your heels in the mud and drawing lines in the sand doesn’t end disputes – this one’s over the budget. We settled the state’s case with Exxon for $1 billion in 1991 – though the major damages were suffered by individuals who brought their own cases – and by not talking Exxon used its obstinance and power to drag that case out for two decades.
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Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: A Special Session Solution
Today is the 12th day of the special session, with no discernable movement from last week’s status (see last week’s newsletter). Yesterday in a press conference, the Alaska House Democrats set out a path for a common-sense solution to end the special session. We believe this would require a little give and take from all the parties involved and would result in the Legislature being able to get the job done.
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Rep. Doogan in Juneau: Special All Talk, No Process Edition
Government by Press Conference
There’s been a lot of talk about process in the Capitol the past two weeks. In case you’ve missed it, and you very well might have, legislators are still down in Juneau, trying to figure out if we’re going to have a budget next year. So far we’ve been at that for 12 days of special session, and we’re pretty much right where we started.
Maybe that’s because everybody is talking about process, mostly in dueling press conferences and interviews, but nobody seems to actually be applying a process.
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Berta’s Briefings from Rep. Gardner: But Is It Constitutional?
During this morning’s House floor session we rolled through the calendar:
· Messages from the Governor? None.
· Messages from the other body? None.
· Any new legislation? None.
· Anything on the daily calendar? None.
One of my colleagues expressed the feeling we all share when he commented “This feels like Groundhog Day”.
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Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Road Construction Alert 92nd to Academy Dr / Seward Underpass
A neighbor recently called my office with concerns about a portion of the 92nd Avenue Grade Separation project, which will lift the New Seward Highway above 92nd Avenue. Associated road work would add on/off ramps onto 92nd, rebuild frontage roads and change traffic flow in nearby neighborhoods. Pedestrian routes and some homes in Southwood Manor would also be affected.
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