Rep. Doogan in Juneau: SPECIAL TOO LATE TO DO MUCH DAMAGE EDITION
NOW The Work Has To Start?
As I have gotten older, my allergy to work has increased. Even in its advanced state, it’s true, my work allergy doesn’t rival that of my boyhood idol, Maynard G. Krebs, who had what looked, on television anyway, like he was having a grand mal seizure every time he heard the word “work”.
But still. The past week has been too much. Here’s a truncated account of the work I’ve done just in the powerful House Finance Committee.
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Who’s Keeping Your Fingerprints? Bill Would Make Sure You Know
Bipartisan bill introduced to protect Alaskans’ privacy from new biometric technology
JUNEAU – Today, Representative Berta Gardner (D-Anchorage) introduced bi-partisan legislation to protect Alaskans’ privacy from the increasing number of organizations collecting, requiring and selling citizens’ fingerprints, retinal or voice patterns, and other biometric information. Republican Representatives Neuman, Dick, Millett and Keller co-sponsored the bill (HB 233) along with Democratic Representatives Kerttula, Gara and Tuck.
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Legislature Designates November Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Rep. Petersen’s resolution will raise awareness of deadly disease
JUNEAU – Today, the Alaska Legislature passed a resolution naming November 2011 Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Rep. Pete Petersen introduced the legislation to raise awareness of the deadly disease after a constituent told him of her father’s difficult battle with pancreatic cancer and the relative lack of research and attention the disease gets.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Big Wins and Thank Yous on Medicare, Foster Care Bills
A big thanks to Senators Bettye Davis and Hollis French! This year we teamed up with them on our foster care and Medicare legislation. We filed our version on the House side, and they worked hard with us agreeing to file parallel pieces of legislation on the Senate side. Senator Davis has been a leader on children’s issues for a long time, and Senator French has emerged as a leader on getting more Alaskans health coverage. Oh. And thanks to my summer aide, and Facing Foster Care in Alaska Coordinator Amanda Metivier, for writing much of the foster care legislation; and to my aide Rose Foley for working hand in hand with me on this.
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Committee Rooms Closing Down; What’s Left To Do;
With a short, 90-day session, the Legislature is stumbling through the last few days with haste. It is at such a pace, that this email will be out-dated by the time you finish reading my notes. I’ll try to keep this message brief, but will also update you as things progress through these final days of session.
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