NEWS: Kawasaki introduces legislation to lower energy costs with state royalty oil and gas
January 9, 2013
Bill would prioritize the sale of royalty oil to be used in state
JUNEAU - Representative Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) pre-filed legislation (HB 38) to help lower in-state energy costs by giving priority to the sale of Alaska royalty oil and gas to be used for in-state energy production.
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NEWS: Time To Diversify Alaska Economy: Democrats Filing Bill To Encourage New Alaska Business
December 27, 2012
(ANCHORAGE) – Today Democratic legislators announced they were pre-filing legislation this coming week to help diversify Alaska’s resource-dependent economy, so that job opportunities can be created in new areas, in addition to resource jobs.
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NEWS: Democrats Push to Lower Student Loan Burden for Alaskans
December 20, 2012
Measure cuts high loan rates for Alaskans who remain in or return to Alaska
JUNEAU – Today, seven Democratic legislators announced they will pre-file legislation to reduce the high cost of student loans for Alaskans who stay in or return to Alaska. “It is telling that you can get a 2.75 percent interest rate for a used car loan, but pay upwards of 6.5 to 8 percent for job training and college loans in Alaska,” said Rep. Les Gara. Lowering the cost of education and job training for Alaskans helps both students and the state by reducing costs to Alaskans and giving all Alaskans who want to open new career doors the incentive to help improve Alaska’s economy.
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NEWS: 3rd Annual Holiday Laptops for Foster Youth Drive - Improving One Life At A Time
December 18, 2012
(ANCHORAGE) – Today Rep. Les Gara and the foster care group, Facing Foster Care In Alaska (FFCA), are launching the third annual Laptops for Foster Youth Holiday Drive. Over the past two years this drive has resulted in approximately 200 matches for youth. “Laptops are crucial to helping youth improve their chances of success in school, and establishing normalcy in very disrupted lives of youth who often have very few material possessions,” said Gara, a former foster youth whose father was killed when he was 6.
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NEWS: Democrats Question New Revenue Projections
December 6, 2012
Enormous implications mean new assumptions need more scrutiny
JUNEAU – Today, House Democrats raised concerns about the methodology and timing of the Parnell Administration’s new revenue projection model and asked Department of Revenue Commissioner Bryan Butcher to release to the public more details about its latest income projections. House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau) met with Commissioner Butcher and his staff this week to discuss the new report, but she was not satisfied with the explanations she received.
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