NEWS: House Democrats Praise Extension of Senior Benefits Program
August 7, 2014
House Democrats today praised the implementation of House Bill 263, extending the Alaska Senior Benefits Program through 2018. Sponsored by Rep. Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage), HB 263 was co-sponsored by 32 legislators in both houses, including Democratic Representatives Gara, Gruenberg, Guttenberg, Josephson, Kawasaki, Kito III, Kreiss-Tomkins, Tarr, and Tuck. The bill was signed into law yesterday.
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NEWS: Zero Value Oil Tax Provision Hidden From Legislature In 2013
August 6, 2014
Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) said today the public should know the Parnell Administration never revealed a special interest provision in Senate Bill 21 that nets Alaskans nearly no production tax value, or even a negative worth for Alaska’s oil. “Negative or zero oil tax value on all future oil fields, and all fields after 2003, was never once mentioned in a legislative hearing before SB 21 passed,” Gara, a House Finance Committee member, said.
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NEWS: Tuck Celebrates Distillery Bill Signed Into Law
August 6, 2014
Representative Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage, and House Democratic Leader) joined the Distillers Guild of Alaska yesterday to celebrate the passage of his House Bill 309. The measure allows Alaska’s small-scale distillers to host on-premises tours, offer tastings of their products, and engage in limited direct sales, as do Alaska’s breweries and wineries. A press conference and reception celebrating the bill’s passage was hosted by the Distillers Guild of Alaska Tuesday, August 5, at Anchorage’s Bare Distillery.
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NEWS: Rep. Tarr Applauds New Fairbanks Borough School Policy
August 6, 2014
Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) today welcomed the Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board’s unanimous adoption of “Erin’s Policy.” The measure directs the district to teach students techniques for recognizing and reporting sexual abuse, and train teachers and staff to recognize signs of abuse and how to respond to them. The Board approved the policy at their meeting Tuesday night.
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NEWS: Guttenberg Hails Veteran Cemetery Process
July 31, 2014
Representative David Guttenberg (D-Interior/Wade Hampton) today praised news that officials of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) signed a land sales agreement to dedicate 320 acres near Fairbanks as Alaska’s Interior Veterans Cemetery. A long-time advocate for an Interior cemetery, Rep. Guttenberg sponsored the 2005 bill designating the new facility and directing DMVA to construct it. That measure ultimately led to passage of a similar bill in 2009, sponsored by Senator Charlie Huggins (R-Wasilla), establishing the cemetery and creating the Alaska Veterans Cemetery Fund.
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