NEWS: Bill Protecting Public Access To Fishing Streams Sent to Governor
April 14, 2012
Today, the Speaker of the House sent Representative Les Gara’s legislation to ensure future public access to Alaska’s fishing streams, House Bill 144, to the governor for his signature. The bill passed the House last year with a vote of 38 Yeas and passed the Senate by a vote of 20 to 0 on February 27.
“I want to thank the Speaker for sending this bill to the governor and the legislative body for their support in protecting Alaskans’ access to fishing streams for this and the next generation. In other states you have to pay access fees to fish a stream, or are simply blocked from this public resource. We don’t ever want that to happen in Alaska,” said Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage), an avid fisherman and fishing writer.
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Legislature Grants Free Death Certificates to Families of Deceased Veterans
April 12, 2012
Rep. Gruenberg bill pays respect in time of mourning by reducing costs, easing red tape
JUNEAU – Today, the Alaska Legislature passed legislation allowing a surviving spouse, next of kin, or other relative of a deceased veteran to get up to four free certified death certificates of the deceased. Families often need a certified copies of a death certificate to process various benefits for which they are entitled as a result of their loss.
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Legislature Gives University Regents Process to Remove Members for Cause
April 12, 2012
Bill protects Board of Regents from adverse actions of individual members
JUNEAU – Today, the Alaska Legislature passed legislation creating a process for the University of Alaska Board of Regents to remove a regent for cause. The bill is a carefully crafted response to the unfortunate situation in 2007 where a regent refused to step down while being prosecuted for fraud.
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NEWS: Rep. Gara Again Calls for Answers from Port
April 12, 2012
The state needs to know if Port of Anchorage will keep coming back for more $$
JUNEAU – Today on the House Floor, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) again demanded the Port of Anchorage tell Alaskans whether it’s asking for $350 million as it now claims or $1.2 billion as it has as recently as November 2011. The Port project has been plagued with hundreds of millions of dollars in cost overruns.
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NEWS: House Democrats Mourn the Loss of Representative Carl Gatto
April 11, 2012
JUNEAU – Today, House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula released the following statement on behalf of the House Democratic Caucus in response to the passing of Representative Carl Gatto:
“We are truly saddened by the loss of Representative Carl Gatto. Carl’s friendship went beyond politics. He was an intelligent man who loved doing the people’s work in the Legislature. He never let passions over an issue interfere with his genuine respect for and kindness to his colleagues, constituents and anyone he came in contact with. We will miss his smile, kindness and humor, and our thoughts and prayers are with Cathy, his family and all who are mourning his loss today.”
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