NEWS: Fiscal Crisis Prompts Common Sense Solution
JUNEAU— In the next fiscal year, the State of Alaska will be required to pay out $700 million in oil company tax credits while the state is projected to only take in $300 million in production taxes. That will result in a net loss of $400 million to the public. Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) and Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) have sponsored legislation to protect Alaska in times of depressed oil prices by adjusting the current production tax floor from 4% to 12.5%.
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NEWS: Twenty Days Left in Session - Still No Erin’s Law
JUNEAU – There are 20 days left in the first session of the 29th Alaska Legislature but there is still no movement on legislation that could help end the epidemic of childhood sexual abuse in Alaska.
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NEWS: Legislation to Honor Veterans with Combat Bravery Award License Plates Passes House State Affairs Committee
Juneau – Today, the House State Affairs Committee passed House Bill 61. The Legislation fixes a loophole in the law and honors those veterans who have demonstrated valor in combat while in the line of duty. Current law leaves out license plate designations for a number of important “valor in combat” medals.
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NEWS: Border Closure Between Hyder and Stewart, B.C. Prompts Visit by Rep. Dan Ortiz To Meet With Area Residents and Canadian Officials
Juneau - The Canadian Border Services Agency plans to close the border between Hyder, Alaska and Stewart, B.C. between midnight and 8 a.m. beginning April 1. CBSA cites cost as a main reason for the planned border closure. Currently, the border crossing is staffed 24 hours a day to allow residents and visitors to use the only road entry point into Hyder. District 36 Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan) plans to spend the next several days meeting with Hyder residents and Canadian officials in an effort to find a solution to the problem.
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NEWS: Thirty Day Countdown to End of Session - Where’s Erin’s Law?
Juneau - Saturday may be the first day of spring, but it also marks just thirty days until the end of the First Session of the 29th Alaska Legislature. While the legislature is sorting out many new issues, the legislation known as Erin’s Law still remains stalled. Erin’s Law was widely supported last session and is proven to prevent child sexual abuse. Erin’s Law would require public school districts statewide to offer child sexual abuse prevention curriculum.
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