ANCHORAGE – A funny thing happened when I was gone for vacation. At first it looked like legislators would come together and finally agree that we needed to end the overpriced Anchorage Legislative Office Building lease. Then they didn’t.
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ANCHORAGE – Last month, the Alaska Legislative Council voted to allow 45 days to potentially renegotiate the costs of the controversial Anchorage Legislative Information Office Building (LIO) in downtown Anchorage. Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) is concerned Republican leaders, who have repeatedly voted and stood against Democratic efforts to move from this space, might renegotiate a new contract that still costs far more than existing options. Rep. Gara wants the public to know how much one of the options would save so they can fairly evaluate any attempt to renegotiate this lease. A report by the non-partisan Legislative Research Division shows that moving to the Atwood State Office Building would be 80 to 90% cheaper than the current Legislative Information Office Building, which costs roughly $4.2 million a year. Whether moving to the Atwood Building would cut the costs by 80%, or over 90%, depends on how much space the Legislature leases. However, Rep. Gara believes the cost of any lease should be at least as low as moving to the Atwood Building.
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ANCHORAGE – Today, Alaska Governor Bill Walker unveiled an ambitious budget plan called “The New Sustainable Alaska Plan” that shifts much of the burden of paying for state government from the oil and gas industry onto the backs of hard-working, average Alaskans. The Governor’s proposal includes fundamental changes to how vital state services in Alaska are funded including new or increased taxes on income, fishing, mining, tourism, alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuel. The Governor’s proposal also makes drastic cuts to vital early education opportunities in Alaska and would result in significantly reduced Permanent Fund Dividends. The 13 members of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition thank Governor Walker for his leadership and the public process used to come up with the proposed budget plan but will insist that every proposed change be thoroughly vetted by the Alaska Legislature.
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I just wanted to take a moment to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a Happy Holiday Season – on behalf of myself and my wife Kelly.
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I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
I’d like you to know about our Holiday “Laptops for Foster Youth Drive”, which has become even more important with the alarming increase in the number of foster youth in Alaska, from less than 1,800 five years ago to over 2,800 today. The following press release lets you know about many ways you can help, from donating a laptop, to becoming: a foster youth mentor through a program we started at Big Brothers Big Sisters; a foster parent; or an adoptive parent for a foster youth.