Note from Rep. Gara: “Why I Didn’t Go On Any Legislative Trips This Summer” Newsletter
I’m proud that I’ve been frugal with your money. I’ve run the lowest cost office in the Legislature for many years, and in other years I’ve barely missed being the lowest cost office to an even cheaper legislator. Though in fairness, office costs include travel to Juneau for the Legislative Session, and Legislators from parts of rural Alaska have to ship their personal belongings to Juneau every year. They can’t avoid having much higher travel costs than someone who lives in Anchorage.
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NEWS: Democrats Disappointed GOP Leadership Bypassing Budget Savings
ANCHORAGE – Tuesday, the Chairman of the Alaska Legislative Council officially signed binding legal agreements with two law firms to continue a lawsuit against Alaska Governor Bill Walker over his decision to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid eligibility in Alaska. By signing the larger of the two contracts, the Alaska Legislature must immediately pay $100,000 to a Washington D.C. advocacy law firm.
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NEWS: Back to School Laptop Drive Aims to Increase Foster Youth Success
ANCHORAGE – Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA) are launching a “Back to School” laptop donation drive for foster youth. The Laptops for Foster Youth effort works to match gently used and new laptop computers with the over 2,500 foster youth in Alaska. To date, over 600 new and used laptop computers have been matched with foster youth since Rep. Gara and Amanda Metivier of Facing Foster Care in Alaska began this community effort.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Finally! A Coastal Trail Bridge, Equal Rights Ordinance Testimony & Happy News On Parks
You’ve asked. We have the answer. This first news item goes in the “I can’t believe it’s actually going to happen” category. We’ve been told the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail bridge that collapsed last summer when a VERY heavy maintenance truck drove over it is finally going to be ready to walk, bike, ski, or run over. New Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has pressed for quick action on this, and it is scheduled to be completed by October 19, and possibly as soon as October 14.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Call Off $100,00 Medicaid Law Firm Signing Bonus
Today Rep. Sam Kito III and I called on those suing the Governor over Medicaid Expansion to save the state money, in a few ways.
First, as you know, I think spending $450,000 on a lawsuit instead of passing the pending Medicaid Expansion & Reform bill (which would result in $330 million in budget savings over just the first six years) is imprudent. It’s hiring lawyers to dig a deeper budget hole
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