NEWS: Last Minute Assault on Public Education Hits School Children
Juneau – As the Second Session of the 29th Alaska Legislature reaches the constitutionally mandated end of session, lawmakers and advocates for a healthy K-12 public education system are reeling from a surprise cut to public education. On Tuesday night, the House and Senate Operating Budget Conference Committee slipped a $50 cut to the Base Student Allocation (BSA) into the proposed FY 2017 budget in violation of funding promised by state law.
Read More →
Note from Rep. Gara: Public Testimony Tomorrow: Oil Company Subsidy
Tomorrow the House Rules Committee, which normally does not hold hearings, is holding public and oil industry testimony on a new version of the Governor’s bill to reduce oil & gas company “tax credit” subsidies. The Governor’s original bill included a modest tax increase to generate needed revenue in his bill, and much of that has been eliminated in the Rules Committee version of the bill.
Read More →
NEWS: Pot Projected to Raise More Money than Flawed Oil Tax in the Near Future
Juneau – Projections from the Alaska Department of Revenue show that marijuana taxes, alcohol taxes, and hunting and fishing license fees will each raise more revenue than Alaska’s flawed oil production tax in two or three of the next four years. House Finance Committee member Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) says the projections are a clear indication that the Parnell-era oil tax law is broken and must be fixed.
Read More →
Note from Rep. Gara: Oil Tax & Subsidy Bill: Corporate Largesse, Much Fixing To Do. Oh, and One Good Bill For Kids
I’m tired. I’m working hard to smile and not let this thing called politics make me cranky. That’s to say, I hope this E-News update is written in at least marginally decent English. And I apologize I’ve been AWOL on newsletters recently! Here’s some good and bad and hopeful news on two important issues you may want to know about.
Read More →
NEWS: House Finance Committee Bypasses Budget Savings and New Revenue by Continuing Unsustainable Subsidies for the Oil and Gas Industry
Juneau – Tonight, the House Finance Committee passed out House Bill 247 sponsored by Alaska Governor Bill Walker. The version of the bill approved by the committee is substantially different than the version of the bill put forward by Governor Walker. The new version of the bill includes less than half of the savings anticipated in the original bill.
Read More →
