Legislature Requests TSA Hearings in Alaska
Air travel, airport procedures of upmost importance to Alaskans
JUNEAU – Today, fifty-nine of sixty members of the Alaska Legislature sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs requesting hearings be held in Alaska on the often invasive procedures used by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).
“Alaskans depend on air travel more than most other Americans,” said Rep. Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage) who drafted the letter and gathered signatures from his colleagues in the State House. “The committee needs to hear from Alaskans about our unique concerns.”
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Op-Ed: Parnell’s Plan Still Needs Facts
The debate on the Governor’s proposal to roll back the state’s share of oil revenue by nearly $8 billion over the next five years has been political, not factual. It’s time we shared what we’ve learned in committee testimony so people can hear the facts.
There are smart ways to require more investment, and more oil production. If the state is going to offer tax reductions, we should get something in return – more jobs and more needed development. Isn’t that how you’d write a contract if you were going to give away $8 billion?
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House Acts to Protect Public Fishing Stream Access
Today, the Alaska House of Representatives passed HB 144 protecting access to Alaska’s favorite fishing spots. The bill, sponsored by Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage), would require the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to submit an annual report on its efforts to maintain and enhance public access to fishing streams.
“Protecting and enhancing public access to the hunting, fishing and recreational uses along the state’s waterways is of primary importance to many people and a wide variety of user groups,” said Ricky Gease, Executive Director of the Kenai River Sportfishing Association. “This legislation ensures that these areas will remain open for the public.”
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Note from Rep. Gara: Big Wins and Thank Yous on Medicare, Foster Care Bills
A big thanks to Senators Bettye Davis and Hollis French! This year we teamed up with them on our foster care and Medicare legislation. We filed our version on the House side, and they worked hard with us agreeing to file parallel pieces of legislation on the Senate side. Senator Davis has been a leader on children’s issues for a long time, and Senator French has emerged as a leader on getting more Alaskans health coverage. Oh. And thanks to my summer aide, and Facing Foster Care in Alaska Coordinator Amanda Metivier, for writing much of the foster care legislation; and to my aide Rose Foley for working hand in hand with me on this.
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Democrats Offer Oil Solution that Gets for Every Give
Proposal would set development and production benchmarks, help those who reach them
JUNEAU – Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) filed the Alaska Oil Production Enhancement Act designed to set production and development benchmarks and provide incentives for industry to meet them. The bill would extend the successful Cook Inlet exploration credits to the North Slope, add tax credits for developing new facilities to get oil from the well into the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, and provide new credits that only apply to development work done that is more than what a company did the previous year.
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