Last week, Representative Berta Gardner and I wrote an opinion piece about coastal management. The piece appeared in the Juneau Empire on Sunday, but I thought I’d send it to you just in case you missed it.
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Read More →“Alaskans elect us to be statesmen and women and to work together to resolve issues for Alaska’s benefit. That is not happening with coastal zone, and it hurts all Alaskans. The coastal zone program is essential if Alaska is to have any say in planning federal projects off Alaska’s coast. It’s past time for those holding the fate of the program, and the jobs of its 33 employees, in their hands to put their differences aside and enact a strong coastal management program for Alaska.”
Read More →On Saturday, May 14, the special session was adjourned, three days short of the constitutionally mandated 30-day time limit on special sessions. Two final issues were addressed in the last day – the capital budget and the Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP). A final version of the capital budget was passed, but legislation to extend ACMP failed. I’m disappointed and admittedly still angry at losing ACMP because I am worried about the affect it will have on coastal communities and the State in dealing with permitting on federal lands and federal waters.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. I enjoy hearing from you, so please stop by the office, call, write or email.
Read More →This week, the Legislature has been working on the final two items on the call for the special session – the capital budget and the extension of the Alaska Coastal Management Program. It looks like we’ll be done with special session tomorrow evening.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. I enjoy hearing from you, so please stop by the office, call, write or email.
Read More →Earlier today, the Senate Finance Committee passed out their version of the capital budget (SB 46), which will be on the Senate Floor tonight. The House has also introduced changes to the House version of the capital budget (HB 107). You have the chance to testify on those budgets tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. before the House Finance Committee on the fifth floor of the Capitol Building.
It’s unusual to have two different versions of the capital budget, but the House will probably put a lot of their changes into the Senate version and that will be the one that is ultimately passed. If you’re interested in a particular project, you may want to come and express your support to the committee.
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