NEWS: House Democrats Announce Leadership for 28th Alaska Legislature

Leadership team brings experience, new energy

ANCHORAGE – Today, Alaska’s House Democratic Caucus announced its leadership for the 28th Alaska Legislature and its commitment to continue to work toward oil taxes that earn a fair return for Alaskans, lowering energy costs across the state, and ensuring Alaskans have access to top-quality education.

Rep. Lindsey Holmes Enews Update: Voter Registration Deadline this Sunday!

If you want to make your voice heard by casting a ballot this November, please make sure to register to vote! The deadline to register to vote for the upcoming November 6th General Election is this Sunday, October 7th. There are many ways to register.

You can register online at http://www.elections.alaska.gov/ot.php by clicking on the Online Voter Registration Application Link.

You can print out a voter registration application from http://www.elections.alaska.gov/doc/forms/C03.pdf and submit it to the Division of Elections by mail, fax, or email at:
· Mailing Address: 2525 Gambell Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99503-2838
· Fax: (907) 522-2341
· Email: electionsr2a@alaska.gov

Rep. Holmes’ Newsletter: Wind Advisory for this Weekend!

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement for another high wind event in Anchorage this weekend! Although forecasts can always change, considering the winds that recently surprised the city, please make sure to do all that you can to prepare. The city has recently issued a statement to let folks know how to prepare. You can find the statement here, on the municipal website.

Keep in mind that if there is a medical or life threatening emergency, you should call 911.

NEWS: House Democrats Call for Firm Timelines on Pt. Thomson Development

Without work schedules, continued delay likely

JUNEAU – Today, nine members of the House Democratic Caucus called on the Department of Natural Resources to require firm timelines and work schedules before approving Exxon’s most recent Plan of Development for Pt. Thomson. In their official comments submitted today, the lawmakers said that without a timeline for Exxon to complete the work, this Plan of Development is likely to result in the same delay and inaction that has kept the resource undeveloped for over thirty years.

Rep. Holmes’ Newsletter: Assembly Taking Public Testimony on West Anchorage District Plan This Tuesday; Spenard Fire Station 5

For more than three years the Municipality has been working to update the West Anchorage District Plan. When adopted, this Plan will establish public policy and direction for growth in the West Anchorage area over the next 20 years.

The West Anchorage District Plan involves a number of issues, including zoning, parks, the coastal trail, and land use conflicts between the community and the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

Rep. Holmes’ Newsletter: Legislative Successes; Getting Kids Outdoors - Fighting Childhood Obesity

This month the Governor signed into law two bills I sponsored during the legislative session. These bills were aimed at two things at the core of my job as a representative: strengthening our economy and protecting Alaskans.

House Bill 269 will promote jobs here in Alaska. It updates our housing development laws to ensure that developments keep moving forward. HB 269 was widely supported by homeowners associations, banks and homebuilders in the state. Under the old law, if housing developments took too longer than anticipated to complete (a common occurrence given the recent real estate slowdown), they could be stopped entirely right in the middle of the project. The new law will help complete housing developments—that means jobs for Alaskans and a boost to our state’s economy.

NEWS: Rep. Holmes Bill to Bolster Alaska’s Housing Economy Now Law

“We need to take charge to guarantee Alaska’s housing market stays strong”

This afternoon, the governor signed HB 269, a bill by Representative Lindsey Holmes (D-Anchorage) that ensures housing projects in the state can keep moving forward.

Before this fix, an unintended glitch in state law could cause projects to stall out if their timeline ran a little too long. The obsolete provision was adopted in 1986 but has been updated nationally since 1994. HB 269 updates Alaska’s law to the national standard. The bill is widely supported by banks, trust companies, and homebuilders in Alaska.

Rep. Holmes Newsletter: Opportunity for public input on oil taxes!

Make your voice heard! Tomorrow, Thursday, April 26, the House Resources committee will be taking public testimony on the Governor’s oil tax reform bill starting at 9:00 am. If you would like to testify on this important issue, please go to the Anchorage Legislative Information Office at 716 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 200. To accommodate everyone, testimony may be limited to 2-3 minutes each. The bill currently being considered by the House is the Governor’s HB 3001. Click here to find additional information about the bill.

As always, please feel free to e-mail or call me in Juneau with your thoughts about oil taxes, or any other issues. I would love to hear from you!

Rep. Lindsey Holmes’ Newsletter: Special Session Update

Special session began last Wednesday. The House and Senate both made quick work of passing HB 359, addressing the problem of sex trafficking. It is on its way to the Governor’s desk for signature.

Both the House and Senate Resources committees began hearings last week on the Governor’s new oil tax bill, HB 3001. Based on the testimony of the Department of Revenue and experts working for the Legislature, the Governor’s new oil tax bill looks remarkably similar to his HB 110 from last year. The total estimated cost to the state is almost as much as in the old bill, and the biggest tax break in the new bill would not require any new industry investment or production. Despite hours of hearings in both the House and the Senate (including an all day Saturday hearing), there are still many unanswered questions about the bill.

Rep. Lindsey Holmes’ Newsletter: One Session Ends, Another Begins

Regular Session Ends on Day 90

The regular session wrapped up late Sunday night in a flurry of activity. Among the highlights are:

• A one-time increase in K-12 education funding to keep up with inflation. This also includes funding for Parents as Teachers, which encourages parents to get involved in their children’s education early on.