Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: EOS? Maybe not so… Why Does it Take So Long? Permanent Fund Tops $40-Billion!
April 17, 2011
As you may have already heard, the end of session is scheduled for Sunday at midnight. Right now, at 8pm, it looks very unlikely that the Legislature will finish the work that we need to do to adjourn. The budget, Susitna Dam energy issues, college scholarships and coastal environmental policy remain in play tonight. With so much work left to be done, it wouldn’t be right to adjourn without finishing our work.
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Kawasaki Introduces Bill to Protect Kids from Toxic Toys
April 14, 2011
Kawasaki Introduces Bill to Protect Kids from Toxic Toys Legislation to create a toxic toys watch list for parents and children Fairbanks – Representative Scott Kawasaki introduced legislation aimed at protecting children’s health from unnecessary and dangerous chemicals in everyday consumer and child products. The bill requires Alaska to adopt and publish a watch …
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Capital Budget Update; Time is Counting Down;
April 14, 2011
The Capital Budget is one of the last items to pass at the end of session. The budget contains all of the funds for construction of roads and buildings and special appropriations for one-time items requested by communities. This year, I focused on projects to improve the quality of life, improve energy availability and major state responsibilities including education and state infrastructure. The budget contains some of these important projects for the Fairbanks. The state received thousands of requests that total several billion dollars to 432 communities. Though they are all important to the someone, the Senate had to do a good job of cutting out all but the essential priorities.
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Legislature Requests TSA Hearings in Alaska
April 13, 2011
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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Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Committee Rooms Closing Down; What’s Left To Do;
April 6, 2011
With a short, 90-day session, the Legislature is stumbling through the last few days with haste. It is at such a pace, that this email will be out-dated by the time you finish reading my notes. I’ll try to keep this message brief, but will also update you as things progress through these final days of session.
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