Rep. Claman’s Newsletter: House Focuses on Budget
February 12, 2016
The House voted this week to suspend non-budget related committee hearings. This move allows us to focus on budget topics. Budget subcommittee meetings have been extended and the House Finance Committee is meeting daily. Yesterday, the Finance Committee hosted a “Budget 101,” which is a helpful resource to understanding budget documents. I will keep you as informed as possible as we go through the next few weeks on opportunities for public testimony and other community events.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Closing Gaping Corporate Tax Loophole
February 11, 2016
Today I submitted legislation to close a gaping loophole in Alaska’s corporate tax. My press release on this bill follows.
If we are to close a nearly $4 billion budget gap, the revenue we seek needs to be balanced. It can’t disproportionately hit those who have little when we have tax loopholes that benefit those who have the most.
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Rep. Drummond’s Newsletter: Roads, Budgets, and Puppies
February 10, 2016
Why did the chicken cross Spenard Road? It didn’t. It would have died. Spenard Road has long been a frustration for many people in our district. Trying to turn on to 27th Avenue to get to Bear Tooth can be a downright nightmare at times. Plans for reconstruction have been in the works for decades. It began as a traffic and safety project in 1999 and has been a long and often arduous process ever since. That is finally about to change.
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Rep. Tuck’s Newsletter: Fiscal Survey Results are Available Online!
February 4, 2016
You will soon be receiving a copy of the results to my recent fiscal policy survey in your mailboxes. I have also posted a link where you can view them online through this electronic newsletter.
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Rep. Drummond’s Newsletter: The Heat is On
February 3, 2016
The heat is on. The budget finance subcommittees are in full swing and bills are moving. Not to beat a dead horse, but the main issue this year is the budget, and we are currently reviewing the Governor’s proposal to change the Permanent Fund Dividend. Touching the PFD has traditionally been a political no-no. But historically we haven’t seen these kinds of deficits. Most Alaskans seem to agree that to solve the problem we are going to have to use a mix of new revenue, government cuts, and draws on Alaska’s savings accounts including the Permanent Fund earnings reserve. Exactly how much of each of those solutions we will draw on is the crux of the debate.
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