Rep. Tarr’s Newsletter: End of Session & Update on the Budget
April 17, 2016
A lot has happened over the last 7 days! While I wish I was writing you to say that we’ve completed our 90-day Session and will be heading home tomorrow, that is sadly not this case. As 5:00 p.m. rolls around there’s still a long list of bills to hear and vote for on the Floor, and it doesn’t look like we’ll be packing up and heading north tomorrow. Fortunately, several great things have happened during the unfinished Session:
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NEWS: The Late Rep. Max Gruenberg’s Final Bill Passes the Alaska Legislature, With a Little Help From His Friends
April 17, 2016
Juneau – Today, House Bill 147 passed the Alaska Senate by a unanimous vote. Earlier this month, the bill passed the Alaska House of Representatives, also by a unanimous vote. The bill was the brainchild of the late Rep. Max Gruenberg who passed away suddenly in February at the age of 72 while still in office. Rep. Liz Vazquez (R-Anchorage) sponsored HB 147, which does several things including allowing the well-being of pets to be considered by courts in divorce proceedings. Rep. Ivy Spohnholz (D-Anchorage) was appointed to the District 16 seat held by Rep. Gruenberg and she quickly became a co-sponsor of HB 147.
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NEWS: Alaska House Votes to Oppose the Sale of Frankenfish
April 16, 2016
Juneau – The Alaska House of Representatives voted unanimously Friday night in favor of House Joint Resolution 28 sponsored by House Resources Committee member Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage). HJR 28 puts the Alaska House on record opposing the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of a genetically engineered salmon being sold for human consumption. Additionally, the resolution urges Congress to enact legislation requiring genetically engineered products be labeled.
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NEWS: Severe Cuts Will Harm the University of Alaska and the Alaska Economy
April 14, 2016
Juneau — Today, Rep. Adam Wool (D-Fairbanks), whose district includes the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, released the following statement on the House and Senate Conference Committee action on the University of Alaska budget.
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NEWS: House Finance Committee Bypasses Budget Savings and New Revenue by Continuing Unsustainable Subsidies for the Oil and Gas Industry
April 8, 2016
Juneau – Tonight, the House Finance Committee passed out House Bill 247 sponsored by Alaska Governor Bill Walker. The version of the bill approved by the committee is substantially different than the version of the bill put forward by Governor Walker. The new version of the bill includes less than half of the savings anticipated in the original bill.
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