Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: Coastal Management Program Ended, Plus: Juneau Fares Well in Budget Vetoes
July 1, 2011
At the end of an eventful week, there’s bad news and good news. First, the bad news. The special session that started on Monday this week ended with the House failing to pass an extension for the Alaska Coastal Management Program. The good news is that Juneau escaped relatively unscathed in the capital budget vetoes announced by the governor on Wednesday. More about both are discussed below.
Thanks for reading my newsletter. I enjoy hearing from you, so please stop by the office, call, write or email.
Read More →
Note from Rep. Gara: Special Edition: Goods and Bads of Yesterday’s Budget Vetoes
June 30, 2011
I hate writing letters two days in a row. But important things have happened two days in a row.
I thought you’d like a rundown of the Governor’s veto decisions. First, let me say that I saw unjustified pork in some of the projects, and thought the budget was too big, so I voted against it. I voted against a $3.2 billion budget, because we have priority services and a need for savings. On the other hand, I can’t fault many of those who voted for the budget. It included some important energy projects to reduce energy costs – projects I defended publicly. It included home energy efficiency upgrade funds (which I voted for as an amendment), and some other priorities I helped get in the budget. So I’d say this: The budget, in my mind, was too big. I agree with the Governor there. But I would have chosen different projects to veto.
Read More →
Rep. Doogan in Anchorage: SPECIAL BIG, BIG, BIG BUDGET EDITION
June 3, 2011
In case you missed it, here’s a Compass piece I wrote earlier this week.
State Budget, Spending Generate a Bunch of Exceptions
I don’t know if you’ve got enough money to be worth talking about. I don’t. But together, we — and every other Alaskan — have a pile of money. Not a Denali-sized pile, but nothing to sneeze at.
Read More →
Note from Rep. Gara: Pre-Saturday Rapture?!?!, Post-Unspecial Session Newsletter
May 20, 2011
You were probably as surprised as I was to wake up and find out there’s a guy in Florida who says the rapture will be tomorrow. I guess I always thought I’d get more notice before the end of the world.
I owe you a post-session e-news, and given what might happen tomorrow, I don’t think I have any more time to procrastinate on this. Though it would be nice to get more notice next time if this guy is wrong, like he was in 1994. I’d like to have my house and chores in order before an apocalypse. But I guess, so would everyone else.
Read More →
Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: Special Session Adjourned
May 20, 2011
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 →
