Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Legislative Progress Despite Stand-Off
May 7, 2011
As the Governor and House and Senate budget negotiators continue their impasse, I’m using the special session to advance concerns critical to Alaska’s energy needs.
While serving on the Special Committee on Energy, we have been working jointly with the Resources Committee to go over the energy projects listed in the Senate’s capital bill. We just finished almost twelve hours of hearings and are now working on our comments to forward to the House Finance Committee in anticipation bill arriving to the House soon.
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Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau News: Special Session Update
May 6, 2011
Today is day 19 of the special session. Progress was made during the past week with the passage of the operating budget. However, the capital budget, which has presented the most problems, still remains unresolved. Coastal Management also remains on the table.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. I enjoy hearing from you, so please stop by the office, call, write or email.
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Rep. Petersen’s Report from the Capitol: Special Session Continues - A Call for Compromise; Working for Lower Gas Prices
May 2, 2011
The special session is heading in to its third week, and the House and Senate Finance Committees are still at an impasse over the capital budget. The main point of contention is language the Senate has proposed linking millions of dollars worth of energy projects together in order to prevent the governor from vetoing some of those projects.
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Note from Rep. Gara: The Unspecial Session: A Solution Requires A Radical Political Concept - Talking Without Lines In The Sand. And An Engaged Governor.
May 2, 2011
I’ve done my best these past two weeks to share what I learned as an attorney who started my career on a very contentious case – representing the State in its civil prosecution of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill case. Sticking your heels in the mud and drawing lines in the sand doesn’t end disputes – this one’s over the budget. We settled the state’s case with Exxon for $1 billion in 1991 – though the major damages were suffered by individuals who brought their own cases – and by not talking Exxon used its obstinance and power to drag that case out for two decades.
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House Democrats Propose Common-Sense Solution to Budget Impasse
April 28, 2011
All parties should stand down and work together in good faith
JUNEAU - Today, Alaska House Democrats announced a simple, common-sense solution to the budget stand-off that has the Legislature locked into a special session.
“We have a way out of this mess. It isn’t all that complicated,” said Representative Beth Kerttula, House Minority Leader. “We say this without blame and in the spirit of being helpful.”
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