Rep. Kawasaki’s Newsletter: A little over a week left in Juneau!
April 10, 2015
The state’s $3.5-billion budget deficit has headlined most newspapers this session and overshadowed almost every other issue. My office has received hundreds of calls, emails, letters and messages on a variety of topics ranging from dramatic cuts to schools to the silencing of public radio and the elimination some benefits to seniors. I will personally read and listen to each and every communication and work to protect the critical and constitutionally-mandated functions of government.
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Rep. Kito’s Newsletter: 28th Legislative Session Ends
April 25, 2014
We have finally finished work in the 28th legislative session after ninety–five days. Our work continued beyond the statutory 90-day limit imposed by the voters in the 2006 election. I am grateful for all of the communication and support I have received from District 32 during my short time in this position. In addition to the Operating and Capital budgets we passed this year, there were several pieces of important legislation that were considered, passed, or left on the table.
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Rep. Josephson’s Newsletter: A WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
April 16, 2014
The past week has likely been the most interesting I have experienced during my time serving in the Alaska Legislature. In my last newsletter I wrote about a bill that did too much bad and not enough good for public education. Voting against the bill was extremely challenging. House Bill 278 included a slight increase to the Base Student Allocation (BSA), but it was far from fully funding public education and included too many ill-advised changes, like allowing public dollars to go to private schools and creating an unfair teacher tenure system. Taken together, the bad outweighed the good, which led to my “No” vote.
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Final Week - Important Bills Still on the Table!
April 14, 2014
Here we are: The final week of the Twenty-eighth Alaska State Legislature has arrived. While there are only six days left, we still have numerous bills that are moving toward passage. As always, I will stand up and ask the most important question: how it will impact the lives of everyday Fairbanksans.
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Rep. Sam Kito III’s Newsletter: Less Than Ten Days to Go
April 11, 2014
The pace here in the Legislature has picked up considerably with only a little over a week to go. With the passage of the operating budget from both houses, and establishment of the operating budget Conference Committee, we are now under the 24 hour rule which means committees can schedule bill hearings with 24 hour notice. We have also started having floor sessions into the evening, working our way through bills and resolutions. Some major pieces of the “end game” are in play including the capital budget, the education bill and the natural gas pipleline bill. There is still some question about whether we will be able to complete our work before the statutory session deadline of April 20th.
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