Rep. Claman’s Newsletter: Two chances to speak out this weekend!
January 6, 2016
I hope you and your family and friends had a wonderful holiday season. With the New Year comes a new legislative session. Next week, Anchorage legislators will move to Juneau to work on many important issues – namely the state’s budget – that will have an impact on Alaska for years. This weekend, please join me for two events that will give you a chance to speak with Anchorage legislators before we go to Juneau and learn more about the state’s budget
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NEWS: Anchorage Legislative Caucus Holding Public Hearing Saturday
January 6, 2016
ANCHORAGE – Today, the Anchorage Legislative Caucus announced its next public hearing in Anchorage will be January 9, 2016 at the Loussac Library. Representative Matt Claman (D-Anchorage) is the Democratic co-chair of the Anchorage Legislative Caucus and will co-chair the meeting with Representative Liz Vazquez (R-Anchorage), the Republican co-chair of the caucus.
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Rep. Tarr’s Newsletter: Report Back from Breakfast Meetings on the Budget
January 6, 2016
In preparation for the legislative session and difficult budget decisions I have held several meetings with neighbors this fall, most recently on the 22nd and the 29th of December to gather feedback on Governor Walker’s budget proposal. We had thoughtful conversation and our neighbors had some great questions that I think everyone might be interested in knowing the answers to so we have answered them below.
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Note from Rep. Gara: It’s Still Alive? Anchorage Legislative Building Lease Too Expensive, Not Ended Yet
January 6, 2016
ANCHORAGE – A funny thing happened when I was gone for vacation. At first it looked like legislators would come together and finally agree that we needed to end the overpriced Anchorage Legislative Office Building lease. Then they didn’t.
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NEWS: Legislative Office Building Renegotiations: Rep. Gara Says Costs Should Not Exceed Moving to Much Cheaper Atwood State Office Building
January 5, 2016
ANCHORAGE – Last month, the Alaska Legislative Council voted to allow 45 days to potentially renegotiate the costs of the controversial Anchorage Legislative Information Office Building (LIO) in downtown Anchorage. Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) is concerned Republican leaders, who have repeatedly voted and stood against Democratic efforts to move from this space, might renegotiate a new contract that still costs far more than existing options. Rep. Gara wants the public to know how much one of the options would save so they can fairly evaluate any attempt to renegotiate this lease. A report by the non-partisan Legislative Research Division shows that moving to the Atwood State Office Building would be 80 to 90% cheaper than the current Legislative Information Office Building, which costs roughly $4.2 million a year. Whether moving to the Atwood Building would cut the costs by 80%, or over 90%, depends on how much space the Legislature leases. However, Rep. Gara believes the cost of any lease should be at least as low as moving to the Atwood Building.
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