Democrats Offer Savings, Education, and Energy Budget Amendments
March 15, 2012
Amendments target proven ways to build today’s resources into tomorrow’s opportunity
JUNEAU – Today, House Democrats offered a series of amendments to the state operating budget targeted to saving money, reducing waste, improving schools, and lowering energy costs.
“Our goal all year has been to find ways to build today’s resources into tomorrow’s opportunities,” said House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau). “The Permanent Fund, our children’s education and Alaska’s home energy efficiency rebates are all proven ways to do that.”
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Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: Operating Budget Heats Up
March 8, 2012
Plus: Coastal Management Hearing on Monday
I want to extend a special thank you to everyone who came and testified in the House Finance Committee this week. It is not easy to speak before the Legislature and everyone did a wonderful job. Hear what they had to say below.
I’m pleased to announce that legislation to reinstate the Alaska Coastal Management Program will be heard in House Resources on Monday (more below).
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Rep. Les Gara: Governor’s Education Proposal Really $10 million Over Last Year, Not $30 million
March 8, 2012
Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) released the following statement on the governor’s proposal to give additional one-time funding to Alaska’s schools.
“The governor shouldn’t suggest a $10 million increase over last year is a $30 million increase. It’s less than 1 percent more than last year’s school funding and is roughly one quarter of what schools need just to keep up with inflation. The governor gave all his other departments inflation adjustments for salary and fuel increases, just not for Alaskans’ educational opportunity.”
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Rep. Petersen Comments on Governor’s One-Time Education Funding Proposal
March 7, 2012
“One-Time funding is not a commitment to education”
Today, Representative Pete Petersen (D-Anchorage) released the following statement in response to the governor’s proposal to add $30.3 million of one-time funding to the budget to help schools with energy and transportation costs.
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Democrats’ Resolution Calls on Governor to Opt-Out of No Child Left Behind
February 22, 2012
“The federal program has never worked for Alaska. It’s time we set our own standards”
JUNEAU – Today, Rep. Bob Miller and three other Democrats in the Alaska House of Representatives introduced a resolution (HJR 39) calling on the state of Alaska to opt-out of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program and to develop its own Alaska-appropriate education standards.
“No Child Left Behind was a federal mandate that never worked for Alaska,” said Rep. Miller. “It’s time we develop our own Alaska-appropriate standards and get out from under this federal program that set too many of our schools up to fail.”
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