Rep. Josephson’s Newsletter: District 17 Survey Response & Constituent Meeting
March 4, 2016
We are now over halfway through the 90-day session and our focus is still on the budget. In House Resources we are still delving into HB247, the Governor’s oil & gas tax credit bill. We have been hearing from representatives of the industry about what they dislike about the bill and why they are so adamantly opposed. The committee will be taking up amendments soon and there are a few that I will be offering.
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NEWS: Rep. Ortiz Will Join Alaska Governor Bill Walker for a Trip to Ketchikan on Monday
February 24, 2016
Juneau – Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan) will be joined by Alaska Governor Bill Walker and members of his administration for a special, mid-legislative session, trip to Ketchikan on Monday, February 29th.
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Rep. Claman’s Newsletter: House Focuses on Budget
February 12, 2016
The House voted this week to suspend non-budget related committee hearings. This move allows us to focus on budget topics. Budget subcommittee meetings have been extended and the House Finance Committee is meeting daily. Yesterday, the Finance Committee hosted a “Budget 101,” which is a helpful resource to understanding budget documents. I will keep you as informed as possible as we go through the next few weeks on opportunities for public testimony and other community events.
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NEWS: It’s Time to Close Corporate Tax Loophole in Alaska
February 11, 2016
Juneau — Alaska has a corporate tax, but over 5,000 corporations are exempt under current Alaska law, despite the fact that many of the corporations are highly profitable. Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) filed legislation to close the loophole, which he contends the state can no longer afford due to a nearly $4 billion budget deficit. Rep. Gara believes closing Alaska’s corporate tax loophole should be part of a balanced fiscal plan that is fair for all Alaskans.
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Rep. Drummond’s Newsletter: The Heat is On
February 3, 2016
The heat is on. The budget finance subcommittees are in full swing and bills are moving. Not to beat a dead horse, but the main issue this year is the budget, and we are currently reviewing the Governor’s proposal to change the Permanent Fund Dividend. Touching the PFD has traditionally been a political no-no. But historically we haven’t seen these kinds of deficits. Most Alaskans seem to agree that to solve the problem we are going to have to use a mix of new revenue, government cuts, and draws on Alaska’s savings accounts including the Permanent Fund earnings reserve. Exactly how much of each of those solutions we will draw on is the crux of the debate.
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