OPINION: Time to Make Tough Choices for Alaska
January 18, 2016
As the legislative session gets ready to start on Tuesday, it seems everybody is talking about the state budget deficit. As I see it, the state is like a cardiac patient who risks a major heart attack. His doctor tells him to quit smoking, lose weight, change his diet, exercise and take his meds. The patient asks, “What if I lose weight first and then try the other stuff?” This won’t cut it, there is no one silver bullet and the patient needs to address all these issues.
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NEWS: Legislation Proposed to Spur Timely Action on Alaska Budget
January 16, 2016
JUNEAU – In light of Alaska’s urgent need to get its fiscal house in order this session, Senator Bill Wielechowski (D–Anchorage) and Representative Scott Kawasaki (D–Fairbanks) will introduce cost-saving legislation to ensure that if legislators do not pass an operating budget within the voter-mandated 90-day session, they will not receive salary or per diem until the work is accomplished. They hope to incentivize legislators to buckle down and focus on the task at hand.
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NEWS: Community Input Sought by East Side Anchorage Legislators Before Upcoming Legislative Session
January 5, 2016
ANCHORAGE – In the final days before the start of the Second Session of the 29th Alaska Legislature, Sen. Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) and Reps. Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage) and Gabrielle LeDoux (R-Anchorage) invite East Anchorage and JBER constituents to a pre-session town hall constituent meeting on Thursday, January 7, from 6:30-8:00pm at the Begich Middle School, 7440 Creekside Center Drive, Anchorage.
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NEWS: Massive Scope of Proposed Fiscal Changes Demands Thorough Review of Impacts on Alaskans of All Income Levels
December 9, 2015
ANCHORAGE – Today, Alaska Governor Bill Walker unveiled an ambitious budget plan called “The New Sustainable Alaska Plan” that shifts much of the burden of paying for state government from the oil and gas industry onto the backs of hard-working, average Alaskans. The Governor’s proposal includes fundamental changes to how vital state services in Alaska are funded including new or increased taxes on income, fishing, mining, tourism, alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuel. The Governor’s proposal also makes drastic cuts to vital early education opportunities in Alaska and would result in significantly reduced Permanent Fund Dividends. The 13 members of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition thank Governor Walker for his leadership and the public process used to come up with the proposed budget plan but will insist that every proposed change be thoroughly vetted by the Alaska Legislature.
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OP-ED: Pivotal Moment in Alaska’s History
December 7, 2015
This moment in Alaska’s history is pivotal in determining what our future as a state will look like. The sudden drop in oil prices and the broken promises of increased oil production in return for excessive tax cuts and credits have resulted in a nearly $3.5 billion budget gap that must be closed. Alaska is required by law to produce a balanced budget. However, a budget is more than just numbers on a page. It should reflect the basic values of the people.
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