Rep. Guttenberg’s Newsletter: The Opening of the 2016 Legislative Session
January 20, 2016
Yesterday the 2016 legislative session gaveled in, to what many are calling a historic year for Alaskan politics. With a 3.5 billion dollar deficit challenge ahead of the legislature, we have a lot to consider so that our state can continue thrive and so that all Alaskans are healthy, prosperous and safe in their homes and communities.
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Rep. Tuck’s Newsletter: Start of Session Report and Final Chance to Answer My Fiscal Policy Survey
January 20, 2016
Yesterday we began the second session of the 29th Alaska Legislature here at our State Capitol in Juneau. As I am sure you are aware, Alaska’s troublesome fiscal situation has overshadowed many other serious concerns, and my colleagues and I in the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition are hard at work to find solutions to the crisis that are fair to regular Alaskans and protect our most vulnerable citizens.
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NEWS: Democrats Introduce Permanent Committee to Review State Spending & Revenue
January 19, 2016
JUNEAU – Today, Rep. Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks), Rep. Sam Kito (D-Juneau), and Rep. Matt Claman (D-Anchorage) introduced HCR 16 to establish the House Standing Committee on Ways & Means to consider methods to control state spending, identify ways to make government programs more efficient, and review measures that raise state revenue.
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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: Rep. Gara Takes Pitch to the Chamber of Commerce Monday - Ways We Can Improve the Lives of Foster Children
January 11, 2016
ANCHORAGE — For the past month, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) has been on what he quips is a “World Tour in His Own Car”, pitching to large and small groups how they can help with Alaska’s exploding numbers of neglected and abused foster children. Just five years ago, Alaska had fewer than 1,800 foster youth. Today, that number has exploded to over 2,800. Rep. Gara is working to help these children to succeed and not face continued excuses and neglect.
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