Rep. Holmes’ Newsletter: Legislative Successes; Getting Kids Outdoors - Fighting Childhood Obesity
May 31, 2012
This month the Governor signed into law two bills I sponsored during the legislative session. These bills were aimed at two things at the core of my job as a representative: strengthening our economy and protecting Alaskans.
House Bill 269 will promote jobs here in Alaska. It updates our housing development laws to ensure that developments keep moving forward. HB 269 was widely supported by homeowners associations, banks and homebuilders in the state. Under the old law, if housing developments took too longer than anticipated to complete (a common occurrence given the recent real estate slowdown), they could be stopped entirely right in the middle of the project. The new law will help complete housing developments—that means jobs for Alaskans and a boost to our state’s economy.
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Note from Rep. Gara: It’s Back! Summer Used/New Laptop, Mentor and Foster Parent Drive
May 30, 2012
Want to change a life for the better? Want it to be easy? Have we got a deal for you! May is National Foster Care Month, and in conjunction with that we have launched our second annual summer “Laptops for Foster Youth Drive”. And, don’t worry. No laptop? There are other ways to help, ranging from easy to not so easy.
Option 1: Donate a New or Quality Used Laptop
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Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: Special Session Over, Budget Vetoes Done
May 22, 2012
It’s been almost a month since my last e-news and a lot has happened in that time. My office grew by two members: Anna White joined my staff during the special session and early this month, she gave birth to baby boy Quinlan. My husband Jim Powell received his PhD from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Natural Resources and Sustainability in mid-May. I am immensely proud of all the work he put into achieving this goal.
Because it’s been a while since my last newsletter, I’ll catch you up on the major legislative events that have occurred in the meantime. After a particularly exciting few days during special session, it finally ended with a whimper rather than a bang early Monday evening. Also, the governor released his line-item vetoes of the capital and operating budgets and I’ll share more detail below.
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Rep. Guttenberg’s Legislative Report: Interior Budget Highlights; Reducing the Cost of Energy
May 18, 2012
Friends and Neighbors,
These sunny days are what the Interior is all about. I hope that everyone is getting the opportunity to enjoy them and gear up for some summer activities.
Spring also means Graduation time! Congratulations to all of our 2012 graduates! I wish you the best on all your future endeavors.
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Back in Action; FY13 Budget Review
May 15, 2012
Energy a Fairbanks Focus
Just yesterday, the Governor released the FY13 budgets and a bond bill for voters in November. While he admitted it is ‘healthy’, I am pleased both the Senate and the House stayed within the budget cap agreed upon before the session. To do this takes a strategic plan that covers the essentials needed to keep the state going, while promoting businesses, organizations, and projects that create strong commerce and communities.
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