Note from Rep. Gara: Guv Signs Our Bill to Protect Alaskans’ Fishing Stream Access!
April 25, 2012
Well good news doesn’t usually come in the hospital. But that’s where I am, and where I got the good news that the Governor signed my bill seeking to maintain and enhance the cherished right of Alaskans to access our fishing streams, so public access remains for this and the next generation.
Predictions are that surgery went well, but it will be a little bit before we know for sure. What we do know is all the cancer is gone - thanks for all the well wishes. That’s the good news. It will take a little time to find out if there are any side effects.
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Rep. Petersen’s Report from the Capitol: Special Session Edition
April 23, 2012
Governor’s Oil Tax Bill Faces Skepticism; Sex Trafficking Bill Passes
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The special session began on Wednesday, and on Friday the House Energy and Resources Committees began joint hearings on Governor Parnell’s proposed oil tax bill. We will be holding hearings twice a day every day except Sundays through at least next week and the Senate Resources Committee is also holding hearings. So far the committee hearings have not gone well for the governor’s bill and legislators on both sides of the aisle have expressed skepticism about this proposal.
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Rep. Lindsey Holmes’ Newsletter: Special Session Update
April 23, 2012
Special session began last Wednesday. The House and Senate both made quick work of passing HB 359, addressing the problem of sex trafficking. It is on its way to the Governor’s desk for signature.
Both the House and Senate Resources committees began hearings last week on the Governor’s new oil tax bill, HB 3001. Based on the testimony of the Department of Revenue and experts working for the Legislature, the Governor’s new oil tax bill looks remarkably similar to his HB 110 from last year. The total estimated cost to the state is almost as much as in the old bill, and the biggest tax break in the new bill would not require any new industry investment or production. Despite hours of hearings in both the House and the Senate (including an all day Saturday hearing), there are still many unanswered questions about the bill.
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Rep. Kerttula’s Juneau Newsletter: Session Ends, Special Session Begins
April 20, 2012
Its official -the second session of the 27th Alaska State Legislature is over. And the third special session has begun (the first two took place last year). After the Legislature gaveled out, the governor issued a special session proclamation in the early hours of Sunday night/Monday morning.
In this newsletter, I’ll provide a wrap up of the big session issues along with an overview of what we can expect from the special session. I’ll also share a list of Juneau capital projects (and a couple of important statewide items). In future newsletters, I’ll keep you up to date on the special session and highlight some of the legislation we saw during the regular session.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. I appreciate hearing from you, so please stop by the office, call, write or email.
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Berta’s Briefings from Rep. Gardner: The Aftermath of the End of Regular Session
April 20, 2012
When 27th Alaska Legislature concluded shortly after midnight on Sunday, April 15, the Governor called us to Special Session to address three issues:
• He introduced a new oil tax bill, combining elements of several other proposals, but the bottom line remains a dramatic reduction in state tax take with the hope of, but no firm commitment to, new oil production. House Resource committee hearings do not start until this afternoon because of the absence of Chair Feige so, I’m attending Senate Resources committee meetings.
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