Note from Rep. Gara: End of Session, Pre “Unspecial Session” Update - The Good, Bad and Ugly.
April 17, 2012
Well, a flurry of bills passed the last 24 hours of the regular legislative session. I’ll give you the highlights and low lights, and a short preview of special session.
I’m able to write now that my blood pressure is back to normal. What caused the rise? The few legislators who pride themselves on blocking good legislation out of pure partisanship and animosity. Would anyone outside the Legislature (or Congress where the same stuff is done) really make the state a worse place just because you’re trying to block legislation by an “opponent” – or trying to make your opponent’s election chances worse? It’s a sick part of the legislative process that, I’m happy to say, most legislators don’t tolerate. But the few that do make life, and the state, worse for the rest of us.
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Rep. Doogan in Juneau: SPECIAL HERE WE GO AGAIN EDITION
April 16, 2012
Just an hour away from a clean getaway
The legislature starts a special session Wednesday, the eighth in the six years I’ve been a part of the circus. There’s a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth about this, especially among the freelance commentators, a surprisingly large number of whom can actually spell simple words. Unfortunately, all they have to offer to the discussion is spleen, and we’ve got plenty of that already.
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News from Rep. Pete Petersen: Session Adjourns with Successes
April 16, 2012
Legislature Adjourns; Glenn/ Muldoon Interchange Repair Approved; Autism and Parents as Teachers Bills Pass
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The legislative session adjourned minutes ago, and the word around the Capitol is that the governor has called a special session starting on Wednesday. Unfortunately it looks like I will not be coming home as soon as I’d like, but I will stay until the job is done. This last week has been very busy, but also productive. Today the Legislature passed two important bills which I have been working on for the last three years, and also voted to start the process to rebuild the Muldoon/ Glenn Highway interchange.
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Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Constituent Survey Results Are Now Available
April 15, 2012
Dear Neighbors,
Today is final day of the 27th Alaska Legislature. We are in the process of wrapping up the most essential state business including passing the capital and operating budgets and enacting a special package for education. It is still unknown whether the house will accept the Senate’s proposed legislation to increase tax incentives for new exploration and development on the North Slope. If not, we may be going into extended or special session.
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Alaska State Budget Process
April 13, 2012
With two days left of the 27th Legislative Session, there are a handful of items left to finish. By Constitution, the only obligation of the State Legislature is to pass the state budget. Every year the budget gets wrapped up in the ongoing debate on oil and gas taxes and this year is no different.
Over the next two days there are bound to be several changes to the budget and movement on several important bills. I will try to keep you posted if there are any significant changes that affect you as Fairbanks residents.
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