Note from Rep. Gara: The End (of Session) Is Near. Actually It Was Sunday - Breathe Deep and Read On
April 16, 2013
Dear Neighbors,
When I come down to Juneau I look forward to making progress, and working across party lines. And, in Juneau, to a lot of rain. And planes that can’t land because of fog. But also usually to a lot of friendly folks. Well, that was like looking forward to a good movie and ending up going into the wrong theater where Gigli was playing. Too obscure a reference? Forgot the box office disaster that threatened to force Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez to leave Hollywood to look for real jobs? Look it up on Wikipedia.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Good, Bad, and Ugly on Oil Bill, Education, and Housing
April 14, 2013
Dear Neighbors,
Well, in my view this session has been a disaster with glimmers of good. I wish I could put a true and happier spin on this, but I can’t. I’m including two press releases, one good and one bad. The good news is a nice bill what we passed with Rep. Mia Costello which will make Anchorage and Alaska more vibrant, and that will cost-effectively reduce the low and middle-income housing shortage in Anchorage.
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The Drummond Dispatch: Busy, Busy, Busy.
April 13, 2013
We’re in the last 36 hours of session and things are rapidly coming to a head here in the Capitol. Bills are being quickly rushed to the floor. Just this morning they scheduled a last minute meeting of Community and Regional Affairs, a committee that had previously adjourned for the rest of session, in order to get a bill on the House Floor today.
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: BUDGET ALERT! and Oil Tax Breaks
April 12, 2013
Two days left to go in the first session of the 28th Legislature and we are working into the night on important issues to shape the future of Alaska.
Alaskans have a $16 billion dollar savings account because state leaders ensured throughout history we get a fair share of OUR oil wealth. The UAF Engineering buildings, Cushman Street Expansion, and Ryan Middle School Renovations, and energy relief for the Interior are just a few examples of projects that are possible because of these wise investment decisions. Billions of dollars each year go to enhance communities - 90% of those dollars come from the development of oil. I will continue to fight on your behalf for those dollars to stay here.
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Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: The Real Story - North Slope Jobs and Investment are Rising Under ACES
April 11, 2013
The Legislature continues to rush forward with the governor’s massive and ill-conceived giveaway of Alaska’s oil wealth at a frantic pace, hoping to get the bill passed before the 90 day session concludes on April 14. As I have stated before, this bill will give billions of dollars from the state treasury to the wealthiest and most profitable corporations in the world - with no promise or guarantee of increased production or investment in Alaska.
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