Rep. Claman’s Newsletter: House Focuses on Budget
February 12, 2016
The House voted this week to suspend non-budget related committee hearings. This move allows us to focus on budget topics. Budget subcommittee meetings have been extended and the House Finance Committee is meeting daily. Yesterday, the Finance Committee hosted a “Budget 101,” which is a helpful resource to understanding budget documents. I will keep you as informed as possible as we go through the next few weeks on opportunities for public testimony and other community events.
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Rep. Tarr’s Newsletter: Say No to Food Waste & Frankenfish in Alaska
February 11, 2016
February started out with a bang and a bit of sunshine. The budget situation has us all looking for ways to be more efficient with our resources. One issue getting a lot of attention is the issue of food waste. Last September, the US Secretary of Agriculture called for a 50% reduction in food waste by the year 2030 and in December the federal government passed new tax incentives aimed at making it easier for businesses, including restaurants, grocery stores, and fisherman, to donate food.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Closing Gaping Corporate Tax Loophole
February 11, 2016
Today I submitted legislation to close a gaping loophole in Alaska’s corporate tax. My press release on this bill follows.
If we are to close a nearly $4 billion budget gap, the revenue we seek needs to be balanced. It can’t disproportionately hit those who have little when we have tax loopholes that benefit those who have the most.
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Rep. Drummond’s Newsletter: Roads, Budgets, and Puppies
February 10, 2016
Why did the chicken cross Spenard Road? It didn’t. It would have died. Spenard Road has long been a frustration for many people in our district. Trying to turn on to 27th Avenue to get to Bear Tooth can be a downright nightmare at times. Plans for reconstruction have been in the works for decades. It began as a traffic and safety project in 1999 and has been a long and often arduous process ever since. That is finally about to change.
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Newsletter: House Concentrates on Passing Budget
February 10, 2016
This week, the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition and the Senate Democratic Caucus decided to follow the example of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention by proposing that all members of the Legislature put aside partisan politics and work together as one caucus of the whole.
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