NEWS: Legislative Office Building Renegotiations: Rep. Gara Says Costs Should Not Exceed Moving to Much Cheaper Atwood State Office Building
January 5, 2016
ANCHORAGE – Last month, the Alaska Legislative Council voted to allow 45 days to potentially renegotiate the costs of the controversial Anchorage Legislative Information Office Building (LIO) in downtown Anchorage. Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) is concerned Republican leaders, who have repeatedly voted and stood against Democratic efforts to move from this space, might renegotiate a new contract that still costs far more than existing options. Rep. Gara wants the public to know how much one of the options would save so they can fairly evaluate any attempt to renegotiate this lease. A report by the non-partisan Legislative Research Division shows that moving to the Atwood State Office Building would be 80 to 90% cheaper than the current Legislative Information Office Building, which costs roughly $4.2 million a year. Whether moving to the Atwood Building would cut the costs by 80%, or over 90%, depends on how much space the Legislature leases. However, Rep. Gara believes the cost of any lease should be at least as low as moving to the Atwood Building.
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NEWS: It’s Time to Plan for the Impacts of Global Climate Change in Alaska
January 5, 2016
ANCHORAGE – Alaska is already experiencing damaging impacts from global climate change and the negative impacts are expected to intensify as the environment of the North Pacific continues to warm and change. Representative Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage) plans to introduce legislation later this month to create a nine member commission to help develop a statewide climate change strategy.
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NEWS: At Long Last, Freedom for the Fairbanks Four
December 17, 2015
FAIRBANKS – The incarcerated members of the Fairbanks Four were released today following acceptance of a plea agreement by a Fairbanks judge. Representative Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) has been following developments in the Fairbanks Four case and is pleased they will be able to join their families for the holidays.
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NEWS: Rep. Tarr Supports Landmark Climate Change Deal
December 16, 2015
ANCHORAGE – On Sunday, a coalition of nearly 200 countries agreed to a historic agreement to address the causes and impacts of global climate change during the United Nations’ Paris Climate Change Conference. The agreement allows countries to create their own plans to reduce CO2 emissions with a stipulation that the emission standards will be jointly updated in 2020.
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NEWS: Cost-saving Alternative Proposed to Overpriced Anchorage LIO
December 14, 2015
ANCHORAGE – Billion dollar deficits and drastic proposals to shift the burden of paying for state government onto the backs of working Alaskans and their families demand innovative ideas to save the state money. The multi-million dollar renovation and expense of remaining in the Legislative Information Offices (LIO) on 4th Avenue in Anchorage flies in the face of the legislature’s demand for fiscal conservancy.
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