Rep. Les Gara: Governor’s Education Proposal Really $10 million Over Last Year, Not $30 million
March 8, 2012
Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) released the following statement on the governor’s proposal to give additional one-time funding to Alaska’s schools.
“The governor shouldn’t suggest a $10 million increase over last year is a $30 million increase. It’s less than 1 percent more than last year’s school funding and is roughly one quarter of what schools need just to keep up with inflation. The governor gave all his other departments inflation adjustments for salary and fuel increases, just not for Alaskans’ educational opportunity.”
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Democrats to Gov: Stop Touting Existing Oil Industry Commitments as New
March 8, 2012
Official reports show I-Pad, other promised investment already underway under ACES
JUNEAU - Today Representative Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) and Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) called on the governor to stop touting existing oil industry commitments as new when he pitches his multi-billion dollar oil tax giveaway.
“For the last four to five years, the oil industry has reported to the state that these projects are already in their plans, so how can the governor keep repeating that they are new commitments?” asked Rep. Kawasaki, a member of the House Resources Committee.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Double Standard? Guv Freezes School Funding, but Grants Inflation Increases to Every Other State Agency
February 9, 2012
While I look for common ground with our Governor - like our efforts to keep pushing to find ways to build a natural gas pipeline (we agree a large diameter line that exports gas, produces low-cost gas, and brings in revenue is smarter than a small in-state line that brings us very high cost natural gas and no revenue) - I do disagree with him on educational policy.
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Legislator Aims to Prevent Loss of Alaska’s Fishing Stream Access
February 7, 2011
While some states have lost public fishing stream access, forcing people to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to fish stretches if prime water, Alaska state Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) today introduced legislation to protect Alaskans’ access to their favorite fishing spots.
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Democrats Introduce Measure to Turn Windfall Profits into Endowment
January 14, 2011
Constitutional Amendment would secure savings, provide earnings to invest in Alaska JUNEAU – Today, Representatives Berta Gardner and Mike Doogan (both D-Anchorage) introduced a constitutional amendment to turn part of the state’s savings into an endowment and put the earnings of the fund to work meeting Alaska’s needs and inflation-proofing the fund. Windfall …
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