NEWS: Alaskans with Disabilities and Seniors Asked to Weigh in on Harmful Budget Cuts
March 16, 2016
Juneau – Two Democrats in the Alaska House of Representatives are sending a positive message to those who live with disabilities that will lose significant help under the budget passed last week. Representatives Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and Ivy Spohnholz (D-Anchorage) are encouraging Alaskans with disabilities and others to share their stories with lawmakers and to not give up hope that the harmful cuts, to help they rely on, can be reversed.
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NEWS: Rep. Kawasaki Introduces Bill to Reduce Barriers to Employment for Many Alaskans
February 19, 2016
Juneau – Today, Representative Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) introduced a bill to reduce the penalties on employment for those convicted of fourth degree assault in Alaska.
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Note from Rep. Gara: A Helping Hand: Our Holiday Laptops For Foster Youth Drive
November 25, 2015
I hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
I’d like you to know about our Holiday “Laptops for Foster Youth Drive”, which has become even more important with the alarming increase in the number of foster youth in Alaska, from less than 1,800 five years ago to over 2,800 today. The following press release lets you know about many ways you can help, from donating a laptop, to becoming: a foster youth mentor through a program we started at Big Brothers Big Sisters; a foster parent; or an adoptive parent for a foster youth.
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NEWS: House Democrats Praise Extension of Senior Benefits Program
August 7, 2014
House Democrats today praised the implementation of House Bill 263, extending the Alaska Senior Benefits Program through 2018. Sponsored by Rep. Mike Hawker (R-Anchorage), HB 263 was co-sponsored by 32 legislators in both houses, including Democratic Representatives Gara, Gruenberg, Guttenberg, Josephson, Kawasaki, Kito III, Kreiss-Tomkins, Tarr, and Tuck. The bill was signed into law yesterday.
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Rep. Sam Kito III’s Newsletter: Less Than Ten Days to Go
April 11, 2014
The pace here in the Legislature has picked up considerably with only a little over a week to go. With the passage of the operating budget from both houses, and establishment of the operating budget Conference Committee, we are now under the 24 hour rule which means committees can schedule bill hearings with 24 hour notice. We have also started having floor sessions into the evening, working our way through bills and resolutions. Some major pieces of the “end game” are in play including the capital budget, the education bill and the natural gas pipleline bill. There is still some question about whether we will be able to complete our work before the statutory session deadline of April 20th.
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