Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Please join us this Saturday, February 20th from 4 – 5pm at West High (Room C252 in the new add-on building) for a constituent town hall meeting with Senator Costello, Greg Razo (Chair of the Criminal Justice Commission), and me!

This week has been a somber one in the Legislature. On Sunday, I learned that a dear colleague and friend, Representative Max Gruenberg had passed away. Max worked tirelessly for Alaska and Alaskans and I will miss him.

Constituent Town Hall Meeting:

Please join Senator Costello and me for a Constituent Town Hall Meeting this Saturday, February 20th from 4pm to 5pm at West High School (the new CTE add on building, Room C252). We are here to listen to your questions and concerns about the budget or any other issue related to the legislative session. We’ll also learn more about the Criminal Justice Reform Bill, which will improve public safety and reduce the costs for corrections.

Rep. Claman talks with neighbors from our January Constituent Town Hall Meeting with Commissioner Hoffbeck.

As the budget discussions continue, it is critical that while we address cost savings, we look at new revenues. Looking only at current spending levels does not close the $3.8 billion deficit that is currently facing Alaska. I look forward to hearing your thoughts concerning the budget on Saturday or any time by contacting my office.

Additionally, we have asked the Chair of the Criminal Justice Reform Commission, Greg Razo, to join us to discuss Senate Bill 91, the criminal justice reform bill. Over the past several months, the Commission has proposed 21 recommendations to the Legislature that will reduce corrections costs and reduce recidivism rates. Several key components to those recommendations in the bill, include:

·         Implement evidence-based pretrial practices by expanding the use of citations in lieu of arrest for lower-level nonviolent offenses and making changes to bail practices to focus pretrial release decisions more on risk than on ability to pay.
·         Focus prison beds on serious and violent offenders by diverting nonviolent misdemeanor offenders to alternatives; revising drug crime penalties; adjusting dollar amounts for felony property crimes to account for inflation; realigning sentence ranges in s1tatute, expanding and streamlining parole; and incentivizing sex offenders to complete treatment programming.
·         Strengthen probation and parole supervision by standardizing sanctions for violations of probation and parole conditions to ensure they are swift, certain, and proportional; establishing incentives to comply with supervision conditions; and focusing treatment resources on high-needs offenders.
·         Improve opportunities for successful reentry by offering limited licenses to eligible revoked offenders; creating a reentry program within the Department of Corrections; and opting out of the federal ban on food stamps for people convicted of drug crimes.
·         Reinvest a portion of the savings from these reforms into evidence-based practices designed to improve public safety, control corrections populations, and reduce recidivism, including supervision services, victims’ services, violence prevention, treatment services, and reentry services.

In Loving Memory of Representative Gruenberg:

It is with a heavy heart that I acknowledge my friend and colleague, Representative Max Gruenberg is no longer with us. Although I am a new member to the Legislature, he and I worked closely together on the Judiciary Committee. Max’s passion for law and his unwavering dedication to doing what was right for Alaska and Alaskans is inspiring. I hope that through my membership of the Judiciary Committee, I am able to honor Max’s memory and he can rest in peace. His spirit remains strong in the Capital.

Rep. Claman remembering Rep. Gruenberg on Tuesday at the Legislature’s remembrance ceremony. You can watch the entire presentation, here.

There are two services being planned for Representative Gruenberg. In lieu of flowers, his family is asking people to send donations to charities for victims of domestic violence, animal abuse, children in need, or Alaska Legal Services.

WHEN:  Sunday, February 21, 3 p.m. in Juneau
                                Thursday, February 25, 5:30 p.m. in Anchorage
WHERE: Resurrection Lutheran Church, 740 W. 10th Street, Juneau, Alaska, 99801
                                  Temple Beth Sholom, 7525 E. Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, Alaska, 99504

Public Testimony:

In last week’s newsletter, I committed to keeping you informed about opportunities for public testimony on issues relating to the state’s fiscal outlook. Below are the opportunities in the next week for public testimony. Please contact my office if you have any questions.

On Friday at 1pm, the House Resources Committee is taking public testimony on the increase in mining taxes.

On Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee is taking public testimony on the Governor’s proposed income tax.

p.s. Don’t forget to complete our [repmattclaman.com/survey] Constituent Survey!

Sincerely,

    Rep. Matt Claman

    P.S. follow me on Facebook and Twitter

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