Special Session a Success for Seniors

Representative Doll testifies in favor of Senior Care

For detailed information about the new Senior Benefits Program be sure to call Alaska’s Health & Social Services;

Senior Information Office
toll free 1-888-352-4150

Senior Care expired in June.  Sixty-seven hundred seniors had received $120 a month.  Despite the fact that the legislature approved funding for one of the highest capital budgets in history, they could not, by end of session, bring themselves to appropriate the necessary funds to continue the Senior Care program.

It is difficult to know why the majority decided to delay the question until an expensive special session. I hope it was because they were bombarded with criticism from all corners and particularly from seniors.  During the special session opponents questioned the state’s ability to finance and sustain an expanded program. Some thought that the state already gives enough to its poorest seniors.  Some thought that seniors should have planned better, and …and, what? I would suppose they would have concluded that thought by saying; its seniors' fault for being in this dire situation.

It got me thinking.  According to the foot draggers, those seniors who were born in the 30’s should have had the foresight to figure in a rate of inflation.  They should have known that the cost of heating oil would skyrocket, and that our medical system would be in crisis.  Women should have prepared themselves for a career and not stayed home and raised a family and certainly should not have depended on their husband’s retirement plan!

As it turned out, it took seven hours for the legislature to approve the new program.  While many might say, only 7 hours?  Well, as you expect that final vote only happened because of much

dialogue and compromise across both sides of the aisle. The victory for our seniors was the result of your calls, the Governor's interest and the good resolve of many people.  Did the special session set a precedent for further sessions outside of Juneau?  It could have. 

In any case, by the end of the special session, Alaskans got a pretty good senior benefit.  This new program will cost the state $18.5 million dollars in 2008.  That is based on the assumption that 10,700 people will apply. Those at 75% of the Alaska Federal Poverty level will receive $250 a month.  Those between 75 and 100% will receive $175 a month and those from 100% to 175% will receive $125 a month.  It will sunset in 2011. Longevity bonus is still on the books, but not funded.  Those already receiving assistance under the old program will receive an application in the mail and those who are now newly qualified may request an application by either calling Senior Benefits Office at 1-888-352-4150 or go on line at www.hss.state.ak.us/dsds/pdfs/SeniorBenefitsapplication.pdf.

I am proud of our seniors for fighting for this bill.  I am proud to support you, and will continue to press for priorities that put the needs of our residents first.

ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION?

Question: Should we revisit the oil tax?  As a recent article in the Anchorage Times put it, the oil tax legislation was “born in corrupt circumstances."   Clearly, the interests of some legislators were placed ahead of the good of the state.  And as a state, we are a billion dollars poorer for it.

But where should the session be held?  Anchorage, Juneau?

Costs:
Some people have dismissed the “one day special session” in Anchorage as not a big deal.  But according to preliminary estimates from the Legislative Affairs Agency it is certain to cost more to hold it in Anchorage instead of Juneau. What does that mean for a 30 day session?

Where there other costs?  I submit that we should also, as Juneauites, consider that 57 legislators did not come into town, did not pay for a hotel, did not pay for taxis, and did not buy meals or shop.  Now, multiply this one day times 30 days and we can estimate the costs for special session in Anchorage.

But we do need to revisit the oil tax, and bottom line, we need the session in Juneau.

Discussing Special Session and other topics with friends & neighbors at Juneau's Gold Rush Days

The Governor Vetoes $231 Million
From the Capital Budget

With little to no communication from the administration over what was appropriate in their eyes for this years Capital budget the Governor exercised her veto power over many deserving Juneau groups and projects. It was a disappointing day in Juneau to say the least.  The items cut from Juneau were well thought out and researched by my office.  We worked closely with various individuals and groups to ensure the needs of our community were worthy and accurate. The Governor likened our budget to getting out the credit card, but I disagree. The Legislature did not spend a single dime of revenue exceeding our incoming revenue stream; we were living within our means. At the end of the day Juneau had 2.58 million eliminated from an original total of 16 million. There is talk in the legislature to override some the Governor’s vetoes during a possible special session this fall. That will be a difficult challenge. In the meantime I intend to speak with the Governor and urge her to establish a more open process and better communication with my office and district to ensure we have a clear expectation on future Capital budgets. I expect to be right back in the budget process next session fighting for many of the same needs in Juneau that faced the veto pen this year.

The Governor chose to eliminate all funding for these Juneau Project Items;
Gastineau Human Services Renovation- $46,850
Hub Youth Center Electronics-$50,000
REACH Inc. The Art Studio-$20,000
Southeast AK Guidance Association (SAGA) Repairs-$50,000
Territorial Sportsmen Cabins-$55,000
Juneau Economic Development Council KIN Program-$125,000
Juneau Hunter Education Facility Archery Range-$338,000
Catholic Community Services Phoenix Family Project-$500,000
Valley Ball Field Drainage & Astroturf-$100,000
Lemon Creek Correctional Center Dental Equipment-$53,000

These Juneau Projects were partially reduced by the Governor;
Eagle River Scout Camp Repairs-50,000-reduced to 25,000
Douglas Island FAA Monitoring Station Electrical Service-2,800,000-reduced to 1,400,000
Juneau Area Marine State Parks Workboat-130,000-reduced to 75,000
Alaska Marine Exchange Waterways Coverage-350,000-reduced to 200,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters Capacity Building Project-25,000-reduced to12,500

These Projects were left untouched by the Governor’s veto pen;
Hagevig Fire Training Center   Design & Repair-$1,000,000
Juneau Alliance for the Mentally Ill(JAMI) Vehicles-$50,000
Southeast Assisted Living (SAIL) Lift Assist Taxi-$20,000
Glory Hole Renovations-$38,000
N. Douglas Sewer Line Extension-$1,000,000
Catholic Community Services Adult Day Center-$47,925
Southeast Alaska Avalanche Center Forecasting Equipment-$20,000
Juneau School District Technology Education Equipment-$72,000
Juneau Subport Asbestos Abatement-750,000
Egan Drive Sunny Point Intersection Improvements-$1,500,000
UAS School of Fisheries Ocean Sciences Facility-$6,800,000
Lemon Creek Correctional Center-$27,500
Johnson Youth Center-$3,200
Marine Highway System Vessel Operations, Engineering-$825,000
West Mendenhall Valley Sewer Expansion-$1,153,600

CLEAN ELECTIONS
               and other items of note!

The subject of ethics has not gone away, neither on a national or state level. My opinion is that real ethics reform starts with campaign financing.

I am proud to be cosponsor of a bill (HB 261) that would bring Clean Elections to Alaska.  Under Clean Elections, candidates who demonstrate that they have a strong base of public support and who agree to forego private fundraising are eligible for public financing of their campaigns. Once elected, these candidates are not beholden to large campaign donors or to special interests.

You might also know that there is a petition to put an initiative that is very similar to this bill in the 2008 elections.

Please let me know what you think. I, for one, believe that it is time to look at campaign financing, and HB 261 could be a good start!

Is public money spent on Corrections making us safer?

This is a subject of great interest to me.  As you know I sit on the Corrections budget subcommittee.

Nation wide the recidivism rate is over 70%.  This basically means that we are spending a great deal of money on a program that locks up offenders, puts them away, and then releases them without any rehabilitation program.  70%+ re-offend and go back. Our collection of inmates have substance abuse addictions, mental health problems, and diseases that are contagious.  Some have overlapping addictions.

I spent a day after the special session visiting Hiland Mountain Correctional Center and Palmer Correctional Center.  I am pleased to report that Commissioner Schmidt is open to and is implementing new ideas.  There are many educational and training programs offered and the success rate is notable (fewer people returning to prison). However, in a Department budget of $226 million, only $3.9 is being spent on education, drug rehabilitation, chaplain, sexual offender and domestic violence programs.  And the problems are still huge.  Drug rehabilitation has been largely dropped from most facilities, yet 92% of prisoners have committed drug-related crimes.  The costs of mental health and medical health programs are rising steeply.  We are still releasing prisoners that have not had any transitional assistance.  They are turn key people.

More to follow on this, and I welcome your ideas.

Cleaning Up the Oceans

Rep. Doll, Rep. Kerttula, Dixie Belcher, and friends rowing the plastic bottle boat in the July 4^th Parade

While this photo appears to be humorous, the trash in our oceans is not. I am extremely serious about making this an education issue. Quoting from an excellent My Turn article from Bob King: “Ghost nets kill fish, and nets, line, and packing bands entangle marine mammals. Seabirds mistake brightly colored plastic as food and starve with gullets full of plastic scraps, bottle caps, even cigarette lighters. What can you do about marine debris? First, don’t add to the problem. Secondly, start picking up.”

As you know I am sponsor of a bill taxing plastic bags. While this bill may not become law, it serves as an education purpose. We all need to be aware of what happens when plastics break down. We may use them for 10 minutes, our trip from a store to home, but their effect on the environment will last hundreds of years.

Summertime Fun in Juneau

  
Sen. Elton, Clark Gruening, & Rep. Doll judging costumes at Only Fools Run at Midnight.

I hope you are having a great summer in Juneau. There is no better place to be! Whether it’s enjoying our wonderful outdoors or just kicking back with friends for a backyard BBQ this is a great time of year. I am in the office everyday, but have had time to take some hikes, and watch our local softball teams compete in Diamond Park. Oh yes, I also took a morning and went fishing. (3 stupendously big salmon!) Talking with you is very important to me and I was able to speak with many of you at Gold Rush Days. I would like to ear from you about many issues, labor negotiations, child care, and education. Please call anytime. (465 3744) 

If you’d like to have your email address added to the distribution list for my periodic email newsletters, please contact my office. If you’ve received this newsletter at an email address where you’d prefer to not receive future newsletters, please hit “reply” and simply type “no” in the subject line. 

My contact information is listed below and I welcome and encourage you to contact me or visit my office anytime.

Here’s to the joys of summer!

Sincerely yours,