Democrats announce
session goals
Better jobs, schools top the list

JUNEAU - Alaska's Democratic legislators today said they will use this session to keep working toward their goals of better jobs for Alaskans and better schools for Alaska's students.

"Everyone knows that the smaller the class, the better the learning," said Senate Minority Leader Johnny Ellis. "We want the best schools we can get, and that means making classes smaller by supplying more teachers. The state should help make that happen."

"The gas pipeline is the best chance for good jobs," said House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz. "A gas contract has to mean jobs for Alaskans."

The 21 members of the Democratic caucus also said that using some of the expected oil revenue windfall to pay back money spent by the legislature last year is high on their list.

Finally, the Democratic legislators vowed to keep up the pressure on state officials to behave ethically.

"There's been a lot of foot-dragging on Gregg Renkes," said Sen. Hollis French.

"The governor needs to tell us what he's going to do about it, and when. This has gone on long enough."

Renkes, the attorney general, has been under investigation for three months for promoting a business he owned stock in.

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Putting Alaskans First - Moving Alaska Forward

Sen. Bettye Davis, Sen. Johnny Ellis, Sen. Kim Elton, Sen. Hollis French, Sen. Gretchen Guess, Sen. Lyman Hoffman, Sen. Albert Kookesh, Sen. Donny Olson, Rep. Ethan Berkowitz, Rep. Sharon Cissna, Rep. Harry Crawford, Rep. Eric Croft, Rep. Les Gara, Rep. Berta Gardner, Rep. Max Gruenberg, Rep. David Guttenberg, Rep. Reggie Joule, Rep. Mary Kapsner, Rep. Beth Kerttula, Rep. Carl Moses, Rep. Woodie Salmon