Ellis Works in Support of Before and After School Programs

Senate Joint Resolution 29, sponsored by Senator Johnny Ellis (D-Anchorage), calls for more support of before and after school programs. SJR 29 encourages our congressional delegation to work in support of before and after school programs, directs the Department of Education and Early Development to provide assistance to school administrators, teachers, and parents regarding programs and to create a statewide network on before and after school programs. As many as 110,000 school age children in Alaska are going home to an empty house after school; affordable after school programs can allow parents to finish their work day with the reassurance that their children are safe.

Senate Joint Resolution 29 awaits a hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

Democrats, Former State Revenue Official, Call for
End To Unjustified Oil Tax Breaks

House Bill 441, sponsored by Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage), Eric Croft (D-Anchorage), Beth Kerttula (D- Juneau) and David Guttenberg (D-Fairbanks), is legislation to help Alaskans recover a fair share for their oil. Former Governors Jay Hammond and Wally Hickel also stated this week that it is time to review the fairness of oil tax exemptions contained in a 1989 law known as “the ELF”, or Economic Limit Factor. Former Deputy Commissioner of Revenue Deborah Vogt, who supports the bill, said “the proposal is well thought out, and long overdue." Because of oil tax breaks under the ELF, Alaska's production tax rate has plummeted from 13.5% in 1993 to 7.5% today, and by 2013, down to 4%. Former Governor Hickel, stated: “The ELF needs to be re-visited to examine its fairness.” At recent $30/barrel prices, the bill would raise an additional $400 million in revenue this year.

Because of tax breaks in Alaska's ELF statute, 11 of the last 14 fields developed since 1989 pay none or almost none of Alaska's 15% Production Tax. The Alaska Fair Share bill establishes a modest minimum production tax of 5%.

The bill also lets the state share in profits above $20/barrel by slowly increasing the severance tax above that price. To encourage development, the Alaska Fair Share bill reduces the severance tax rate at low prices, when companies face the prospect of reduced profits, and possible investment losses.

House Bill 441 awaits a hearing in the House Ways & Means Committee.

Senator Hollis French (D-Anchorage) introduced a companion bill, Senate Bill 321, this week also. Senate Bill 321 awaits a hearing in the Senate Resources Committee.

French Works to Help Victims of Domestic Violence

Senate Bill 308, introduced by Senator Hollis French (D-Anchorage), helps to protect victims of domestic violence by allowing protective orders to be extended from six months in duration to one year.

Senate Bill 308 awaits a hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee.

Putting Alaskans First - Moving Alaska Forward