Guess Bill to Allow Privacy on PFD Applications Passes Senate

Senate Bill 284, sponsored [sponsor statement] by Senator Gretchen Guess (D-Anchorage), keeps personal information other than your name confidential on Permanent Fund dividend applications. Additionally, it allows Alaskans to keep much of the information on the voter registration records provide, including residential addresses if they provide a different mailing address.

SB284 accomplishes three goals regarding keeping personal information confidential. First, it makes all applicant information, other than the name, on the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) application confidential. Second, it makes private much of the individual information on the voter registration records private. Third, it allows an Alaskan to keep their residential address private on voter registration records if they provide a different mailing address.

Senate Bill 284 now moves to the House Judiciary committee.

Elton's Bill in Support of Fish Labeling Passes Senate

Senate Bill 282, sponsored [sponsor statement] by Senator Kim Elton (D-Juneau), will help give consumers the ability to choose between wild and farm raised fish. SB 282 states that a retail food establishment shall state on the menu of prepared food products that it is selling whether the fish in a prepared food product is wild fish or farmed fish. The new law would apply at a restaurant, a delicatessen, a salad bar, or a bakery. SB 282 was recommended by the Joint Legislative Salmon Industry Task Force, a special committee of government and fishery representatives including Senator Elton, which met over the last few years to address the crisis facing the salmon industry in Alaska.

Senate Bill 282 now moves to the House.

Count down to the end of session-
KTOO Gavel to Gavel has created an unofficial reverse-counter that counts down to the anticipated end of session. Check it out at: http://www.ktoo.org/gavel/index.cfm?time=adjurn

Cinco de Mayo-
The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, and Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.

So, why Cinco de Mayo? Because it commemorates the victory of the Mexicans over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.

For more information go to: http://www.mexonline.com/cinco.htm

Putting Alaskans First - Moving Alaska Forward