July 18, 2014 Voice Your Opinions! Letters to the editor make a difference. You can send a 175-word letter to the Anchorage Daily News by e-mail (letters@adn.com); or by fax or mail (call them at 257-4308). Send letters to the Anchorage Press via e-mail editor@anchoragepress.com or by mail to 540 E. Fifth Ave, Anchorage, 99501. Feel free to call us if you need factual information to help you write a letter. Contact the Governor. The Governor can be reached at 269-7450; sean.parnell@alaska.gov; or www.alaska.gov. Contact us. My office can be reached at: 733 W. 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501; by phone: 269-0106; visit my website at http://gara.akdemocrats.org; or email: Rep.Les.Gara@akleg.gov

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

I just wanted to let you know that, first, Thread’s summer book drive is happening this month.  Thread, a non-profit, does great work for families on early childhood education. Also, Sunday is the deadline to register to vote for the August 19 Primary Election.  You can register 30 days before the election, and if you don't register for the Primary, you can still register 30 days before the November General Election to vote then.   

And, finally, I'm giving you a link to a newsletter from Senator Ellis and myself on why we're personally joining with Republicans, Democrats and Independents to vote “yes” to repeal the Governor's corporate oil tax rollback.  I hope you find the facts useful, and preferable to the many sound bites we’ve been hearing.

CHILDREN’S BOOK DRIVE
Donate new and gently used books for Anchorage children

Reading to young children is one of the best ways to help them become good readers. It’s also an excellent way for parents to bond with their children. Thread is hosting its 8th annual book drive this month. Books collected will be given to children and families at Thread’s August 14 Book Party in the Park at the Garden Art Park in Mountain View. So take this opportunity to clear out some space on your book shelves, or pick up a new copy of your favorite book from when you were a child!

Collection bins for children’s books can be found at four Credit Union 1 branches (115 N. Bragaw St, 3500 Eureka St, 824 W 8th Avenue, 1941 Abbott Rd) and all Fred Meyer Anchorage locations, as well as the JBER Consolidated Library (Chilkoot Ave., Building #7). In addition, donations can be delivered directly to Thread at 3350 Commercial Drive, Suite 203, and the Anchorage Legislative Office at 733 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 100.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Sunday, July 20 is the deadline to register to vote or
update your registration for the August 19th primary

Alaska law requires that you register to vote 30 days before an election. If you need to register or update your address or party affiliation (if you choose one) before the primary, you have three days left to do it!

Follow this link to register to vote.

Division of Election offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Mat-Su and Nome will be open today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and this weekend on Saturday, July 19th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, July 20th from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The regional elections office in Anchorage is located at 2525 Gambell Street, Suite 100. The phone number there is 522-8683. Voter registration is also available at DMV offices, many public libraries and at Municipal Clerks’ offices.

You can also register to vote or update your voting information by mail, fax or e-mail. Your voter registration must be postmarked by the July 20 deadline (that means by Saturday, July 19 since the post office is closed on the 20th). If you miss this deadline, you can still register to vote, or change your voter information, in the November election.

OIL TAX FACTS NOT SPIN

SB 21 includes a separate, special interest tax rate for all fields that were sanctioned as oilfield units beginning eleven years ago, and into the future.  All oil from those fields, and new oil fields, will pay a rate so low that it will produce either a near zero worth for Alaskans, or a negative worth.  That’s included in a little-mentioned portion of the Scott Goldsmith report. This is because those fields pay roughly half the tax rate of pre-2003 oilfield units, or roughly 13% on corporate profits.  That's among the lowest rates in the world, and Goldsmith concedes it will barely, or never, cover the costs the state pays in oil field development and exploration tax credits and deductions. 

If you'd like to read more, click here for our newsletter.

I hope you are having a great summer.  Let my office know if you have any thoughts or concerns.

My Best,