Representative
David Guttenberg

My staff:
Meredith Cameron
Ron Clarke
Ruddy Abam

Send an e-mail:
Rep.David.Guttenberg
@akleg.gov

Send a Public Opinion Message:
Up to fifty words, free of charge - just contact the Fairbanks Legislative Information Office:
   phone: 452-4448
   fax: 456-3346
   TTY: 456-5076
   E-mail

I'm on the Web:
repdavidguttenberg.com

Proud to serve
District 38:
Alakanuk; Anderson; Cantwell; Chevak; Clear; Denali Park; Emmonak; Ester; Ferry; Four Mile Road; Goldstream; Grayling; Healy; Hooper Bay; Kotlik; Lake Minchumina; Manley Hot Springs; Marshall; McGrath; Minto; Mountain Village; Nenana; Nikolai; Nunam Iqua; Pilot Station; Pitkas Point; Ruby; Scammon Bay; St. Mary’s; Takotna; Tanana

February 6th, 2014

Friends and Neighbors,

The 28th Alaska State Legislature is underway. Keeping with tradition, the first day was not without some surprises, Representative Beth Kerttula resigning her seat to take a fellowship on ocean policy at Stanford University. Beth has been a great leader, colleague and friend and we will all miss her dearly.

Representative Chris Tuck from Anchorage will assume the role of House Minority Leader. He was the whip and his move up is natural. I look forward to working with Rep. Tuck as we tackle the issues this session. Our House Democratic caucus is strong and ready to find solutions to education funding, energy relief, and turning our economy around.

The House Democratic Caucus on their last day with Rep Kerttula.

Out of the Gate: The Budget

The House Finance Committee has launched into some of the fiscal issues facing Alaska. Yesterday, we heard from Commissioner Bill Streuer on the Health and Social Services (HSS) Department Budget. With the largest budget in the state, HSS has received scrutiny as health care costs have escalated in Alaska.

All aspects of the health system are important to every single Alaskan. A sudden accident, a birth defect, or a life-threatening disease can affect any of us at any time. Having access to affordable, complete, and professional health care is paramount. Our district includes both urban and rural neighbors each with their own unique health struggles.

My goal for the HSS budget is to find out what the state is doing and can do to lower our health costs without diminishing benefits. I have yet to get an answer to this question. I believe that there are things we can and should be doing to bring down the costs while still making health care accessible and at the level of excellence we expect.

The Tipping Point for Education?

Our Democratic caucus has long been calling for an “education session.” Now, an election year finally brings the topic to the forefront. With the decline in funding, almost every school faces reduced operating or capital budgets in FY15, which translates to fewer teachers and bigger class sizes.

The Governor has introduced an education bill that includes a long-awaited but small increase to the Base Student Allocation. In his State of the State address, he tied the increased BSA to favorable votes on state funding for private schools. That is trading votes, which is something I was quoted in the News-Miner as saying should be unacceptable to all legislators.

A constitutional amendment to allow for vouchers has long been a non-starter with the Legislature. There are too many opportunities for exclusions for students seeking private school instruction. Yet with the Governor using the desperately needed BSA increase as a trading card, things may be different.

Instead of vouchers, I believe we should focus on spending public money on the things we know that work. Pre-K education is one of those proven programs that give our children the boost they need. School breakfast, decreasing class sizes, teacher professional development, and workforce development programs are all things that could benefit our kids and create a brighter future for Alaska.

I look forward to working with my colleagues and Governor Parnell to strengthen education in Alaska without doing harm to our future.

Rep. David Guttenberg being interviewed by Channel 11 reporter Rhonda McBride on the first day of session.

Welcome Ruddy!

My office is very lucky to host a UA intern for the 2014 session. Ruddy S-A Abam is a junior attending the University of Alaska Anchorage. She is pursuing a degree in Justice (Criminal Justice) and a double minor in Political Science and Psychology.

I asked why Ruddy chose to partake in the 2014 Legislative Internship for the 2nd Session of the 28th Alaska State Legislature. She said, “I was not born in the U.S.A, but moved here to Alaska, from Cameroon, Africa. It is essential for me to study in and learn from our political system that far surpasses one which I have ever been a part of before. An understanding of how we as a people are governed from the legislative side is at the forefront of my studies, in order for me to function within the judicial side of the system. The internship thus far has established itself to be an interesting experience for me, and I cannot wait to work on issues that will challenge me in my academic career.”

Ruddy will be assisting on budget issues, legislation, and office duties.

Rep Guttenberg and Ruddy Abam

Thank you for reading and please feel free to call my office and share your ideas.

If you don’t wish to continue receiving emails
from Rep. Guttenberg, please click here