Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Please join me tomorrow for an Interior Delegation constituent meeting Saturday, February 14th. I will be unable to be there in person, but will join via video conference and respond to questions.

Date: Saturday, February 14th
Time: 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
Location: Fairbanks LIO, 1292 Sadler Way, 3rd floor of the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union

If you cannot attend in person, please consider calling in 907-586-9085.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments about this session.

Medicaid Expansion Update

Last week, Governor Walker announced “The Healthy Alaska Plan: A Catalyst for Reform” initiative and released the Evergreen Economics analysis, confirming previous reports about the benefits of Medicaid Expansion in Alaska. 

Evergreen identified about 41,910 low-income Alaskans who would become eligible under the expansion. About half of that population would enroll in the first year, with small increases year over year. Of course, it shouldn’t go unsaid that this expansion is paid 100% by the federal government until 2016, after which state support will gradually go to 10%.  

The economic highlights include:

• $1.1 billion in new federal revenue for Alaska 4,000 new jobs,
• $1.2 billion more in wages and salaries paid to Alaskans,
• $2.49 billion in increased economic activity 
throughout the state,
• Benefits to small business with improved     
employee health and employee retention.

Rising healthcare costs have been eating up the state budget now for years. Medicaid expansion is a long-term solution that will begin to bend the cost curve down with larger pools of insured individuals.

Recent studies also show that states with Medicaid Expansion in place are seeing smaller increases, year over year, in healthcare costs overall. Medicaid expansion is the right thing to do for our citizens, it’s the right thing to do for the economy, and I’m hopeful that it will pass.

Rep Guttenberg meeting with Steese Volunteer Fire Department Chief Flynn

HB 1 “State Arctic Policy” Passes the House

House Bill 1 “State Arctic Policy” passed the House unanimously today. This bill will direct the Legislature and the Administration to incorporate Arctic policy into the state’s actions. With the United States now chairing the Arctic Council, it is extremely important that Alaska, as the only Arctic state, have a voice.

Alaskans also deserve to benefit from any increased economic opportunities created through Arctic activities. We also can provide important spill response and search and rescue knowledge from our Universities and history of Arctic operations.

I am pleased that this bill made it out of the House so early in the session. This legislation will now go to the Senate for their review and changes.

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