Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Sine Die

The 28th Alaska State Legislature adjourned sine die –the completion of a two-year cycle- today, five days over the 90th legislative day.

Here is a quick overview of the big things that happened this session:

• HB 385 “PERS/TRS State Contributions”- transfers $3 Billion into the PERS/TRS accounts to help pay down the unfunded liability
• SB 138 “Gas Pipeline; AGDC; Oil and Gas Production Tax”- sets up the memorandum of agreements and pertinent powers to start the negotiations for a large diameter gas line for export.
• HB 273 “Education”- $100 million outside the BSA, broadband and technology funding, however did not adequately increase the BSA to stay layoffs for most districts.
• $9.1 billion Operating Budget made up of $5.8 in state general funds, $2 million in federal funds and $1.3 million in other funds 
• $5.4 billion Capital Budget, including the $ 3 billion for PERS/TRS funding

What happens now?

The work isn’t finished. All passed legislation including the budgets will head to the governor to be signed into law or suffer a veto. If you have issues important to you, especially capital budget projects, please consider e-mailing or writing to the governor to share how important it is to you.

Per the Alaska Constitution, the governor has the authority to line item veto budget items and given the fiscal climate, we may see a few vetoes this year.

You can e-mail Governor Sean Parnell at sean.parnell@alaska.gov or write to him at P.O. Box 110001 Juneau, AK 99811-0001

Keeping In Touch

Please be on the lookout for our end of session print newsletter with information regarding the action of this year’s Legislature.

I will be holding constituent meetings around the district. Information will be mailed out as soon as details are finalized.

Thank you- Coming Home

I want to thank all of my constituents for their e-mails, phone calls, letters and visits. This has been a dizzying session to say the least.

Our office will be transitioning home to Fairbanks over the next weeks. We may not be able to respond to your e-mails and phone calls right away.  For immediate assistance, please call the Fairbanks Legislative Information Office at 907-452-4448.

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