JANUARY 24, 2014

Representing District 15:
Midtown, University, and East Anchorage

I Answer to You!

Contact my office:
State Capitol Room 430
Juneau AK, 99801
(907) 465-4939
(800) 465-4939
 
Click here to write me an email
 
Click here to visit my website
 
  

Write a Letter to the Editor
submit your 175 word letter to the Anchorage Daily News via e-mail letter@adn.com, or fax them to 258-2157, attn: letters to the editor.

Contact other elected officials

Governor Sean Parnell
907-269-7450
EMAIL: Gov. Sean Parnell

Senator Mark Begich
907-271-5915
EMAIL: Sen. Mark Begich

Senator Lisa Murkowski
907-271-3735
EMAIL: Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Congressman Don Young
907-271-5978
EMAIL: Rep. Don Young

Early Observations

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

My staff and I have reached the end of the first week of session. I wanted to take the time in this newsletter to update you on some of my early observations about what’s happened and what’s to come this session:  things like more money to public schools or vouchers, HB77, and a large diameter natural gasline.

My staff and I are back to work in Juneau, contact our office any time!

More money for public schools and a push for vouchers?

Wednesday, the Governor delivered his State of the State Address.  I am happy to see that he has come around to putting more money toward the Base Student Allocation (BSA - which is the amount of funds school districts receive to invest in an individual student).  However, I am concerned that he envisions trading desperately needed classroom dollars for publically funding private schools, otherwise known as vouchers.  Besides being unconstitutional, that is not something I will tolerate.  Our public schools and our public school teachers deserve genuine support.  

Meeting with kindergartners from Tudor Elementary School

HB 77: A Fight for Our Rights

I continue to pay close attention to HB 77 (water rights legislation).   Due to incredible public support (over 830 people attended meetings in 5 different cities across the state, 340 people voiced opposition to the bill—including myself!--and just 1 person spoke in favor who was a paid lobbyist) the Senate Resources committee will be reviewing the bill for a second time.   I believe that HB 77 is an example of “state overreach” by taking away the public’s right to know what is happening in their own backyard when it comes to salmon streams.   I will continue to monitor the bill as it moves its way through the process. 

Hundreds of people packed public hearings on HB 77 this fall

Will we finally get the gasline?

The big ticket item of this legislative session will be setting the state up for a natural gas pipeline and an LNG liquefaction plant.   APRN did a very good job of explaining the state’s intentions in this news article. The House Resources committee will begin hearings on the bill next week. After the bill is vetted in the Resources Committee, it will be heard in a committee I am a member of, House Labor and Commerce.  I am looking forward to learning the “ins and outs” of this very important issue that will affect all Alaskans.

In other news, I have a new committee assignment and a new aide. Both very exciting!  I now sit on the Legislative Ethics committee that works to make government more transparent and acts on violations of the legislative code of ethics.  We are excited to welcome John Church to our office who is a UAA Legislative intern.  John’s family moved to Palmer in the 1930’s with Roosevelt’s initiative to put Americans back to work during the New Deal. His family continues to manage and work a farm in Palmer. 

I’m also very happy to report that Meghan Cavanaugh and Catherine Reardon have returned to my staff this year.

Please contact me if I can be of assistance to you or your family,

I Answer to You!

Sincerely,

Representative Andy Josephson
State Capitol Room 430
Juneau AK, 99801
Phone: 907-465-4939
Rep.Andy.Josephson@akleg.gov