Rep. Andy Josephson - I answer to you!

Make Your Voice Heard on March 25th at the S.O.S. event to “Save Our Schools!” For more information, see below.

Since the 28th Legislature convened on January 15, 2013, the Alaska State House has spent more time chastising the federal government than working on any other issue (I agree that the federal government needs to be “checked” once in a while!). I am bothered that the legislature is spending huge amounts of time on issues that were already dealt with in previous bills and resolutions. If someone told me that this would happen, I would not have believed them.

As I have said before, I strongly support the 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms, and I voted for a floor amendment that stated that very thing. Indeed, the weekend before last, Donna and I did some target shooting at the Juneau Gun Club. I appreciate the importance of firearms for hunting, personal safety and recreation. I agree that use of firearms is a fundamental right of Americans.

On Friday March 14th, the House debated yet another resolution which for a third time addressed the federal government and potential future gun laws. This resolution appeared to encourage Alaskans to take to the streets and use firearms against their own government if they feel any of their constitutional rights have been violated. Since this sort of thinking has been a reality in Alaska—not just a hypothetical—with the Schaeffer Cox militia in Fairbanks threatening the life of a judge and several other Alaskans, I believe that this type of rhetoric is way “over-the-top”, and potentially dangerous.

The initial version of the resolution said that owning a gun was more important than freely worshipping God, free speech, the right to vote, and other rights protected by the Bill of rights. While on the House floor, an amendment was offered to the resolution which clarified that the 2nd Amendment is “one of our most fundamental rights” rather than the most fundamental right. Despite passage of the amendment, 14 of the legislators voted against it—thus supporting guns over God! I called this the “Guns before God” resolution.

I will always vote for God over guns. It’s just a safer bet.

On Thursday, March 15th, the Legislature took up the $9.9 billion State Operating Budget, which funds state agencies, services, and payments to individuals and local governments. During one portion of the debate, members were threatened with political “consequences” if they chose to vote against the bill (You can’t make this stuff up!).

While I and nearly all of my caucus colleagues did vote against the budget bill, please do not mis-read those votes as opposition to all of the expenditures in the operating budget. There are certainly good things in the bill. But, the House version of the budget does not include any increase to our public schools to offset inflation. I am proud to have voted for a Democratic amendment that would have increased school funding, if it had been supported by the majority party.

The House made extensive cuts to Behavioral Health Services and Early Childhood Education (pre-K), as well as Therapeutic Courts, that were entirely unnecessary. While having smart, cost-effective budgets is always important, the state has the resources to maintain support for those programs. Further, the cuts were made in anticipation of a deliberate reduction in oil taxes, which some say is a “give away” of our resources to the industry. While the budget proposed by our conservative Governor did not include needed school funding, it was far more favorable to the programs I’ve noted, than is the State House’s version. This should tell you something about the House budget.

Go to the Anchorage Legislative Information Office (716 W 4th Ave., Suite 200) next Monday to make your voice heard on issues such as adequate school funding, school vouchers, and why pre-K education works.

Here is the agenda:

· 1:00 – Presentations from:
1. Diane Ravitch - Author, Research Professor of Education and NYU, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C., former Assistant Secretary of Education

2. Debi Baldwin - Child Development Division Director, Rural Community

· 1:30: Public Testimony

· 2:50: Closing Remarks

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please contact me on my personal cell phone which serves Midtown, University, and East Anchorage residents (575-2639) or on my office phone toll free at (800) 465-4939.