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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
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| Pumping up the crowd at a rally to support public education |
In several of my previous newsletters, I focused on what I believe are detrimental cuts to education. This week
a welcomed wave of public support for education funding crashed down on the legislature.
Also, a big congratulations to the to the East High School boys’ basketball team for winning the State Championship! Way to go T-birds!
Let’s Save Our Schools
On Monday members of the House and Senate minorities held a public hearing to Save Our Schools. We heard from Alaskans on issues such as the Base Student Allocation (the funds school districts receive to invest in an individual student), early education and pre-K funding, and school vouchers. School board members, teachers, parents, and concerned citizens expressed their reservations about the direction of education funding within the legislature.
The testimony was powerful and I would like to share a few of the most memorable quotes with you:
“Education should be our number one priority. We need to keep our priorities straight.”
“Pre-K is a vital foothold for disadvantaged children, and school counselors are essential for guidance in high school.”
“If we believe our children are our future, we will find the funds for these children.”
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| The room was packed during the Save Our Schools public testimony |
I share these concerns, and will continue to support increased funding for the BSA (Base Student Allocation) and early education programs, as well as oppose legislation that would lay the groundwork for a statewide school voucher program. House Bill 95, supported by the entire House minority, aims to inflation proof the BSA; however that bill has not been given a hearing in the House Education Committee, which is chaired by a majority member.
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| Public school supporters at the education rally – check out a Youtube clip of one of their chants here |
The public hearing was followed on Tuesday by a very successful rally on the front steps of the capitol
building. Local school board members, teachers, students, and parents gathered with homemade signs to show their support for public education. The chants and enthusiasm could be heard and felt outside and inside the building.
The support and pressure from the public is working. In a recent press conference some legislators in the Senate majority said they may finally agree to add funds to help stem the loss of school staff, needed technology, and curriculum. Keep up the good work! Write letters to the editor in your local papers, and the Anchorage Daily News (letters@ADN.com 175 word limit). I will continue to keep you updated on the issue; please let me know if I can answer any questions.
Protecting all Alaskans
I believe that all of our children deserve an outstanding public education. I also believe that all Alaskans
deserve affordable access to health care coverage. That is why last week I filed a resolution urging Governor Parnell to accept federal Medicaid expansion dollars under the Affordable Care Act. Expanding Medicaid would inject two billion dollars into our economy, create over 4,000 new jobs, and provide health benefits to 41,500 uninsured Alaskans. Expanding Medicaid would mitigate cost shifting of uninsured Alaskans to hospital emergency rooms and other insured Alaskans.
This study by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is a great resource if you would like to learn more about this issue.
University News
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| Rep. Tuck, Rep. Tarr, and I competed as a team in the annual Legislative Shootout. Congratulations to Rep. Tuck who had the highest score out of all the legislators! |
Tonight is the kick–off meeting for the UMED District Plan. The UMED district planning area is bound by Northern Lights, Baxter Road, Tudor, and Lake Otis. The meeting will serve as an introduction to the plan and a time to share your thoughts, visions, and desires for the future of the UMED District. Here is a letter that includes more details about the meeting.
Tomorrow is the “Urban in Alaska” event which is a free conference and workshop for scholars and community members to engage in dialogue together about current research on Anchorage as an urban space. Here is the daily schedule for the event.
Please let me know if I can help answer any of your questions or concerns.
I Answer to You!
Sincerely,
![Andy Josephson[signed]](../../josephson/sig.gif "Pete [signed]")
Representative Andy Josephson
State Capitol, Room 430
Phone: 907-465-4939
Rep.Andy.Josephson@akleg.gov |
Serving Neighbors in Midtown, University, and East Anchorage
