APRIL 7, 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

Thirteen days. Where are we?

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Before moving to Juneau for the 90 day legislative session, I wrote a newsletter predicting the big issues for this year.  Well, it’s day 77. Only thirteen days to go (assuming we do not go in to a special or “extended” session). In this newsletter, I want to give you an update on those issues and where they are in the legislative process.

Rep. Gara looks a little jealous of my slice of pie that represents ½ of 1% of the Alaska Budget Reserves needed to adequately fund education!

Education:

Today is a big day for the omnibus education bill, House Bill 278. The bill will be debated on the House floor later this evening, around 5pm. I expect a great deal of amendments will be offered on the floor and substantial discussion surrounding those amendments. You can watch the debate live here.

Watch the education debate here

The bill deals with many aspects of public education in Alaska. Perhaps the most hotly contested has been the Base Student Allocation (BSA). The BSA is the part of school funding for direct classroom services and, unlike one time funding, is a source that school districts can count on year to year. Due to incredible efforts by parent and youth advocates we have seen some success in raising the BSA, which has not been increased for the past four years nor kept up with inflation. However, the current version of the bill does not meet the level of funding necessary for Anchorage schools to avoid cuts next year.

Check out this entertaining video produced by Students With  A Voice!  Great Alaska Schools is a group of parents who have spent the past week talking to legislators and organizing a rally on the front steps of the Capitol. Take a look at their website here; it’s full of great information on education. 

Speaking with the inspirational youth activists from Alaska Youth for Environmental Action at their annual Civics and Conservation Summit

Gasline:

The gasline project, deemed AK LNG, had a busy weekend of hearings in the House Resources committee. The piece of legislation is Senate Bill 138, which still needs to go through the House Labor and Commerce Committee as well as the House Finance Committee for vetting. It then goes to the House floor for a vote. If the bill makes it through its committees of referral, as well as passes on the House floor (and the Senate agrees to any changes made), it will become law.

A flow chart outlining the various decision making structures for the AK LNG project. View the larger version of the chart here.

My past two newsletters that you can read here and here have focused on the basics of the AK LNG project. I will send another update about this project once the bill makes it through the committee process. If you have any questions or would like to know more about this project, please contact me at my office.

House Bill 77:

Advocates for the public process and protecting our salmon streams had a huge win last week! HB 77 has been highly contentious since it was introduced and passed the House last year. After being held up in the Senate, the bill received several hearings in Senate Resources Committee this legislative session. Due to an incredible grassroots effort and public outcry, the bill is dead.  An inspiration to all who prioritize the public process and protection of our anadromous streams and rivers!

Senator French holds up the stacks of letters written in opposition to HB 77

The next two weeks will be busy ones. On top of working on the gasline and education, we need to pass both the capital and operating budgets. We will be working until the last minute of adjournment day (April 20th) unless it is decided that we need more time to deal with specific issues. I hope to get back to Anchorage as soon as we gavel out!

Youth activists at a rally on the Capitol steps!

Feel free to contact me whenever in the next two weeks. I receive a lot of email communication, so if you have something urgent you would like to speak with me about, call me at my office at 465-4939. 

As always, if I can be assistance to you or your family, please let me know,

I Answer to You!

Sincerely,

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

p.s. Keep a lookout in your inbox for an action alert email reminding you about public testimony on the Capital Budget in the coming week! 

p.p.s. Today is National Coffee Cake day, treat yourself, and have a great week!