APRIL 14, 2015

Representing District 17:
Midtown, University, and East Anchorage

I Answer to You!

Contact my office:
State Capitol Bldg., Rm 430
Juneau, AK 99801
(907) 465-4939
(800) 465-4939
 
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Governor Bill Walker
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EMAIL: Sen. Lisa Murkowski

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EMAIL: Rep. Don Young

Legislative Update
The Budgets and HB119

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Before I start I want to say “Thank You” to all the people that have been emailing me lately. My email box is overflowing with emails from concerned constituents on a variety of issues ranging from education funding and Medicaid expansion to comments on some of the people the Governor has appointed to various Boards and Commissions. It may take me awhile to reply to you all, but know that I appreciate and personally read every email that comes to me.

These past few weeks have been quite busy as we try to react to some of the budget cuts made by the Majority. These include, but are not limited to, an additional $47 million cut from education, cutting the contractually agreed to salary increases for state employees, and inserting intent language meant to keep the Governor from expanding Medicaid should the legislature fail to act. As we wind down the 90-day session I want to give you a look at what we still have to do with the budget.

The Budgets

The Senate voted on the State Capital Budget Saturday after some final amendments were offered late Thursday night in the Senate Finance Committee. Now that they have voted on and passed the bill to the House we have about a week to work on it. There is very little state money in this year’s Capital budget (only $114 million UGF being used to leverage over $1.2 billion in Federal Funds), but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any changes made in the House. House Finance will be holding statewide public testimony tonight, April 14th.

If you are unable to make it to the LIO you can submit your written testimony to lhscfin@akle.gov.

The Operating Budget moved another step towards completion now that each body has appointed a conference committee. The House will be represented by the two co-chairs of House Finance, Rep. Thompson and Rep. Neuman, and Rep. Gara from our Caucus. The Senate will be represented by its two co-chairs of Senate Finance, Sen. MacKinnon and Sen. Kelly, and Sen. Olson from the Senate Minority. These members will meet over the next couple of days to try to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the Budget. Most of you are aware that one of the biggest differences between the two budgets is the funding of education. The Senate made additional cuts to the BSA that the House did not make and would not accept. I am hopeful that these funds will be restored during the conference committee process. I would expect to see a new budget sometime late this week.

HB119: Protecting Bristol Bay

Representative Josephson presents HB119 to the (H) Fisheries Committee. You can watch the hearing here.

Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to present one of my bills to the House Special Committee on Fisheries.  House Bill 119 goes with the spirit of Ballot Measure 4 (Bristol Bay Forever) and adds another layer of protection.  HB119 would require the Commissioners of the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Conservation and Fish and Game to make independent determinations that any permit applicant for any large-scale mine in the region has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that such a mine would not constitute a danger to the fisheries.

Following my presentation and some testimony, I was thrilled to see the bill move from committee! To my knowledge this is one of the few Bristol Bay mining bills that has been moved from its first committee. HB119 now goes to the House Resource Committee for further vetting.

As always, please call or email with any thoughts, ideas, or concerns.

I Answer to You!

Sincerely,

Representative Andy Josephson
State Capitol Bldg. Room 430
Phone: 907-465-4939