JUNE 26, 2015

Representing District 17:
Midtown, University, and East Anchorage

I Answer to You!

Contact my office:
716 W 4th Ave, Room 412
Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 269-0265
 
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Contact other elected officials

Governor Bill Walker
907-269-7450
EMAIL: Gov. Bill Walker

Senator Dan Sullivan
907-271-5915
EMAIL: Sen. Dan Sullivan

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

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

Legislative Update
First Two Weeks of Interim

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The first two weeks of interim have come and gone. Here is what I have been up to during that time.

Resources Hearings in Nikiski and Kenai

On the 16th and 17th of June the House and Senate Resource Committees held joint hearings to discuss the progress of the AKLNG project, as well as hear from industry representatives about their use of oil tax credits and what they look for before investing. On the 16th we received a tour of the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) plant site in Nikiski (where North Slope natural gas would be chilled and prepared for export to Asia) and heard from the AKLNG team about where the project stands and what important dates are coming up. As many of you have probably heard there will likely be a special session called later this fall to discuss and sign some important contracts so that the project can move ahead as scheduled.

On the 17th of June the Walker administration as well as a few small oil producers came and presented on the topic of tax credits and how they are distributed and used. It was a very informative, though very technical hearing. You can watch the video of the hearing here. With oil revenue playing such a large role in Alaska’s economy I believe that another discussion about our oil tax structure will happen sooner rather than later.

CSG Conference

Also last week I traveled to Washington D.C. to attend a Council of State Government (CSG) conference on Medicaid Expansion. This was a great opportunity to meet and network with some of the foremost experts on Medicaid Expansion. I learned a lot about how other states have set up creative Medicaid Expansion systems and it has given me hope that Alaska will finally see Medicaid expanded. After all, it is the right thing to do.

While away from the conference I took some time to see the sights. This was the first time I have been in D.C. since the completion of the Martin Luther King Jr. monument so I made sure I was able to go see it. What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. If you have the opportunity to visit the nation’s capital I would highly recommend going to see it.

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

I Answer to You!

Sincerely,

Representative Andy Josephson
Anchorage LIO Room 412
Phone: 907-269-0265