Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Laser Focus on Energy NOW!

The House Resources Committee heard a resolution urging the US Congress to take over Central Park. Many of you may have heard and seen the media attention surrounding HJR 31, a resolution. While I may have found the attempt humorous, most importantly, it’s a huge waste of time and state money.

I spoke up against this kind of satire legislation in the House Resources committee meeting, as the committee awaits 35 bills, some dealing with much-needed relief from the cost of energy that will help Fairbanks families. The message I want to send to the rest of the US is that we are good stewards of our resources, accountable to our constituents, and ready to lead the nation as an energy state.

My biggest frustration is that the energy crisis in the Interior is off the radar to many lawmakers in the capitol. Even the Governor seems remiss to acknowledge what an incredibly dire situation we are facing. In his annual State of the State, an eight page speech with almost 4,000 words, he mentioned the word “energy” only once?! That was in relation to resource development. Energy must remain a focus of the Interior Delegation, the Legislature and the Governor if we want relief this year. I will continue to be the voice for energy solutions for Fairbanks.

Education Funding Needs to Come Quickly!

The House Democrats and Senate Bipartisan Working Group put education and energy relief as a priority this session. Education has always been a priority for Fairbanks, and this year is no exception. The conversation about child performance and how we ensure that kids get the resources they need were a topic in the Senate Education Committee this week. Senators Joe Thomas and Senator Kevin Meyer were given props from committee member and Senate President Gary Stevens for giving SB 171 the attention it deserves this session. (You can hear Senator Steven’s BSA pitch at 8:29:58 of the committee audio.) The Senate leadership should be commended for bringing an education bill up quickly in the session so that teachers don’t get pink slips and property tax payers don’t pay more than they need. This bill advanced to the Senate Finance Committee on Monday.

Keeping teachers in Fairbanks has been an ongoing debate and I shared my thoughts in a recent community perspective piece published in the Fairbanks Daily News Miner. Ultimately, teachers, not programs, are what makes students excel and compete with students internationally for scholarships and competitive jobs.

“In order to attract the highest quality of teachers and staff, we must have a competitive compensation plan to keep the best here in Fairbanks… I fully support a salary increase for teachers and professional staff so the increasing costs of living in Fairbanks don’t drive them away. I urge the Board to do the right thing to move the negotiations beyond what seems to be an impasse.”

Working for You.

The Interior Delegation will continue to work collaboratively and have open dialogue with the Chamber of Commerce to identify pressing issues facing Interior residents, and ultimately to pass bills that will positively impact our communities. Some of the top bills our Delegation is focused on include SB 167 (decoupling), HB 276 and SB 145 (oil/gas credits for the Nenana Basin), SB 153 (gas storage), and HB 250 (renewable energy grant fund). We will continue to work hard to pass meaningful legislation in this second year of the 27th Legislature. I invite you to contact my office at any point with other bills you are interested in, concerned about or support.

Finally, I invite you to join me in raising awareness of heart disease, the number one killer in women. Tomorrow, Feb. 1, the Alaska Legislature will turn the capitol RED to promote this important cause. Find more information about how you and your colleagues can participate at www.heart.org.

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,

Representative Scott Kawasaki
City of Fairbanks