Dear Neighbor,

Things are really starting to roll as the holidays are approaching. The next legislative session is just around the corner, and the Interior Delegation has been meeting with constituent groups of the Fairbanks North Star Borough on their legislative priorities and funding requests.

While Alaska remains one of the only states in the nation to have a positive financial outlook, it is still impossible to fund everything brought before the Legislature. As a resource state, we have to consider the volatile nature of our cash reserves and look into solutions that plan for a sustainable future. This is the advice we give to organizations requesting support from the state, and this is advice the Alaska Legislature should heed itself.

In the next session, we will be hearing from people who believe lowering tax credits for oil companies will provide more investment in the long run. We will consider positions of others who believe that the energy infrastructure must advance past crude oil, and we will hear from many on their golden ticket idea to provide low energy costs with a natural gas pipeline. All of these pieces are important, and I believe that none of them can be sustainable options alone.

The sensitive place our state is in will prevail with leadership that can find common ground and solutions that work from border to border. We must go to Juneau armed with plans from our respective communities that welcome the cooperation of other towns and villages struggling to find their own solutions to their own unique issues. Then, we must collectively agree on what will be the best for the peoples of Alaska. This year, infrastructure will take a priority on the floor of the Legislature, and the conversation will revolve around the dollars we receive on the energy resources we have today. Please consider our office a resource for your projects and ideas.

I Know I Can School Reading

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to visit Barnette Elementary and Joy Elementary to read to second grade students about going to college in the UA I Know I Can program. First, we read the book, I Know I Can to the students. They love following the characters throughout the book and discovering what they want to be when they grow up. Then, the students draw a picture of the job they want to do when they grow up on a postcard. These postcards will be sent to the students in two years, when they are in the 4th grade, to foster the idea of attending college after school. A Census Bureau study released last month shows that students who graduate from college earn more than students without a college degree.

I love going to school and remember the days I walked the hallways. It is always fun to see what education techniques are being used today. Elementary kids have LOTS of energy, and talking to them about what they want to be when they grow up always proves to be an interesting discussion. Thank you to UAF and specifically, Ashley Munro for inviting me to participate.

It’s COLD Out There

The Interior is setting record temperatures this week for cold, cold weather. I want to be sure you are all safe out there on the road, so here are a few cold car tips to keep in mind when braving the elements:

• Keep your gas tank full! Well, at least keep it over the half-way mark, just to ensure your gas line doesn’t freeze up. Water is heavier than gas, so it sinks to the bottom, and when temperatures plunge, it can freeze and plug up your fuel line leaving you stranded.
   
• Plug it in! Plug in your car as much as you can throughout the day. If you are concerned about energy efficiency, get a timer to affix to your power source. Keep an extension cord in your car to plug in at work, if that option is available.
   
• Pack your bags! Keep an emergency kit that includes an extra pair of gloves, a hat, wool socks, a blanket, and jumper cables accessible in your car just in case you get stranded. Fairbanksians are known for their good will in watching out for stranded motorists during this time of year, but temperatures this low are dangerous without winter gear – so prepare yourself for the worse, and hope for the best!
  

Working Hard for Fairbanks Families,

Scott Kawasaki
Alaska State Representative