HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Dear Neighbors,

With many new exciting changes coming, and as we look forward to 2015, I want to wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy holiday season. Personally, 2014 has been an exciting year filled with big changes and lots of hard work. I am grateful to all the people in the communities I represent who have supported me and shared their hopes for a strong and healthy Southeast Alaska. Together, we can make positive changes that will ensure our children have a bright future.

This year, I was able to go to many events in all of the communities in District 33, where I enjoyed getting to know the people in the district, but our conversations do not stop there. I would like to extend an open invitation to everyone to come by my office in the State Capitol, whether to visit or bring attention to an important issue. My door is open, and I look forward to seeing you. If you are unable to come in to the office for some reason, you are invited to call or send an email.

I was proud to attend the swearing in ceremony at Centennial Hall for Governor Walker and Lieutenant Governor Mallott. I took this picture during Lt. Governor Mallott’s speech.

CHANGES WITH NEW SESSION

There will be several changes coming with the new session that starts January 20. I will be representing some new communities, and losing others as part of the newest redistricting. I will no longer be representing Petersburg, Kupreanof, Tenakee Springs, and Hobart Bay. I will now be representing Haines and Klukwan, while retaining Skagway, Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Downtown Juneau, Douglas, and Lemon Creek.

I will also be serving on different committees this session. Last session, I filled in as the alternate on the Education committee and sat on the Community& Regional Affairs Committee. This session, I will be serving on the Labor & Commerce, Legislative Council, and Legislative Budget & Audit Committees. These committee assignments will provide me with the ability to work on key pieces of legislation, including updating the current retirement system with a modified defined benefit program that will not result in an increase of cost to the state. My role on Legislative Council will allow me to carefully track Legislative facility improvements and other expenses associated with the operation of the Legislative branch. Legislative Budget and Audit will allow me to work closely with departments to encourage efficiencies, have a critical role in legislative procurement, and carefully track state spending year-round.

STAFF CHANGES

It is with great sadness that we are saying goodbye to Hannah McCarty, my year-round staffer. Hannah will be moving from Juneau to the Seattle area in January. She has been a very valuable member of my staff from the time I was appointed and was instrumental in helping with the transition from Representative Kerttula to myself. Hannah worked with Representative Kerttula and district constituents for the past ten years and she will be missed by all of those who have had the pleasure to work with her.

With Hannah’s departure, my office will be bringing on two new legislative aides, and a First Alaskans Institute fellow. My year-round aide will be Bianca Carpeneti, and my session aide will be Tally Teal. We will also be welcoming an intern, John Stickman who is a senior at the University of Fairbanks and is majoring in Alaska Native Studies. John will be joining us as our First Alaskans Public Policy Fellow.

With the new session we will also be moving offices, and will not know which office we will be in until closer to session. If you are in the Capitol between now and January, we should still be in our borrowed room, 400, but check-in on the ground-floor to be sure.

Rep. Kito III gave a tour of the Capitol to the visiting delegation from Juneau’s sister city Kalibo, Philippines.

Rep. Kito III visited the American Bald Eagle Foundation during his visit to Haines and Klukwan.

JUNEAU ACCESS COMMENT PERIOD OPEN

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) has applied for a permit with the US Army Corps of Engineers to build the Juneau Access road. Comments are due by December 31 and can be submitted via email to regpagemaster@usace.army.mil.

The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. The notice specifies the permit is for the alternative commonly referred to as 2B. More information can be found on the Corps website or contact Randal Vigil at (907) 790-4490 or by email at Randal.P.Vigil@usace.army.mil.

REPLACEMENT VESSEL STUDY COMMENT PERIOD OPEN

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) Alaska Marine Highway System has made the Tustumena Replacement Vessel Design Study Report available online at dot.state.ak.us/amhs/tusty_replace.

ADOT&PF will be accepting public comments through January 9, 2015. Comments may be submitted via email to dot.amhs.tustumenareplacement@alaska.gov.

The Design Study Report provides the concept design for the Tustumena Replacement Vessel including profile and deck drawings. The report details vessel characteristics such as length, capacity, layout, vehicle configuration, and passenger amenities. The report also outlines estimates for vessel construction and projected annual operating costs.

Rep. Kito III at the Democratic election night party with his dad Sam Kito Jr. and Joy Demmert.

Rep. Sam Kito III’s daughter Gabi (3rd from left in back row) pictured with her JDHS Swim Team and their trophy for winning the state championship.

SIGN UP FOR HEALTH INSURANCE

How Do I Enroll Myself and My Family in Health Insurance under the Affordable Care Act?

Alaskans can sign up through Healthcare.gov (https://www.healthcare.gov) or 1-800-318-2596 or call 2-1-1 to connect with enrollment information and professional assistance.

Choosing a Plan:

Ending February 15, 2015, you can choose a new health plan for 2015 (or decide to keep your current plan). There are important considerations when choosing a plan. Only you can make the final decision on what choice is right for you and your family, but there is help available to make a more informed decision.

Navigators, Certified Application Counselors, and insurance agents and brokers are all available and eager to help you choose the best plan for you for 2015.

There are several important things to consider when you compare Marketplace plans:

· Plan category: There are 5 categories of Marketplace insurance plans: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Catastrophic. Plans in these categories differ based on how you and the plan share the costs of your care. The categories have nothing to do with the amount or quality of care you get, only how much you pay out of pocket versus in premiums.

· Monthly premiums: This is the amount you pay your insurance company for your plan, usually monthly, whether you use medical services or not.

· Out-of-pocket costs: These include the costs you pay before your insurance begins to pay its share (your deductible, copayments, coinsurance, and your out-of-pocket maximum).

· Type of insurance plan and provider network: Some types of plans allow you to see almost any doctor or health care facility. Others limit your choices to a network of doctors and facilities or require you to pay more if you use providers outside the network.

Benefits: All plans sold through the Marketplace provide the same essential health benefits, and cover pre-existing conditions, and offer free preventive services. But some plans offer additional benefits.

From left to right: Democratic Caucus members Sam Kito III, Max Gruenberg, Chris Tuck, Geran Tarr, Matt Claman, Harriet Drummond, Adam Wool, Les Gara, Scott Kawasaki, Andy Josephson, Jonathan Kreiss-Thompkins, and David Guttenberg. Not pictured is Dan Ortiz, who had not yet joined the caucus.

NEW CAUCUS MEMBERS

I am very pleased that we welcomed three new members to the House Democratic Caucus, growing our number from 10 to 13. This is an important milestone that gives our caucus additional seats on all of the standing committees and the ability to negotiate on budget issues to make sure that any withdrawals from our savings accounts are done in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all Alaskans. Our newest Caucus members are Matt Claman of West Anchorage, Adam Wool of Fairbanks, and Dan Ortiz of Ketchikan. Our Caucus shares the following unified goals:

• Growing Alaska’s economy,

• Improving our children’s education,

• Working to create good paying jobs for Alaskans,

• Protecting our neighborhoods, and

• Improving healthcare delivery in our state.

If you have any questions please call or stop by my office in the Capitol Building.

Sincerely,

Sam Kito III