Note from Rep. Gara: Compassion for Combat Veterans: Bill Heard Today
How many politicians have you seen, from presidential candidates on down, who’ll drape themselves in the American flag for a vote? I’m not one for lip services about bills that don’t do anything, or for political flag draping.
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Note from Rep. Gara: How Education Cuts Are Tied To the Oil Giveaway; Foster Youth Volunteer Training
OK, this will be short. Really. I’ve spent the week writing a detailed document on how the oil giveaway passed last year requires nothing from oil companies in return for their billions in Alaska tax breaks. Giving away billions without requiring anything in return is a fool’s game. And it’s killing our schools.
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CORRECTED: Note from Rep. Gara: Politicians Should Give Back Your Vote, Avoid Annual Abortion Scuffle
Today I filed legislation no party in power would like. It will give you back your vote by eliminating the power the party in power has to gerrymander districts in their favor. This hasn’t been a monopoly of Republicans, though they gerrymandered Alaska’s lines most recently in 2012. Parties have used their majority status to “gerrymander” districts, to try to pre-determine election results, since Governor Elbridge Gerry did it in 1812.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Budget Testimony Tuesday; Pebble Mine Being Panned?
There’s still quite a bit of work to do on the budget, and your input is needed. If you live in Anchorage, testimony is Tuesday from 4:15 to 5:45. The temporary legislative information office (LIO) is located at 733 W 4th Ave, Suite 100 (right across the street from the former location). You must sign in to testify, and testimony is limited to two minutes per person. A list of testimony times and days for people around the state can be found below.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Saturday: Speak Out To Your Legislators & Education Rally
This Saturday you get your say to legislators. In Person! That means you get to speak your mind, rather than send e-mails that some legislators don’t read, or letters that some legislators may toss. Back Problem Alert: I will be coming out of a back procedure and hope to make it all day Saturday, but have to get clearance from my doc!
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