I hope you are enjoying the last weeks of summer and have found time to explore our wonderful mountains, rivers, beaches, and trails. Good luck to all of the students returning to school! I had a great time at West High’s Homecoming Game last Friday and was honored to do the coin toss at the start of the game.
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In this week’s newsletter, I am sharing some news highlights from the last two weeks. Since the legislature adjourned, I have attended many community events, met with neighbors around our community, and am working to hear from as many West Anchorage residents as possible. If you have an event you would like me to attend, or would like to meet with me in person, please let us know!
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Last week, Governor Walker announced that he will use his executive authority to expand Medicaid and improve access to affordable healthcare to all Alaskans. While the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee now has 45 days to respond to the Governor’s decision, the Attorney General and the Legislature’s attorney agree that the Governor is within his Alaska Constitutional authority to accept Medicaid expansion. This decision is good for Alaska.
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I encourage everyone to join me downtown today for the Inauguration of our new Mayor, Ethan Berkowitz. The Inauguration will be at the Anchorage Towne Square (544 W 5th Ave) from 4pm to 7pm. I look forward to working with the new Municipal Administration on issues effecting Anchorage, specifically the Turnagain, Spenard, and Sand Lake communities.
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After weeks of negotiations, the House and Senate finally passed budget bills this afternoon that ended the second Special Session of the 29th Alaska State Legislature. Additionally, the Senate passed “Erin’s Law,” also known as the Alaska Safe Children’s Act, which I was pleased to support in the House. Throughout these challenging times, I have continued to prioritize: investing in public education, building a strong economy, honoring our commitments, and improving access to health care for all Alaskans.
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Budget negotiations continue to dominate the discussion as the Legislature works through its second Special Session of the year. Last Friday, the House Independent-Democratic Coalition and the House Republican Majority reached a compromise that passed the House by a 38-2 vote. Over the weekend, however, the Senate failed to agree with the House bipartisan budget, forcing further negotiations.
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Today is the Anchorage Mayoral Run-off Election. Your vote is your voice as an American citizen and an Alaskan. It is your opportunity to be heard, to hold elected officials accountable, and to have a say in important issues that affect your community.
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Last Thursday, I voted to keep the Legislature working so we could pass a fully funded budget, provide access to affordable healthcare to all Alaskans through Medicaid expansion, and meet our constitutional duty to adequately fund public education. Instead, the House and Senate Majorities passed resolutions by straight party line votes that allow the Legislature to take a recess until May 12th. Senate and House Finance Committees will continue to meet, but the Legislature will not convene a floor session until May 12th.
Read More →Yesterday, the Legislature adjourned by passing a budget that does not provide access to affordable healthcare to all Alaskans through Medicaid expansion and does not meet our constitutional duty to adequately fund public education. In addition, the budget provides only partial funding for next year and does not reflect the legislative consensus that the Alaska Constitution demands in challenging fiscal times. This Legislature needed to make smart cuts to the budget, but the cuts approved only by the majority are not in line with the interests of the people of Alaska, the Governor, and the Independent-Democratic Coalition.
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Today is the 91st day of the legislative session. Over the past two weeks, I have received countless emails and letters from Alaskans across the state and within our district about several major issues. It is inspiring to hear from so many Alaskans, keep up the good work! In this newsletter, I want to let you know what the Legislature should address before we can head home, and my view on the issues that have received so much public attention.
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