NEWS: Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition Disappointed Legislative Council Fails to Withdraw Medicaid Expansion Lawsuit
ANCHORAGE – Earlier today, the Alaska State Legislature’s Republican-controlled Legislative Council failed to withdraw its ill-advised lawsuit against Governor Bill Walker over his decision to accept federal funds to expand eligibility for the Medicaid program in Alaska. The Legislative Council, which only includes one member of the minority in the House and Senate, met behind closed doors in Anchorage to discuss the Council’s lawsuit. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Council took no action. The result of this inaction is that the lawsuit will continue.
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NEWS: Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition Welcomes Special Session Focused on Natural Gas Pipeline Issues
ANCHORAGE – On Thursday, Alaska Governor Bill Walker issued a proclamation calling the Alaska Legislature into a special session next month. The governor is asking the Legislature to consider legislation to move a project forward to get the natural gas on the North Slope to market.
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Note from Rep. Gara: “Why I Didn’t Go On Any Legislative Trips This Summer” Newsletter
I’m proud that I’ve been frugal with your money. I’ve run the lowest cost office in the Legislature for many years, and in other years I’ve barely missed being the lowest cost office to an even cheaper legislator. Though in fairness, office costs include travel to Juneau for the Legislative Session, and Legislators from parts of rural Alaska have to ship their personal belongings to Juneau every year. They can’t avoid having much higher travel costs than someone who lives in Anchorage.
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NEWS: Democrats Disappointed GOP Leadership Bypassing Budget Savings
ANCHORAGE – Tuesday, the Chairman of the Alaska Legislative Council officially signed binding legal agreements with two law firms to continue a lawsuit against Alaska Governor Bill Walker over his decision to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid eligibility in Alaska. By signing the larger of the two contracts, the Alaska Legislature must immediately pay $100,000 to a Washington D.C. advocacy law firm.
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NEWS: Back to School Laptop Drive Aims to Increase Foster Youth Success
ANCHORAGE – Today, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and Facing Foster Care in Alaska (FFCA) are launching a “Back to School” laptop donation drive for foster youth. The Laptops for Foster Youth effort works to match gently used and new laptop computers with the over 2,500 foster youth in Alaska. To date, over 600 new and used laptop computers have been matched with foster youth since Rep. Gara and Amanda Metivier of Facing Foster Care in Alaska began this community effort.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Finally! A Coastal Trail Bridge, Equal Rights Ordinance Testimony & Happy News On Parks
You’ve asked. We have the answer. This first news item goes in the “I can’t believe it’s actually going to happen” category. We’ve been told the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail bridge that collapsed last summer when a VERY heavy maintenance truck drove over it is finally going to be ready to walk, bike, ski, or run over. New Mayor Ethan Berkowitz has pressed for quick action on this, and it is scheduled to be completed by October 19, and possibly as soon as October 14.
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