March 31, 2015 Juneau - Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage, and Sen. Bill Wielechowski, D-Anchorage, hold a press conference about emergency legislation to help address Alaska’s fiscal crisis.
Read More →JUNEAU— In the next fiscal year, the State of Alaska will be required to pay out $700 million in oil company tax credits while the state is projected to only take in $300 million in production taxes. That will result in a net loss of $400 million to the public. Senator Bill Wielechowski (D-Anchorage) and Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) have sponsored legislation to protect Alaska in times of depressed oil prices by adjusting the current production tax floor from 4% to 12.5%.
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Juneau – Today, the House State Affairs Committee passed House Bill 61. The Legislation fixes a loophole in the law and honors those veterans who have demonstrated valor in combat while in the line of duty. Current law leaves out license plate designations for a number of important “valor in combat” medals.
Read More →Juneau – The 13 members of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition support the Medicaid expansion legislation unveiled Tuesday by Governor Bill Walker.
Read More →Juneau – The Alaska House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Thursday night without the support of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition. All 13 members voted no because the budget harms seniors and children while protecting corporate interests and unaffordable projects. The Republican budget includes the total elimination of pre-k programs and a significant $32 million cut in funding for K-12 public education. Overall, the budget deficit still remains $3.5 billion. The Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition proposed millions of dollars in spending cuts while supporting efforts to protect education, seniors and kids.
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Juneau – Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) intends to file legislation this week to stop a large oil company subsidy that increases the budget deficit. The bill has been filed with the House Clerk and will be officially introduced on Wednesday.
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