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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Note from Rep. Gara: Call Off $100,00 Medicaid Law Firm Signing Bonus
Today Rep. Sam Kito III and I called on those suing the Governor over Medicaid Expansion to save the state money, in a few ways.
First, as you know, I think spending $450,000 on a lawsuit instead of passing the pending Medicaid Expansion & Reform bill (which would result in $330 million in budget savings over just the first six years) is imprudent. It’s hiring lawyers to dig a deeper budget hole
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NEWS: Democrats Say There is Still Time to Get Out of Expensive Medicaid Expansion Lawsuit Contract
Contract Should be Stopped Before it’s Formally Executed FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 10, 2015 ANCHORAGE – Today, Democratic Representatives Sam Kito (D-Juneau) and Les Gara (D-Anchorage) called on the Alaska Legislative Council to drop the lawsuit filed against Alaska Governor Bill Walker over his decision to accept federal funding to provide healthcare to thousands of …
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NEWS: Legislative Council Must Drop Medicaid Expansion Lawsuit to Save Money and Secure Better Health Outcomes for Thousands of Alaskans
ANCHORAGE – Today, the members of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition (AIDC) and the Alaska Senate Democrats sent a letter to the majority leadership in the Alaska Legislature asking them to drop the lawsuit intended to stop Medicaid expansion in Alaska.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Alaska Doing Anything On Climate Change? Our Energy Efficiency Legislation: Saving $, Slowing Climate Change
This week’s focus on climate change made me remember that, well, we have actually done some good work in this area. There is a lot more to do, and we can both save money while taking positive action. If we care about fish, a fishing economy, wildlife and game, and eroding shorelines, we need to care about climate change.
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NEWS: Welcome to Alaska Mr. President
ANCHORAGE – The thirteen members of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition are excited to welcome President Barak Obama to Alaska this week. The President is scheduled to speak tonight at the GLACIER conference at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage followed by trips to rural Alaska later this week. The GLACIER conference, which is focused on the Arctic, will include foreign dignitaries and experts on Arctic issues.
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