Note from Rep. Gara: Ducking Responsibility: Losing 217 More Education Staff; Police Cuts; and a Volunteer Opportunity
Dear Neighbors,
Sometimes the news reports things as if they just happened out of the blue. With dwindling reporters, it’s hard for the media to connect actions by the Governor and Legislature with what happens months later. Well, let’s talk about that. And let’s talk about that feel-good, but unsustainable spike in drunk driving enforcement you may have read about, and ….opportunities and sobering facts relating to Hunger Action Month.
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NEWS: “New” Oil Regs a Fool’s Errand, Need More Work and Review
Democratic Legislators highlight big risks in draft Oil Wealth Giveaway regulations
JUNEAU – Today, Alaska Democratic Legislators warned of significant risks, impossible expectations, and the potential for industry to game the system in their official comment letter to the Alaska Department of Revenue on its proposed regulations for Senate Bill 21, the governor’s oil wealth giveaway.
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Note from Rep. Gara: Good Urban and Rural Projects, and That Tennis Court.
A Newer, Safer, Stronger Covenant House
First, Covenant House opened a new facility in Anchorage - which the Legislature, private entities and foundations and others helped fund. And you might want to volunteer there after reading this - their number is 272-1255. I did last week on a pizza and movie outing, and plan to again.
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NEWS: Congress’ Student Loan Fix Highlights Need for Alaska Rate Reduction
Today’s federal deal doesn’t lower burden of high-cost Alaska student loans
Today, after Congress passed a compromise plan to address federal student loan rates, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) is encouraged that this could improve the chances of finding a way to reduce the high cost of Alaska student loans and help lower the costs of higher education and job training for Alaskans.
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NEWS: As Congress Debates Student Loans, Alaska Should Act
Reps. Gara and Tarr reach out to fellow legislators to lower student loan costs
Today, as Congress continues to debate the doubling of federal student loan rates, Representative Les Gara and Representative Geran Tarr (both D-Anchorage) reached out to fellow Alaska lawmakers to help lower the costs of higher education, job training, and high student loan rates for Alaskans. The two lawmakers wrote their colleagues in the House of Representatives seeking their input and collaboration before the 2014 legislative session.
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Note from Rep Gara: Action Alert- Toothless the Cat and Former Foster Youth Who Lost Everything in Monday’s Home Fire
A Time To Help
I came back from a great vacation to bad news – that two hard-working former foster youth who are struggling to succeed, and their roommate who works at Campfire and helps foster and disadvantaged youth, lost everything in Monday’s Eastside home fire. This is where we come in.
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