JUNEAU - Today, House Democratic leadership announced updated committee assignments for the upcoming legislative session. The seats on the Finance and Resources Committees are tentative until a final decision is made once the entire caucus can meet in person. Currently, one member is out of town due to a family medical situation.
Read More →Well, first, Happy New Year! The extra six pounds I’m carrying around from the holiday season seem very happy, though I’m not too happy with them. I’ve been in a big fight with them lately. I’ll just say we’re not friends. OK, onto more important matters…
Read More →(ANCHORAGE) – Today Democratic legislators announced they were pre-filing legislation this coming week to help diversify Alaska’s resource-dependent economy, so that job opportunities can be created in new areas, in addition to resource jobs.
Read More →Measure cuts high loan rates for Alaskans who remain in or return to Alaska
JUNEAU – Today, seven Democratic legislators announced they will pre-file legislation to reduce the high cost of student loans for Alaskans who stay in or return to Alaska. “It is telling that you can get a 2.75 percent interest rate for a used car loan, but pay upwards of 6.5 to 8 percent for job training and college loans in Alaska,” said Rep. Les Gara. Lowering the cost of education and job training for Alaskans helps both students and the state by reducing costs to Alaskans and giving all Alaskans who want to open new career doors the incentive to help improve Alaska’s economy.
Read More →(ANCHORAGE) – Today Rep. Les Gara and the foster care group, Facing Foster Care In Alaska (FFCA), are launching the third annual Laptops for Foster Youth Holiday Drive. Over the past two years this drive has resulted in approximately 200 matches for youth. “Laptops are crucial to helping youth improve their chances of success in school, and establishing normalcy in very disrupted lives of youth who often have very few material possessions,” said Gara, a former foster youth whose father was killed when he was 6.
Read More →I hope this letter finds you well. It finds me well. But it finds hundreds of Alaska’s foster youth needing help if they are to have a chance to fulfill the dreams they are entitled to pursue as Americans and Alaskans. And they need your help.
Below is an opinion piece I have run in newspapers. In case you missed it - here’s my “post-election bickering, put politics aside” heart tug.
Read More →