June 28, 2011 - Rep. Gara’s Coastal Zone Management House Floor Speech MP3
Link to MP3 file for download.
Read More →Democrats Disappointed by Failure to Extend Alaska Coastal Management Program
Program’s demise threatens jobs, development, local control
House Democrats are disappointed today by the unraveling of the special session to retain the Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP). Democrats said abandoning the ACMP will directly affect Alaskans by killing jobs, impeding development and decreasing state and local control in Alaska.
Read More →Note from Rep. Gara: Pre-Saturday Rapture?!?!, Post-Unspecial Session Newsletter
You were probably as surprised as I was to wake up and find out there’s a guy in Florida who says the rapture will be tomorrow. I guess I always thought I’d get more notice before the end of the world.
I owe you a post-session e-news, and given what might happen tomorrow, I don’t think I have any more time to procrastinate on this. Though it would be nice to get more notice next time if this guy is wrong, like he was in 1994. I’d like to have my house and chores in order before an apocalypse. But I guess, so would everyone else.
Read More →[ADN Compass] Let’s pitch in to help Alaska’s foster youths
You can make a child’s life better. Easily. With little work. Or with harder work — whatever suits your fancy. I’ll use May’s Foster Care Awareness Month as my excuse to mention four great volunteer opportunities, three for individuals and one for businesses.
Over the years I’ve worked with others to improve Alaska’s foster care system — one that has historically seen 40 percent of our youths end up homeless at some point after leaving foster care; and less than 10 percent make it through college. Criminal and other unhealthy statistics are as alarming. The Legislature has done a good job of looking at fixable problems, though lots more needs to be done.
Read More →Rep. Gara Calls for Corrections to Fibs in Oil Tax Ads
(ANCHORAGE) – Today Rep. Les Gara will address the Bartlett Club, at Denny’s on Debarr Road at noon. To curry favor for the Governor’s proposed $8 billion in unjustified oil company tax reductions over the next five years, fancy industry ads are on the air that mislead Alaskans. “We think Alaskans should be told the truth. You can make up your own opinions, but you can’t make up your own facts,” said Rep. Gara, who, with others, has proposed tax policies that won’t allow breaks unless they lead to more jobs, and more production and exploration.
Read More →Democratic Budget Amendments Would Reduce Budget
Doogan, Gara attempt to cut budget by more than $2 billion
JUNEAU – In a year when the Alaska State Legislature is working on capital and operating budgets that total more than $12 billion, House Democrats offered amendments in an attempt to restore some restraint and responsibility to the budgeting process.
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