In case you've missed it, hear is my latest electronic newsletter on the special session:

http://www.akdemocrats.org/gardner/042612_bertas_briefings.htm

Berta's Briefings from Rep. Berta Gardner

www.akdemocrats.org

Representative Gardner listens carefully to the Commissioner of Revenue Bryan Butcher and his Deputy Commissioner Bruce Tangeman provide the Governors reasons for the oil tax giveaway.

Alaska won! Rather than watch it go down in flames, The Giveaway Gov pulled the plug on his $2 billion a year GIFT to ConocoPhillips, Exxon, and BP. This is great news for Alaskans.

http://www.adn.com/2012/04/25/2439941/parnell-pulls-oil-tax-issue-off.html

The Administration's presentation of their oil tax bill is proving to be intellectually dishonest. Additionally, although co-chairs Feige and Seaton are allowed to ask questions, I have been denied that right.

There is no way to prepare for the death of a friend. Even though I knew he was seriously ill, I was stunned to learn of my colleague, Carl Gatto’s, death this afternoon. He was a gallant man, with a great curiosity about the world, and an often unique way of looking at things. We will all miss him.

Today the House Health & Social Services Committee finally brought up Autism Insurance. They heard heart wrenching testimony from families impacted by autism and desperate for help.

Today, a historic announcement was made. BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and TransCanada announced they are working together to develop a large diameter LNG gas pipeline. This is another major step forward for Alaska to get a large gas pipeline and I look forward to working hard to make it happen.

Last week the House passed the operating budget and missed a great opportunity to turn today's resources into tomorrow's opportunities by investing in education and energy while saving billions of the state's surplus. Because of this, I was a 'No' vote:

http://www.akdemocrats.org/gardner/031612_bertas_briefings.htm

Berta's Briefings from Rep. Berta Gardner

www.akdemocrats.org

Write Me: 716 W. 4th Ave Ste 340 Anchorage, AK 99501-2133 Call Me: 1-800-331-4930 E-Mail Me: Rep_Berta_Gardner@legis.state.ak.us My Website: http://www.repbertagardner.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BertaGardner

This week the House Resources committee heard testimony on re-instating Alaska's Coastal Zone Management program. The program is critically important to maintaining the voice of Alaska's coastal communities when large projects are planned for federal lands and waters.

In case you missed it, here is my latest electronic newsletter on the In-state Gasline:

http://www.akdemocrats.org/gardner/030112_bertas_briefings.htm

Berta's Briefings from Rep. Berta Gardner

www.akdemocrats.org

Write Me: 716 W. 4th Ave Ste 340 Anchorage, AK 99501-2133 Call Me: 1-800-331-4930 E-Mail Me: Rep_Berta_Gardner@legis.state.ak.us My Website: http://www.repbertagardner.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BertaGardner

Good news! The “Tell us what we bought with $4 billion in state investment in the oil industry” bill has had a hearing in House Resources committee. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4io07WjNwY

House Democratic Whip Berta Gardner talks accountability for oil tax credits

House Democratic Whip Berta Gardner tells reporters about the hearing on her bill to allow Alaskans to see what they are getting for the billions in oil taxe...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1V937CxP_g&feature=youtube

Constituent Meeting Invite

Representative Lindsey Holmes and I have filed legislation to remove the state-mandated property tax exemptions for religious school teachers living in church owned housing. It is simply unfair for the state to require property tax payers to subsidize housing costs for a subset of teachers! The first hearing of House Bill 305 has been scheduled for Feb 9th, and I would welcome comments, pro and con.

"'The number of workers in the oil industry rose during 2010, but the increase was almost completely due to an increase in the number of nonresident workers." And, "...non-residents earn substantially more than residents." These were taken from the recent Department of Labor's "Nonresidents Working in Alaska" report. I've introduced legislation fight this trend.

The Governor’s budget ranks the Department of Education and Early Development last in funding with an increase of 0.7% while the Governor’s Office budget has the highest increase of 26.4%. These priorities will not advance Alaskans’ education.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nq6LusthB8&feature=youtu.be

Earlier this session, the Commissioner of Natural Resources (the other Dan Sullivan) told the House Resources committee that he changed the mission of the department, deleting the language about conserving resources and ‘for future Alaskans’ because he wanted the mission statement to match the actual services provided. He had identified a real problem but provided the wrong fix. He should have changed the services to match the mission!

The State of Alaska has paid $3.5 billion in tax credits to explorers and producers, making us the single largest investor on the North Slope. We do not know what this investment purchased so I have introduced the “Tell Us What We Bought” Act to compel release of that information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK5p9pMPnak&feature=related

Rep. Gardner: Alaskans need to know what we're buying for our oil investments

Rep. Berta Gardner describes her legislation to all Alaskans to see what they are buying for the over $3 billion in oil tax credits they have already invested.

On the First day of Session, Representative Kerttula and I rolled out the House Democrats goals for this year. Our main priority is to turn our resource wealth into meaningful education opportunities for future generations to prosper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSPS1bvObhk

Rep. Berta Gardner on education

Rep. Berta Gardner: "The easiest way to transfer our resource wealth across the state is through focusing on education."

Sometimes we need reminders to do things that benefit ourselves and also our community. Today during the House Resources committee I was reminded how beneficial it is to "Look for Alaskan Grown, Ask for Alaska Grown, Buy Alaskan Grown." It is truly fresher, tastier and allows me to feel good about supporting Alaskan growers.

Yesterday evening I attended UAA's "First Annual Innovate Awards Presentation and Patent Wall of Fame Induction" celebration. Two Professors were honored for their patented invention on iris scanning technology, and 13 others, from a variety of disciplines, were presented with seed money to launch their own research and intellectual property development projects. Congratulations to each of them.

I am excited to see the work being done to support entrepreneurship, and I welcome Dr. Helena S. Wisniewski to Alaska as UAA's new Vice Provost for Research and Graduate. Can you believe she is a dog-musher from New Jersey?

I expect that the next legislative session will again be focused on oil & gas taxes…and I’ll keep in mind the very successful lease sale earlier this week, which shows that Alaska is strongly in the game:



http://thealaskanews.com/alaskas-north-slope-lease-op-gets-over-300-bids/11143

Alaska’s North Slope Lease Op Gets Over 300 Bids

thealaskanews.com

After the success of the recent oil and gas lease sales led by Governor Sean Parnell on December 7, 2011, local Alaskan officials have released their official

My take away from two days oil & gas tax seminar includes that we are “doing more for exploration than any jurisdiction on earth” and that we should insist on more openness, ie, “not a single payment of government should be confidential.” Watch for coming legislation on this second point!

Thanksgiving night and I am thankful, and grateful, and thrilled by the birth of my granddaughter Vivienne. Way to go, Cass & Jeff!

I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. I am personally thankful for my job, which I love.

Following Thanksgiving begins the season of shopping. One of my constituents forwarded to me a message encouraging Americans to support American jobs by making the effort to purchase American made products, from American owned business. I'd like to expand that a little bit and suggest that we all consider buying Alaskan products from Alaskan owned businesses. It is true that the money we spend during the holidays can have a huge impact on our local economy - especially when focused on small businesses with local products.

Thanks for your commitment and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!