CONTACT: Ted Madsen, Staff to Rep. Gruenberg (907) 465-4940          www.akdemocrats.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Democrats' Bill to Extend Voting by Mail Passes Committee

Bill would make it easier for seniors, rural Alaskans and people with disabilities to vote

JUNEAU – Representative Max Gruenberg's bill to make voting by mail easier passed the House State Affairs Committee today.  The bill would allow all Alaskans the same right as military and overseas voters whose applications to vote by mail remain effective for two general elections (up to four years). 

"Participating in our democracy is a right of citizenship," said Rep. Gruenberg (D-Anchorage), "and it should not be made difficult or inconvenient. Reducing the paperwork to vote by mail makes it easier for Alaskans to vote, especially those who have a hard time getting to their polling place."

Currently, voters must request a ballot each time they vote by mail, although they may apply before the primary election for mail-in ballots for both the primary in August and the next general election in November.  State law allows uniformed service members and out-of-state voters to receive mail ballots for the next two general elections after they apply for a mail ballot. Rep. Gruenberg's legislation (HB 287) will extend the same right to all Alaskans. Under the bill, an application from a qualified voter to vote by mail will be valid through the next two general elections. In addition, each time the voter casts a mail ballot, the application will continue to be valid through the next two general elections. If the mail ballot is returned to the Division of Elections as undeliverable, the division will not have to send more ballots to that address. All the security and evaluation procedures already in place for handling absentee ballots will still apply to absentee ballots.

"I've heard from so many people in my district who can't make it to the polls but want to vote in every election," said Rep. Petersen (D-Anchorage), the co-sponsor of the legislation. "Right now, they have to get a new form, fill it out and mail it in every time they want to vote. It shouldn't be that inconvenient for Alaskans to participate in our democracy."

Passage of HB 287 will expedite the absentee voting process for Alaskans who regularly vote absentee and increase voting access for those who have difficulty voting in person.  Rural Alaskans, college students, senior citizens, and people with disabilities regularly choose to vote by mail.

This act does not change voting rights. Voters can still request a one-time absentee ballot vote at their regular voting places or from the division of elections, just as they do now.

###

Legislature Honors Program for Helping Former Prisoners Rebuild Their Lives
Rep. Gruenberg to present legislative citation to Chanlyut today

Today, Representative Max Gruenberg (D-Anchorage) will present a legislative citation to Chanlyut and its participants and graduates for their work providing drug addicts and former prison inmates with the skills and self-discipline to rebuild their lives.

“I am proud to recognize the good work Chanlyut is doing for people in Mountain View and Anchorage working to start a new and better chapter in their lives,” said Rep. Gruenberg.

Cook Inlet Tribal Council oversees the operation of Chanlyut, the name of which means “new beginning” in Athabaskan. The Chanlyut program is modeled on the successful Delancey Street program in San Francisco and operates under the belief that people can change themselves through hard work, commitment to change, and taking personal responsibility.

The program helps participants gain skills and experience in several business and work areas. In addition to operating the a diner in Mountain View, Chanlyut also operates a catering company, a landscaping and lawn maintenance service, a moving company, and a building maintenance company. The self-discipline and hands-on training Chanlyut provides helps former prison inmates break the cycles of dependence and violence so they can refocus their lives and become contributing members of society.

In the citation, program Director Bill Tsurnos states that “Chanlyut gives men a chance to stop their downward spiral of self-destruction, put their priorities in order, and learn a new and better way to live life. I did it with the help of Delancey Street and I’d like to help show the men here in Alaska how they can do it also.”

What: Presentation of Legislative Citation to Chanlyut

When: 11:30 a.m. on Friday, September 30

Where: Cook Inlet Tribal Council Board Room
3600 San Jeronimo Drive, Anchorage (MAP)

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.

Democratic Leader Rep. Beth Kerttula said, “It’s unfathomable to me that Alaska, with more coastline that the rest of the country combined, will be the only coastal state without a coastal management program. The loss of the ACMP will be felt around the state. The state and coastal communities will lose their power over the permitting process on federal lands and in federal waters in Alaska. The Division of Coastal & Ocean Management provided essential services that streamlined and coordinated the permitting process. Loss of the program will decrease permitting efficiency and discourage investment by small independent companies that don’t have entire legal divisions to deal with permitting.”

Democratic Whip Rep. Berta Gardner said, “What we really needed was leadership to put together a deal to keep control of Alaska’s resources in Alaskans’ hands. This outcome demonstrates a lack of leadership from the governor.”

Finance member Rep. Les Gara said, “We had quick, coordinated permitting and the right to follow state law and to listen to local communities. That will be replaced by slower permitting, federal laws and decisions made solely by federal bureaucrats. Today was a bad day for Alaska.”

###

Legislative funding leads to new station, increased safety for Northeast neighborhoods

Today, the Northeast Anchorage legislative delegation attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fire Station #6 in East Anchorage. This project is funded by a $6 million legislative grant secured last year by Sen. Bill Wielechowski and Reps. Max Gruenberg and Pete Petersen. Fire Station #6 is one of Anchorage’s oldest and busiest fire stations, and replacing the outdated building has long been a top priority for the Northeast Anchorage area.

“This is an important step to improve public safety in Northeast Anchorage neighborhoods,” Petersen said. “The old building was just no longer adequate for modern firefighting equipment, and the new station will allow fire protection to expand as Anchorage continues to grow.”

When the existing station was built around 1970, fire engines were smaller than they are today. Currently there is only one inch of clearance on either side for the station’s engine. There is one engine and one medic unit stationed at the station, and the new station will allow for adding new equipment as the neighborhood’s needs grow. The legislature had previously voted to fund the project in 2008, but it was vetoed by Governor Sarah Palin.

“This was a real team effort to get to this day,” said Gruenberg. “It took a united Northeast Anchorage delegation and tireless advocacy by neighborhood activists to make this happen.”

In 2008 Fire Station #6 answered 3,685 calls for emergency assistance. The new station is scheduled to be open next year.

“This fire station has been a top priority for our community for many years,” Wielechowski added. “It will make East Anchorage much safer. I am glad we were able to work with the community to secure the funding for it at the state level.”

WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fire Station #6

WHEN: Today, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: 1301 Patterson Street, next to Begich Middle School (MAP)

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Senator Bill Wielechowski: 269-0120

Representative Pete Petersen: 269-0265

Representative Max Gruenberg: 269-0123

###

House Democrats Propose Common-Sense Solution to Budget Impasse
All parties should stand down and work together in good faith

JUNEAU – Today, Alaska House Democrats announced a simple, common-sense solution to the budget stand-off that has the Legislature locked into a special session.

“We have a way out of this mess. It isn’t all that complicated,” said Representative Beth Kerttula, House Minority Leader. “We say this without blame and in the spirit of being helpful.”

The Democrats’ proposal has three parts. First, the governor needs to renounce his threat to veto capital projects in retaliation for HB 110. Then the Senate needs to remove the contingency language concerning energy projects in the capital budget. Finally, the House, Senate and the governor need to agree on which energy projects should be in the capital budget.

“And that’s it. Sorry it’s that simple, but it is that simple. And if everyone can do their part and stop what I can only characterize as bickering about this, we can be out of here in two or three days,” said Representative Mike Doogan.

“We need to stop having the House blame the Senate or one body blame the other body and move ahead and solve this thing. That’s what the public expects,” said Representative Les Gara.

“What’s clouding the issue right now is the governor’s threat to veto. The most important thing is for the Governor to back off of that statement,” said Representative David Guttenberg. “It’s not about pointing the finger. It’s about understanding what the issues are and getting past them. It’s about sitting down together and getting to where we need to be.”

Watch the entire press availability here.

###

Mark Gnadt
Press Secretary, House Democratic Caucus
W: (907) 465-3842; C: (907) 209-7006
http://www.akdemocrats.org