House Passes Rep. Holmes Bill to Help Alaska Enforce Consumer Protections

“Our State should not have its hands tied waiting for federal enforcement to protect our citizens”

This morning, the Alaska State House passed HB 274, a bill by Rep. Lindsey Holmes that will bolster the state’s ability to stand up for the rights of Alaskan consumers.

Rep. Lindsey Holmes Newsletter: Protecting Alaskan Consumers

This morning, the Alaska State House passed my House Bill 274 which will bolster the state’s ability to stand up for the rights of Alaskan consumers.

According to a recent decision by a federal judge, a provision in Alaska law could prevent the state from enforcing Alaska’s Consumer Protection laws in cases where federal and state enforcement responsibilities overlap. This could block the state from pursuing claims against corporations engaged in illegal business practices.

Democrats Call on Governor to Make Stronger Commitment to Education

Keeping up with inflation allows schools to focus on where to improve, not where to cut

JUNEAU – Today, House Democrats called on the governor to join them in an effort to prevent Alaska’s school districts from having to make more cuts in the classroom due to inflation. The legislators sent a letter to the governor earlier today requesting that he be open to meeting school district needs by increasing the per-student allocation enough to cover the costs of inflation.

Rep. Holmes Newsletter: Fairness for Local Property Tax Payers; Internship Opportunity!

You have probably heard about the recent controversy surrounding property tax exemptions for teachers and employees of religious organizations. Representative Berta Gardner and I feel this situation is unfair to other taxpayers, and have introduced House Bill 305, the Property Tax Fairness Act, to fix it.

In 2006, the Legislature significantly broadened the definition of religious property by including exemptions for the residence of “an educator in a private religious or parochial school.” This legislation also expanded the definition of “minister” and broadened the ordination standard for ministers. It also made these tax exemptions mandatory for all Alaska municipalities.

Newsletter from Rep. Holmes: And The Award Goes To… Alaska’s Economy!

I returned to Anchorage this past weekend, and boy was it cold! But not as cold as it was in Barrow, the site of the recent Alaskan-filmed movie, Big Miracle – the movie we used to know as Everybody Loves Whales. I was excited to attend the Anchorage premiere of the movie while I was home. Almost every scene featured a local landmark or an Alaskan friend who had been cast in the film. When the credits rolled, the audience erupted in cheers, and we all stayed glued to our seats watching the impressive number of Alaskans and Alaska businesses that took part in the movie. I’m proud of our people and our state, and I’m thrilled that worldwide audiences will get the chance to see both in this film.

Democrats Prioritize Education, Promote Solutions; FOCUS: parent involvement, commitment to districts, lowering cost of college and job training

JUNEAU – The state of Alaska needs to make education more of a priority, House Democrats told reporters at a press conference in the capitol today. House Minority Leader Beth Kerttula (Juneau), Representative Chris Tuck (Anchorage), Representative Pete Petersen (Anchorage) and Representative Les Gara (Anchorage) outlined their proposals to increase parent involvement in early education, to make sure school districts have the resources they need, and to make college and job training more affordable for Alaskans.

Newsletter from Rep. Holmes: Protecting Consumers, Reversing the Brain Drain and Growing Our Economy

The Legislature is up and running and I wanted to take this opportunity to fill you in on some of the legislation I’m pursuing this session.

One important role I take very seriously is my responsibility to help protect consumers. My House Bill 274 would close a loophole in the state’s consumer protection laws. My bill would allow the state to go after abusive companies who are not being pursued by the federal government.

House Democratic Caucus Announces Social Media Pages

Today, the House Democratic Caucus announced its presence on three major social media websites, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The caucus will post timely news, legislative updates, and other points of interest throughout the legislative session and the rest of the year.

Please find us on the following pages:

Facebook: facebook.com/AKdemocrats
Twitter: @AKHouseDems
YouTube: youtube.com/user/AKHousedemocrats

All content is public and available to use for any non-campaign related purpose.

Democrats: Today’s Resources Build Tomorrow’s Opportunity; Democratic Response to the State of the State shows vision for Alaska

JUNEAU – In her response to the governor’s state of the state speech tonight, House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (Juneau) told Alaskans that Alaska must use today’s resources to build tomorrow’s future.

“You’ve elected us to lead, and it’s our job to lead in a way that honors Alaska’s courageous spirit by using today’s resources to build tomorrow’s opportunities,” said Rep. Kerttula.

Newsletter from Rep. Holmes: We’re Back in Session!

The Alaska Legislature reconvened in Juneau today for the second half of the 27th Legislature. We look forward to a productive session.

I am lucky to have both James R. Waldo and Mike Coumbe returning to my office this year. We will be here for the next 90 days, and look forward to hearing your thoughts on the issues facing the state.