NEWS: Giveaway changes: More Money, More Power to Oil Companies
Late Night meeting increased size of giveaway, repeats past mistakes
JUNEAU – Just after 2:00 a.m. this morning, the House Resources Committee voted to give away more of Alaska’s oil wealth with no guarantee of new production and to make the state rely on oil company statements instead of actual receipts when auditing deductions for tax breaks. The committee also tried to undo hard-won provisions that allow the oil companies that own the Trans Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) to charge the state and other companies for all of their expenses, not just the “reasonable” expenses allowed under current law.
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NEWS: Democrats Offer Improvements to Small Gasline Legislation
Amendments would ensure low-cost gas, add accountability, provide maximum benefit to Alaskans
JUNEAU - Tonight, in an effort to add much needed accountability and assurances Alaskans will get low-cost gas and the maximum benefit from a small diameter gasline, Democratic legislators in the Alaska House of Representatives offered a series of amendments to the gasline’s enabling legislation.
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NEWS: Democratic Amendments: Invest in Education Now, Proven Payoff Later
Even with amendments, total budget would still be less than governor’s
JUNEAU – Today on the floor of the Alaska House of Representatives, Democratic legislators offered a series of amendments to the state operating budget to save Alaska money by investing wisely in its human resources today. If each amendment passed, the total budget would still be smaller than that proposed by the governor.
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NEWS: Democrats Introduce School Funding Measure
Alaska’s Schools Need a Lasting Commitment to Build on Successes
JUNEAU – Today, House Democrats introduced legislation to make a lasting commitment to Alaska’s schools by guaranteeing inflation will not lead to more school staff cuts. Nine members of the House Democratic Caucus signed on to the legislation.
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House Bill 17 Sponsor Statement “Reducing the Principal of Postsecondary Education Loans for Alaska Students Who Remain in or Return to Alaska”
Link to the sponsor statement PDF from the office of Rep. Les Gara
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NEWS: House Democrats Announce New Committee Assignments
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.
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