NEWS: House Democrats Call on NOAA to Assist With Tsunami Debris
“Tsunami debris threatens Alaskan coastal resources, communities and economies”
JUNEAU – Today, eight members of the Alaska House Democratic Caucus called on the federal government to create an aggressive plan to protect Alaska’s coastline from the threat posed by debris from last year’s tsunami in Japan.
“This debris could cause serious ecological, health and safety concerns for our coastal communities, not to mention significant economic impacts that could ripple throughout the state,” said House Democratic Leader Beth Kerttula (Juneau). “We know it’s coming—the first of it is already here. We need federal resources to get an idea of what we’re up against so we can develop the best way to deal with these waves of debris that could keep coming for months or more.”
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Special Session Alert: Public testimony on HB 3001 has been cancelled
Due to the Governor’s announcement tonight that he is withdrawing his oil tax bill, public testimony on HB 3001 set for the morning of Thursday, April 26th, has been cancelled.
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Public Testimony on HB 3001: Oil & Gas Production Tax
Dear Neighbors,
I have just been notified that public testimony on HB 3001 will be heard tomorrow morning at 9am in the House Resources Committee. While this is news to me, I wanted to be sure you have the information you need to participate in this important discussion.
Speak up in two ways:
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Rep. Kawasaki’s Juneau Note: Sine Die to Another Special Session
Dear Neigbors,
The 27th Alaska Legislature adjourned in the early hours on Monday with acclamation from the House on a job ‘well done.’ The Legislature satisfied the Constitutional requirement of passing a budget and passed a handful of bills to improve the lives of people, lower the cost of energy and keep Alaska on firm economic footing. Within an hour of adjournment, members received the unfortunate news that we would be forced into special session to reconsider the Governor’s tax breaks for big oil corporations. It has been a contentious issue for the last two years and has not received sufficient statewide support from lawmakers. The 30-day special session began today at 1pm at a price tag of around $35K per day.
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Democrats on Education Proposal: Fair Compromise, Schools Still Deserve Better
Lots of good for schools, but not enough to prevent cuts this year or in the future
JUNEAU – Today, House Democrats claimed a partial victory in the debate over school funding as the House passed a bill that provides far more resources to Alaska’s schools than what the governor proposed. The governor flat funded education and later proposed what was effectively a $10 million one-time increase, far short of keeping up with inflation.
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