JUNEAU – Today, the Alaska State House of Representatives passed legislation that reforms the Alaska National Guard by creating a Code of Military Justice. House Bill 126 provides a framework of processes and consequences for members of the Alaska National Guard who violate military rules and orders.
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Juneau – A community engagement meeting will be held in Juneau on Sunday for area residents to share concerns and issues with their elected Representatives and Senator in the Alaska Legislature. The meeting is open to the public. It will be held on Sunday, January 31 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library.
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JUNEAU – Today, Rep. Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks), Rep. Sam Kito (D-Juneau), and Rep. Matt Claman (D-Anchorage) introduced HCR 16 to establish the House Standing Committee on Ways & Means to consider methods to control state spending, identify ways to make government programs more efficient, and review measures that raise state revenue.
Read More →Juneau – The Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition (AIDC) and Alaska Senate Democrats will hold a press availability before the start the Second Session of the 29th Alaska Legislature. The availability will allow lawmakers to discuss specific issues and take questions from the media. The press availability will be held Tuesday, January 19, at 9 am in the Fahrenkamp Room of the Capital Building in Juneau. The press availability will feature Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition Leader Rep. Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage) and Alaska Senate Democrats Leader Sen. Berta Gardner (D-Anchorage).
Read More →ANCHORAGE – On Saturday, the members of the Alaska Legislative Council are scheduled to discuss the available options to save money on office space for lawmakers and staff in Anchorage. The current Anchorage Legislative Information Office (LIO) building on 4th Avenue in downtown Anchorage has been criticized as too expensive, and many lawmakers including Rep. Sam Kito (D-Juneau), believe it’s time to embrace budget savings and end the lease on the current building. Rep. Kito is the only member of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition (AIDC) on the Legislative Council. He notes that available space in the state-owned Atwood Building in Anchorage is the most viable option under consideration as an alternative to the continued leasing or purchase of the 4th Avenue building.
Read More →ANCHORAGE – Today, Alaska Governor Bill Walker unveiled an ambitious budget plan called “The New Sustainable Alaska Plan” that shifts much of the burden of paying for state government from the oil and gas industry onto the backs of hard-working, average Alaskans. The Governor’s proposal includes fundamental changes to how vital state services in Alaska are funded including new or increased taxes on income, fishing, mining, tourism, alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuel. The Governor’s proposal also makes drastic cuts to vital early education opportunities in Alaska and would result in significantly reduced Permanent Fund Dividends. The 13 members of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition thank Governor Walker for his leadership and the public process used to come up with the proposed budget plan but will insist that every proposed change be thoroughly vetted by the Alaska Legislature.
Read More →JUNEAU – Today, the Alaska House of Representatives joined the Alaska Senate in approving legislation funding the buyout of TransCanada from the long-awaited AKLNG natural gas pipeline project. Removing TransCanada from the AKLNG partnership increases the state of Alaska’s total ownership share in the pipeline and associated infrastructure up to twenty-five percent.
Read More →ANCHORAGE – The third Special Session of the 29th Alaska Legislature is scheduled to start Saturday morning with House and Senate floor sessions. Governor Bill Walker has scheduled a briefing for all lawmakers Saturday afternoon to outline the details of the three pieces of legislation that will be under consideration. The members of the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition (AIDC) are looking forward to the Governor’s detailed briefing but are dismayed by today’s announcement from the Senate President and the Speaker of the House that members of the House Finance and Senate Resources Committee’s will be encouraged to skip the briefing in favor of committee hearings on the same subjects at the same exact time as the Governor’s briefing.
Read More →ANCHORAGE – Earlier today, the Alaska State Legislature’s Republican-controlled Legislative Council failed to withdraw its ill-advised lawsuit against Governor Bill Walker over his decision to accept federal funds to expand eligibility for the Medicaid program in Alaska. The Legislative Council, which only includes one member of the minority in the House and Senate, met behind closed doors in Anchorage to discuss the Council’s lawsuit. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Council took no action. The result of this inaction is that the lawsuit will continue.
Read More →ANCHORAGE – On Thursday, Alaska Governor Bill Walker issued a proclamation calling the Alaska Legislature into a special session next month. The governor is asking the Legislature to consider legislation to move a project forward to get the natural gas on the North Slope to market.
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