Rep. Petersen Bill Would Allow Repayment of Energy Upgrades on Utility Bills

Bill would make it easier for Alaskans to pay off loans for upgrades that lower their energy bills

JUNEAU – Rep. Pete Petersen introduced legislation this week to allow Alaskans to pay off home energy upgrades with the savings they earn on their utility bills from the improvements.

“With energy costs as high as they are these days, we need to do everything we can to make it easier for Alaskans to make their homes more efficient and lower their energy bills,” said Rep. Petersen.

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. Petersen’s Report from the Capitol: Pizza Party and Anchorage Caucus February 18th

Making Sure Alaskans Have a Voice in Alaskan Fisheries; Committee Passes Waste-to-Energy Resolution

Neighborhood Pizza Party, Anchorage Caucus Meeting a Week from Saturday

It’s been a pretty busy week in the Legislature. I wanted to make sure to remind you of two opportunities to make your voice heard next Saturday, February 18. I will be hosting a free neighborhood pizza party and legislative update from 2:30 to 4 pm at the Boys and Girls Club Northeast Community Center at the corner of Muldoon and Debarr.

Committee Passes Waste-to-Energy Resolution

Turning local garbage into energy could be common sense solution for Alaska communities

JUNEAU – Today, the House Special Committee on Energy passed a resolution urging support for turning garbage into energy for Alaskan communities. According to the resolution (HCR 10), waste-to-energy technologies using municipal solid waste have been successfully used around the world and in at least 24 states in the United States to produce energy and reduce landfills.

Rep. Petersen’s Report from the Capitol: Pizza Party February 18th; Improving Absentee Voting Options; Using Garbage to Make Energy

Mark Your Calendars: Neighborhood Pizza Party February 18

The legislative session is well underway, and it is very important that I hear your thoughts on what you want to see us working on. Senator Bill Wielechowski and I will be holding a neighborhood pizza party on Saturday February 18 from 2:30 to 4pm at the Boys and Girls Club Northeast Community Center. I hope to see you there.

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.”

House Bill 260 “Permanent Absentee Voting”

This act will streamline the absentee voting process for Alaskans by giving voters the option to register for permanent absentee voting status for state elections. Once a voter is on the permanent absentee voter roll, they will not have to fill out an absentee request form for each election cycle. Instead, an absentee ballot will be automatically sent to them by the Division of Elections…

House Bill 278 “Sex Offender Probation Conditions”

This act will amend the current statute AS 12.55.100(e) to include a provision that will prevent individuals registered as a sex offender to live in a residence where outdoor equipment is located on the property. This act will give judges the opportunity to restrict specific sex offenders from having any item a child would want to play on like a trampoline or a jungle gym. These items can be used to lure children into a situation where a past offender could create a relationship with the child, leading to a repeat offense. Under current law, registered sex offenders may be required to refrain from using or creating a web site, communicating with children less than 16 years of age, possessing or using a computer, and residing within 500 feet of a school…

Democrats Work to End Unlimited Campaign Spending

Legislation would make Alaska a leader in national effort to rein in big-money politics

(JUNEAU) – Today, 13 House and Senate Democrats introduced legislation aimed at scaling back rules allowing corporations, wealthy donors, and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money, sometimes in the millions, to get candidates elected. Companion resolutions (HJR 33 and SJR 13) introduced today in the Alaska House and Senate call for a federal constitutional amendment to reverse the Citizens United case that opened the corporate and union campaign spending floodgates. A separate House bill would return Alaska’s right to limit corporate contributions by making corporations not considered “persons” for purposes of Alaska election law.

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.