House Bill 201 Sponsor Statement: Application of Pesticides and Broadcast Chemicals
Link to the HB201 sponsor statement from the office of Representative Les Gara
Read More →NEWS: Dems Stand Against Historic Giveaway of Alaska’s Oil
Massive giveaway with no commitments is based on trust, not facts
JUNEAU – Last night, House Democratic legislators stood up against the governor’s massive giveaway of Alaska’s oil wealth during a debate on the House Floor that lasted well past midnight.
Read More →Rep. Tarr’s Times: Session is wrapping up
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Session is scheduled to end this Sunday, April 14th. The major bills before the legislature are all still in play. Here’s an up to the minute update on the status of these bills.
Read More →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.
Read More →NEWS: Democrats Push Permanent Fund Dividend Protection In Light Of Oil Giveaway
JUNEAU - Today eight Democratic legislators filed legislation to protect the Permanent Fund Dividend by placing the current dividend formula in the Alaska Constitution. With GOP leaders pushing an oil giveaway that is likely to cost Alaskans upwards of $1 billion or more a year, future legislators are likely to start cutting the Dividend to fund state revenue. To protect against attempts to spend the Dividend in tight economic times, former Governor Jay Hammond proposed an initiative in 2002 that would have enshrined the Dividend in the Constitution, but Lt. Governor Loren Leman rejected it as not able to be done by initiative.
Read More →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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