NEWS: House Democrats Laud Successful Cook Inlet Lease Sale

Today, four members of the House Democratic Caucus said that today’s successful Cook Inlet lease sale was another reason for Alaskans to be optimistic about Alaska’s ability to meet long-term local energy needs with Alaskan gas.

“The industry’s renewed interest in Cook Inlet is not surprising given the incentives we’ve put in place and the real potential to find large amounts of untapped oil and gas,” said Representative Pete Petersen (D-Anchorage). “It shows they think there’s a lot of gas there, and that they’re willing to produce it. That’s good news for Alaska’s energy future.”

Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Texting While Driving Banned Again and Info on Traffic Delays

As you prepare to start your weekend here are a few things to help make your travel safe and hassle free.

First, texting while driving became illegal again starting today. A previous law had not withstood court challenges, so the legislature rewrote the law this year and the governor signed it into law yesterday. From now on, reading or typing a message on a screened device while driving a moving vehicle is against the law.

Second, with the start of the summer construction season, traffic delays and road closures are going to increase. You can get information about which areas to avoid and alternate routes at the following link: Road Project Traffic Delays

NEWS: It’s Official: Texting While Driving Is Illegal in Alaska

Ban Signed Into Law Today

Today, thanks to legislation led by Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) and Representative Bill Thomas (R-Haines), Alaska’s strong anti-texting law is officially back on the books. Last year, a number of judges questioned whether the law at the time covered texting while driving, but the new law is clear—it is illegal to text while driving in Alaska.

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.”

Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: House Adjourns at 5:26 PM, Monday, April 30; Weekly Coffee Meetings to Resume

Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday at 5:26 pm the house adjourned from special session. With the passage of legislation toughening laws against sex trafficking and the Governor’s unprecedented withdrawal of his oil tax bill, the only issue remaining before the legislature was legislation promoting a small diameter gas pipeline from the North Slope to Nikiski.

Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Senate Cancels Special Session; and Another Fraud Warning

Citing a legislative legal opinion that the Governor’s removal of his oil tax bill from the special session proclamation is unconstitutional and invalidates the entire document, the state senate has declared an end to special session.

At this time the state house is still in special session but it remains to be seen what will happen next. With the passage of legislation against sex trafficking and the Governor’s withdrawal of his oil tax bill the only remaining issue to be dealt with was the in-state gas line bill. This bill was in possession of the senate and appears to have died with the special session.

NEWS: Rep. Tuck to Impersonators: This Needs to Stop

JUNEAU – Today, officials from the Alaska Department of Transportation notified Rep. Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage) that someone posing as him has been calling residents of his district and giving them false information that a pending road construction project in their area has been cancelled.

According to an email from Highway Design Project Manager Jim Amundsen, “The reports came from a couple of different property owners that were very upset since our ROW section has already been in contact with them and DOT&PF is in the early stages of acquiring their property for the project. “

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.

Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Keep an Eye Out for Suspicious Offers

I was recently alerted by a friend about a potential scam operation being conducted in our area and I want to get a quick warning out to everyone.

What we know is that there is a male who appears to be in his late 30s posing as a municipal employee and offering to perform work on people’s driveways at no cost. The individual is persistent, and might make multiple visits offering free services ranging from weed removal to complete driveway replacement.

Rep. Tuck’s Community Connection: Special Session Update

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