House Bill 17 Sponsor Statement “Reducing the Principal of Postsecondary Education Loans for Alaska Students Who Remain in or Return to Alaska”
Link to the sponsor statement PDF from the office of Rep. Les Gara
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FollowNEWS: House Democrats Announce New Committee Assignments
JUNEAU - Today, House Democratic leadership announced updated committee assignments for the upcoming legislative session. The seats on the Finance and Resources Committees are tentative until a final decision is made once the entire caucus can meet in person. Currently, one member is out of town due to a family medical situation.
Read More →NEWS: House Democrats Announce Leadership for 28th Alaska Legislature
Leadership team brings experience, new energy
ANCHORAGE – Today, Alaska’s House Democratic Caucus announced its leadership for the 28th Alaska Legislature and its commitment to continue to work toward oil taxes that earn a fair return for Alaskans, lowering energy costs across the state, and ensuring Alaskans have access to top-quality education.
Read More →NEWS: House Democrats Call for Firm Timelines on Pt. Thomson Development
Without work schedules, continued delay likely
JUNEAU – Today, nine members of the House Democratic Caucus called on the Department of Natural Resources to require firm timelines and work schedules before approving Exxon’s most recent Plan of Development for Pt. Thomson. In their official comments submitted today, the lawmakers said that without a timeline for Exxon to complete the work, this Plan of Development is likely to result in the same delay and inaction that has kept the resource undeveloped for over thirty years.
Read More →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.”
Read More →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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