Representative
CHRIS TUCK

I want to hear from you, share your thoughts, voice your opinion. Together we will make a difference.

Click here to visit my Website
 
Click here to write me an email

Call me anytime:
   269-0240
   (907) 465-2095
   Toll-Free (866) 465-2095

Visit me:
   May-December
   716 W. 4th St., Ste. 370
   Anchorage, AK 99501
   (907) 269-0242 fax

   January-April
   State Capitol Bldg. Rm. 426
   Juneau, AK 99801
   (907) 465-3810 fax

Contact Other Elected Officials:

Governor Parnell,
Anchorage Office:
907-269-7450
EMAIL: Gov. Sean Parnell

Senator Mark Begich,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5915
EMAIL: Sen. Mark Begich

Congressman Don Young,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-5978
EMAIL: Rep. Don Young

Senator Lisa Murkowski,
Anchorage Office:
907-271-3735,
EMAIL: Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Operating Budget Emphasizes Future Investments

Dear Neighbors,

Last night the house passed the operating budget for 2013. Although there were several changes I would have liked, I ultimately supported this budget because of the many positive benefits it will bring to all Alaskan families.

Brownie Troop 4036 recently demonstrated excellent salesmanship skills to Rep. Chris Tuck.

Budget highlights

We have expanded pre-kindergarten by adding courses at the university of Alaska to train pre-kindergarten teachers and adding funds for Best Beginnings and Alaska’s Parents as Teachers program (PAT). PAT provides voluntary training for families who want to maximize the brain development of their infants and young children. This program has been a proven success at preparing kids for entering the school system, and does so at a very low cost. I am particularly pleased about this because I have introduced legislation to make the PAT system available statewide.

We have also provided funding for University courses to meet requirements for high demand jobs in Alaska – so Alaska students can fill these Alaska jobs. These include nursing, physical therapy, engineering, veterinary medicine, marine transportation, and process technology.

We included modest funds ($200,000) to provide adequate job training, dorm space, and related help to foster children, of whom 40 percent become homeless after aging out of the state system. This ensures they have the tools they need to transition successfully into adulthood.

Additionally, we added funding to help recruit and train foster parents for special needs children—without which the state would end up paying more money by institutionalizing youth who could otherwise have a home.

The budget also utilizes federal funds to provide shelter for victims of domestic violence, which frees up space on the waiting list for Alaskans seeking housing assistance. Because the demand for housing far exceeds the available funds, this helps homeless families.

Although I would have like to have seen us inflation-proof education, supporting this budget was the right thing to do. Overall it is a good step towards making sure that our resource revenues are used for the maximum benefit of the people of Alaska, and used in such a way that we are investing wisely in the future as well as addressing our immediate needs in a fiscally responsible manner.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. As always, I encourage you to call me any time at 269-0240, or send me an email at Rep.Chris.Tuck@legis.state.ak.us if you would like to share your thoughts and opinions, or if I can assist you in any other way.

I’m here for you, so please keep in touch on matters important to you and your family!

I'm here for you,

Chris Tuck
Alaska State Representative
District 29 – Anchorage

Tuck's Tips:

The 2012 Permanent Fund Dividend application deadline is fast approaching! Apply on-line before 11:59 PM, Saturday March 31, or check out the status of your current application at: http://www.pfd.state.ak.us/.