AUGUST 20, 2015

Why is the State of Alaska Suing Itself?!
And Fox Spring Update

Dear Fairbanks Neighbors,

It’s been a pretty bizarre week in the Legislature.  The Legislative Council voted 10-1 to sue the state to attempt to prevent Medicaid expansion from providing 40,000 Alaskans access to healthcare while saving the state millions of dollars a year.  I won’t go into all of the details about why expansion is good for Alaska and good for Fairbanks, but you can read the article I wrote for the Fairbanks Daily News Miner last month.

Representative Wool speaking to the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce about legislation affecting Fairbanks’ economy

The Legislative Council is a committee in charge of handling the administrative tasks necessary to run the Legislature.  Their typical duties involve approving building leases and assigning office space in the Legislative Information Offices.  The Legislative Council has sued governors in the past, but this will be the first time in over 15 years. 

As bizarre as it is for the State of Alaska to be suing itself, this decision is even more baffling because the Legislature’s own lawyers told us that the governor’s actions were perfectly legal.  I am also troubled by the Legislative Council deciding to pay a Washington, D.C. law firm $400,000 to bring this case.  The legal arguments are about Alaskan law, so I would think Alaskan lawyers would be more qualified to argue it.  Given the budget deficit we’re facing, I don’t understand they why they are spending this money to fight something that would actually save the state money.

Representative Wool speaking at the Adult Learning Programs of Alaska graduation ceremony earlier this summer

Fox Spring Update

Early this summer I told you about how the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities was considering selling the Fox Springs well where many Fairbanks residents get their water.  The latest news is that the Fairbanks North Star Borough is considering taking over the well and is negotiating with the Department to work out the details.  You can read more about this in the News Miner.  I will continue to monitor this issue, and I am hopeful that a solution can be reached that keeps the Fox Springs open while being mindful of the budget realities.

As always, please send me your thoughts, ideas, and concerns.

Sincerely,

Representative Adam Wool