Rep. Andy Josephson

Yesterday, Governor Dunleavy’s Office of Management and Budget Director, Donna Arduin and Budget Director, Lacey Sanders, presented a walk-through of the fiscal year 2019 supplemental budget bills. Click here to view a summary. Typically, supplemental budgets are used to address emergency expenses not otherwise covered by the budgets passed during the prior session. However, the Governor’s supplemental budget eliminates $20 million in one-time education funding that the Legislature approved last year.

I will work very hard on many issues this session, but some of my top priorities include reforming our criminal and judicial systems, improving benefits for workers, defending our public schools, and above all else, establishing a sustainable budget.

n 2001, the USDA Forest Service enacted the “Roadless Rule”, prohibiting road construction for the purposes of logging in pristine National Forests and Grasslands. The federal regulation protects national treasures and clean drinking water for future generations, as 35% of our nation’s drinking water comes from National Forests.

Welcoming Week in Anchorage is just around the corner; the time of year we come together to celebrate our city’s diversity.

Last Tuesday the Anchorage Assembly voted 9-2 to ban the use of plastic bags by retailers, making Anchorage the 23rd community in the state of Alaska to take practical action in protecting our environment and keeping our cities clean. The ban will be effective this upcoming March. Alternative paper bags will be available at checkout for 10-50 cents each. Personally, I recommend purchasing re-usable bags to be