Moving Alaska Forward
We heard you. Alaskans have been insisting that the legislature crack down on crime. The House did just that. As a former prosecutor, I feel passionate about this issue, and fighting for a strong criminal justice system that protects public safety has always been a top priority for me. In 2016, I was the only Democrat to vote against Senate Bill 91. This Wednesday, I enthusiastically voted to repeal and replace it.
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As chair of the University, Court System, and Department of Law budget subcommittees, I convened hearings to consider—and possibly reshape—Governor Dunleavy’s drastic budget proposals.
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JUNEAU – Twenty members of the Alaska House of Representatives signed a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting an extension of the deadline for Alaskans to weigh in on the Pebble Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
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The meeting is an opportunity for lawmakers to share legislative priorities and hear from the community about their priorities for the ongoing 31st Alaska State Legislature.
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On a 21-18 vote, the House has elected Representative Bryce Edgmon to his second term as Speaker.
I am a member of the multi-partisan Majority, with a seat on the powerful Finance Committee and the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee.
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.
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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.
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Juneau – Today, Representative Andy Josephson pre-filed legislation to make vital improvements to Alaska’s Workers Compensation system. House Bill 30 features several improvements including adjusting benefits for inflation for those receiving Permanent Partial Impairment (PPI) and death benefits. These benefits have not been adjusted for inflation for approximately 20 and 50 years, respectively. The bill increases the PPI index from $177,000 to $255,506 and requires annual updates to account for inflation. The bill also adjusts the death benefit for financial dependents up to $100,000 from the current level of $20,000 set in 1968.
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