VIDEO: House Majority Coalition June 16th Press Availability
Video of the June 16th, 2017 End of the 1st Special Session Press Availability from 360North.org
Read More →NEWS: House Moves to Prevent Government Shutdown with Passage of Combined Operating and Capital Budgets
Juneau – Tonight, to avoid a government shutdown at the beginning of the month, the Alaska House of Representatives passed a combined Capital and Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2018. The House budgets reverse the Senate’s $69 million cut to K-12 education and most of the cut to the University of Alaska. Additionally, the Capital Budget restored the full amount of expected Permanent Fund Dividends, which will be paid in the fall to eligible Alaskans.
Read More →NEWS: Coalition Members Working to Avoid a Government Shutdown in Alaska
Juneau – Today, around 18,000 State of Alaska employees will receive pink slips. Unless the Alaska Legislature passes a budget in the next month, all non-essential state services will shut down July 1st.
Read More →NEWS: The House is Waiting for Progress in the State Senate
Juneau – The leadership of the Alaska House Majority Coalition has decided to hold a limited number of technical floor sessions for the remainder of the week to allow House members to travel back to their home districts for the Memorial Day Holiday. This will allow members to engage with constituents about the important issues under consideration during the Special Session called by Alaska Governor Bill Walker. Allowing lawmakers to go home also saves the state money since lawmakers will not be collecting per diem in their home districts.
Read More →NEWS: Resources Committee Co-chairs will Lead Effort to Reform Unsustainable Oil Industry Subsidies
Juneau – On Monday, Speaker of the House Rep. Bryce Edgmon (D-Dillingham) appointed House members to negotiate a compromise on legislation to reform Alaska’s unsustainable oil tax credit system that passed both the House and Senate. House Resources Committee Co-chairs Rep. Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) and Rep. Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage) will represent the House Majority on the conference committee. The House Minority will be represented by Rep. Dave Talerico (R-Healy). The State Senate is expected to appoint their members to the conference committee on Wednesday.
Read More →NEWS: Lawmakers Must Use the First Special Session to Focus on Alaska’s Fiscal Future
Juneau – The First Regular Session of the 30th Alaska State Legislature ended tonight with clear differences between the Alaska House Majority Coalition and the Alaska Senate Majority on the need for a comprehensive fiscal plan to address the ongoing recession and the $2.7 billion budget gap. Both majority organizations wanted the ten-day extension allowed for in the Alaska Constitution, but the House Republican Caucus refused to provide enough votes in favor. In response, Governor Bill Walker is calling the Alaska Legislature into a Special Session to start on Thursday.
Read More →NEWS: The House of Representatives Censures Rep. Eastman for Offensive Statements
Juneau – Today, the Alaska House of Representatives formally censured Representative David Eastman (R-Wasilla) for offensive, insulting, and unsubstantiated statements that undermine the dignity of the House. The motion to censure Rep. Eastman was made by Rep. Ivy Spohnholz (D-Anchorage).
Read More →NEWS: House Advances Legislation to Help Grow Alaska’s Mariculture Industry
Juneau – Today, the Alaska House of Representatives passed two bills to expand existing frameworks to better manage Alaska’s fledgling mariculture industry. House Bill 76 fills a critical gap in capital need for infrastructure development of mariculture operations. It amends the current program to allow up to 40 percent of the fund to be used for loans to permitted hatcheries and enhancement projects for planning, construction and operation. House Bill 128 would allow non-profits to pursue enhancement and restoration projects with oversight by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Both bills are sponsored by Representative Dan Ortiz (I-Ketchikan).
Read More →NEWS: Broad-Based Revenue Proposal Receives Public Support
Juneau – Last night over 100 Alaskans provided public testimony to the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on the proposed Education Funding Act, one of the four pillars of the comprehensive fiscal plan put forward by the Alaska House Majority Coalition. A significant majority of those who testified spoke in favor of House Bill 115 and maintaining Alaska’s commitment to public education and the University of Alaska. HB 115 passed the Alaska House of Representatives earlier this month and is under consideration in the Alaska State Senate.
Read More →EVENT: Alaska House Majority Coalition Press Availability Scheduled for Tuesday
Juneau – The Alaska House Majority Coalition will hold a press availability Tuesday morning that will include House Majority Leader Rep. Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage), House Resources Committee Co-chair Rep. Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage), House Energy Committee Chair Rep. Adam Wool (D-Fairbanks), and House Health and Social Services Committee Chair Rep. Ivy Spohnholz (D-Anchorage)
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