NEWS: GOP Ignoring Oil Tax Credit Spending Cap
ANCHORAGE – Today, the Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition released a memo from the Alaska Department of Revenue showing the Republican-proposed budget spends $600 million more on oil tax credits than provided for under Alaska’s statutory cap on credit payments.
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NEWS: Legislation to Protect Children from Sexual Predators Hijacked by Senate Education Committee
ANCHORAGE – Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee passed a new version of a bill that includes Erin’s Law, which is a proven tool to prevent child sexual abuse. House Bill 44 also included language calling on public schools to teach students about how to prevent dating violence. The new version of the bill was amended by the Senate Education Committee, at the behest of Senator Mike Dunleavy (R-Wasilla), to bar organizations like Planned Parenthood from teaching students about sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases. It also requires school districts to get parental permission before students can take classes about human reproduction or sexual matters. The new version of House Bill 44 also eliminates requirements for schools to offer college readiness tests.
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NEWS: Erin’s Law Public Hearing Tonight in Anchorage
JUNEAU – Tonight, several Democratic lawmakers are hosting a public hearing on Erin’s Law, which Governor Bill Walker included on the call for the ongoing First Special Session of the 29th Alaska Legislature. Erin’s Law would require youth be taught a personal body safety curriculum that gives them information to keep them safe from child sex abusers. Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) has been a champion for Erin’s Law and introduced legislation to implement the law the past two years.
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NEWS: Alaska Independent Democratic Coalition Ready to Work to Solve Budget Impasse
ANCHORAGE – Today, Governor Walker announced his intention to veto the portions of House Bill 72 that deal with fiscal year 2016. This is due to the fact that the House and Senate Majorities passed a largely unfunded budget, which could result in a shutdown of state government beginning in July.
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NEWS: Democrats to Hold Public Hearing on Erin’s Law to Address Alarming Rates of Child Sex Abuse in Alaska
JUNEAU – The First Special Session of the 29th Alaska Legislature is underway and one of the items before lawmakers is legislation to implement Erin’s Law. The law would require youth be taught a personal body safety curriculum that gives them information to keep them safe from child sex abusers. Representative Geran Tarr (D-Anchorage) has sponsored Erin’s Law legislation for the past two years and is pleased Governor Walker included it on the call for the ongoing Special Session.
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Rep. Tarr’s Newsletter: Time for the Public to Have a Voice!
The House Independent Democratic Coalition and the Senate Democrats have developed a plan of action and will hold public hearings in response to the disappointing lack of progress so far during the special session.
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