I regret to announce that the M/V Tustumena, which was originally scheduled to be out of the Vigor Shipyard in Ketchikan and back into service on May 27th, has had its return to service delayed until July 18th. The delay is due to the discovery and necessary repair of additional extensive steel wastage in the engine room.
The House Finance Committee devoted the entire week to a combination of in-depth analysis of sensible fiscal policy and wide-ranging stakeholder input. I sat in on every meeting.
The voter mandated 90th day of session has come and gone, and we’re still working with the Senate on a responsible action plan for Alaska. The House and Senate continue to discuss all four pillars of the House’s responsible action plan, and both the House and Senate have passed several good pieces of legislation.
The seasons are changing in Juneau and I’m still here working hard to represent you and do what I hope is best for all Alaskans. I want to extend a special thank-you to those who phoned in to the University Subcommittee meeting last Saturday. We in the Capitol are sometimes called leaders, but we lead best with input from our constituents.
Juneau – Last week, the Alaska House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation relating to the licenses for Alaska’s manicurists and nail technicians. House Bill 222 repeals burdensome 2015 legislation, which required all manicurists to meet the standards of an advanced manicurist.
Legislative compromise became more distant this past week, as the Senate gutted much of an oil reform bill our bi-partisan Alaska House Majority Coalition passed to get us towards a balanced budget. The bill sought a fair share for our oil. Now, the current Senate amendments make it an oil industry giveaway.
Juneau – Representative Justin Parish (D-Juneau) is seeking the input of Juneau residents on priorities that must be achieved before the end of the current legislative session in Juneau. Rep. Parish is holding a town hall meeting Tuesday to gather input and to brief residents on the status of efforts to pass a comprehensive fiscal plan to solve Alaska’s $2.7 billion budget gap and respond to the ongoing recession.
Juneau – The University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of the Arctic are holding a forum early next week focused on broadband infrastructure and access in the Arctic. The Arctic Broadband Forum is being held in conjunction with the Week of the Arctic to celebrate the accomplishments of the Arctic Council under the chairmanship of the United States. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will turn over the chairmanship of the council to Finland during the bi-annual Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting May 10th and 11th in Fairbanks.
