As we congregate with friends, family, and good food on Thursday, let’s remind one another of all we have to be grateful for. May we also be mindful of those in need and take time to share a smile and lend a helping hand. I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday weekend!

This week is Thanksgiving and as we transition into this holiday season I hope we are reminded of all the reasons for being grateful. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve and to work for our community. Thank you!

This time of year feels like the lull before the storm. Winter is setting in, and Legislators and staff are taking time for themselves and their families to mentally prepare for the upcoming session. Thursday is Thanksgiving. I look forward to spending a day of rest with my husband, family and friends. I have so much to be thankful for – my extended family, my friends and supporters, and the opportunity to serve as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives. It is truly an honor. Wherever you find yourself this Thanksgiving, be kind and be thankful.

While we’re out of session, I wanted to update you on some issues many of us care about, including shipment of prisoners out of state, API, and local transportation issues:

Things have picked up in the public and among the press regarding the BP sale to Hilcorp. As Co- Chair of Resources Committee I have been studying this closely over the last couple of months since the announcement was made public on August 27th. Initially, I think some Alaskans, if they were around in 1990 for the BP-ARCO merger had an expectation of a robust public process. However, as I learned, that public process was in part because the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) identified anti-competitiveness issues that prompted what’s called a consent agreement and that process requires public…

I hope this Update finds you doing well. I am amazed how quickly time goes by. With Thanksgiving coming up, the holiday season is upon us. I am currently attending a Women in Government Conference in our nations capitol for first time women lawmakers. I am very proud to be serving as one of 23 female Alaska Law Makers.

Traffic is a near-universal subject of conversation, and Anchorage is no exception. Over the decades, our city and state have contemplated and built numerous roads, bridges, roundabouts, and more, with the goal of increasing connectivity and access within the Anchorage bowl.

As our daily sunlight dwindles away, so do hopes for a third special session focused on the Permanent Fund and PFDs. Until recently, I thought a compromise was possible that would allow lawmakers to go back to work to find long-term solutions about how to best use the earnings of the $64 billion Alaska Permanent Fund. However, with no easy path forward and an apparent unwillingness by many to reengage on the issue, another special session this year seems very unlikely.