Kodiak – Earlier today, Alaska Governor Bill Walker announced the appointment of V. Fate Putman to the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC). Putman will fill the seat being vacated by Benjamin Brown. Putman will serve the remainder of Brown’s term, which expires in early March of 2019.
I wanted to provide you with a small update from my perspective on the fourth special session. The Senate returned to Juneau last Friday, approved SB 54, and adjourned the fourth special session without addressing Governor Walker’s revenue bill.
I know that many commercial fishermen, residents, and businesses in my district were deeply affected by disastrous pink salmon returns in 2016. Pink salmon fishing is the mainstay of our seine fleet and the effect on families and the economy was devastating. I want to provide an update of where we are in the process of securing funding from the Federal Government for hard-working fishermen.
The fourth special session is off to a fast start and work is progressing on the SB 54, the revision to the omnibus crime bill. Public Safety is an ever-growing concern across the state and I wanted to make you aware of an opportunity to have your voice heard on the issue this evening.
Fairbanks – The Speaker of the Alaska House of Representatives will join Rep. Adam Wool (D-Fairbanks) for a legislative townhall in Fairbanks on Sunday, October 8th. The townhall will also include Majority Whip Rep. Louise Stutes (R-Kodiak) and House Resources Committee Co-Chair Rep. Andy Josephson (D-Anchorage).
Governor Walker announced that he will be calling the legislature back into a fourth special session on October 23rd to address some form of new revenue. A special-session proclamation that outlines a specific agenda has not yet been issued, but there are existing pieces of legislation, as well as new proposals that may be included.
It has been a while since my last letter and I would like to update you on the legislature’s progress over the past two special sessions. This was a contentious year in Juneau and a difficult time for all Alaskans as uncertainty loomed in the form of a potential government shutdown, job losses, an economic recession, State credit-rating downgrades, and a reduction to PFDs. A potential income tax, the oil and gas tax restructuring, and other controversial solutions on the table added to the fervor of the debate.
It’s been the longest, and possibly most interesting session, in Alaska’s history. I am thankful that we have an operating budget in place that avoids a government shutdown, more on this below.
