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E-News As your representative, Rep.Harriet.Drummond IN JUNEAU IN ANCHORAGE Toll Free Statewide Share your thoughts! Letters to the Editor Contact other officials Governor Mike Dunleavy Senator Lisa Murkowski Senator Dan Sullivan Congressman Don Young If you do not wish to receive future emails from Rep. Drummond, click here. |
Dear Friends and Neighbors, Yesterday I joined my colleagues in the Alaska Legislature as we met in joint session to vote 37-1 to override the Governor’s $444 million in line item vetoes to the state budget. It is estimated by the Institute of Social and Economic Research that these vetoes will cost Alaska 4,200 jobs as well as threaten to derail Alaska’s precarious economic recovery.
However, due to the absence of group of 22 legislators, some of whom may or may not be in Wasilla right now rather than the State Capitol, it is not possible to reach the 45 votes required for a veto override.
Although there is some discussion over whether the Governor can force the legislature to meet in Wasilla (he can’t) the bottom line is that these legislators are siding with the Governor, not representing their constituents, and avoiding responsibility for their votes. A sample of the Governor’s 182 line item vetoes:
As Co-chair of the House Education Committee, and someone who has dedicated my life to education, I focused my comments during the debate to defending education for all of Alaska’s children, not just the ones in my district. You can see and hear a complete recording of my floor speech at the following link: http://akhouse.org/rep_drummond/972-2/ This would be an appropriate time to thank everyone who responded to my 2019 Constituent Survey. Over 300 residents of House District 18 weighed in on important issues relating to the state budget and Governor Dunleavy’s cuts to the basic services upon which we all rely.
I know that everyone who responded cares deeply about Alaska, even if we don’t all agree completely on every issue. The results clearly demonstrate that an overwhelming majority of the people believe that the Governor has gone too far, and that his vetoes represent a dereliction of responsibility that will lead to thousands of Alaskans losing jobs, medical care, and educational opportunities. Some highlights from the survey results:
You will receive a complete copy ofthe survey results in the mail within the next few days, or you can view them now at the following link: http://akhouse.org/drummond/images/Final_2019_Survey_Results.pdf In the meantime, my colleagues and I are hopeful the absent legislators can be compelled by duty, conscience, or the people they represent to return to the Capitol Building for a vote of the full legislature on the overrides. As always, please call or email with any thoughts, ideas, or concerns.
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