Dear Neighbor,

I’ve heard from many of you who are frustrated that PFD politics have prevented us from investing in core services and crippled economic growth. Many fellow Representatives have suggested that adjusting the PFD formula to an affordable level might help us move beyond the perennial crises around dividend amounts. In response to this feedback, I recently introduced HB 90 to set the PFD at $1,000.

A $1,000 PFD is consistent with legislative intent (the first 1982 PFD was for $1,000), and more importantly is affordable at a range of likely oil prices over the next decade while adequately funding public services. The House Ways and Means Committee already, and if you want to testify on it you can call in at 9am on Saturday, March 11. To testify, call (907) 563-9085. When an operator picks up, ask to testify on HB 90 in House Ways and Means. If you want to want to weigh in but can’t call Saturday, email me at this address and we’ll make sure your comments are part of the public record.



The 1982 PFD formula is no longer affordable. 2015 was the last time the legislature could afford to use that formula, and even between 2013-2015 the legislature relied on massive deficit spending to pay out dividends. Modeling by the non-partisan Legislative Finance Division has shown that neither the 1982 formula nor the so-called “50/50” formula would be affordable in the future without large new revenue sources. Many of us in our district are ready and willing to pay taxes to support public services, but the plain reality is that the legislature as presently composed is almost certainly not going to raise taxes, and I have not heard support for taxing in order to pay very large dividends.

Facing Foster Care spoke about needed improvements to the foster care system.

Agenet advocated for older Alaskans and their families

Principals from Stellar Secondary and Chugach Optional

Legislative Updates

Protecting Abortion Rights and the Rule of Law:

Several Attorneys General from other states and Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor are trying to bully pharmacies into restricting access to abortion medication such as Mifepristone. We learned about this on Sunday, March 5th. On Monday, March 6th, I worked with several legislators to write to Walgreens and urge that they provide the medication for Alaskans.



Attorney General Treg Taylor is violating his oath of office when he tries to intimidate companies into restricting access to medication for Constitutionally-protected health care services.

While this particular Constitutional issue is about abortion medication, the threat is much greater: No Attorney General should be able to unilaterally threaten Alaskans’ Constitutionally protected rights, whether that’s the right of privacy, free speech, or otherwise. Here’s the letter we wrote, which we’ve shared with other companies to encourage them to maintain access to medications.

Expanding Access to Contraception:



I’m happy to report the House Health and Social Services Committee (of which I’m a member) has advanced HB 17, which expands access to contraception by ensuring access to 12 months of birth control and guaranteeing over-the-counter access to emergency contraception.

Protect Kids’ and Moms’ Health:

On March 7th, the Health and Social Services Committee passed HB 59, to extend Medicaid coverage for postpartum mothers from two months to twelve months. This is a critical step to reduce the incidence of infant and maternal mortality, while helping ensure low-income families have health coverage for young kids to reach their full potential.

Essential Minerals, Clean Energy, and National Security:

This week I moderated a panel on workforce development and local hire with the Council of Alaska Producers/Alaska Miners’ Association this week.

In the face of aggression by Russia and China, we need to think long term about more resilient supply chains for essential mineral production, processing, and manufacturing of technology for vehicles, planes, computers, and a wide range of other products.

The Biden Administration has taken important steps to boost domestic production of batteries through the Defense Production Act, and Congress passed the CHIPS Act to onshore manufacturing of semiconductors. With the parallel trends of vehicle electrification, massive increases in renewable generation, and a national security imperative around minerals, we will see rapidly growing demand for essential minerals ranging from graphite to gold to silver. 

These trends are impacting Alaska already with growth in minerals output, and I think the state should do its part to maximize local hire and workforce readiness, ensure we support clean energy systems, and think seriously about how our infrastructure can enable more resilient North American supply chains for processes that would otherwise take place in China..

Thanks for being engaged throughout this legislative session.

Zack

Representative Zack Fields - House District 17

Serving Downtown, South Addition, Forest Park, North Star, and Fairview