Below is an Op-Ed I wrote yesterday. It explains why the Legislatureās work isnāt that hard, should be done by now, and why taking a break from work in the Capitol doesnāt move our work forward. Hereās the link. The text is pasted below. As always, call or write if you have any questions!
“I also ask that this legislature make Alaska the next state to pass Erin’s Law.” That was Governor Walkers’ call to action in his State of the State address Wednesday night. I applaud Governor Walker for joining in our effort to pass Erin’s Law so that we can implement this important prevention strategy to help keep our students safe.
I am excited to start the 29th Alaska Legislature. But like many Alaskans I am anxious about our future. We face a crisis that threatens our livelihoods and futures. The Republican leadership promoted unstainable spending and shifted the benefits of our resources to outside interests. Our situation was made worse with the sudden drop in oil prices.
Alaska doesn’t have to be a company town to be a resource state. But to be a successful resource state, we must get our resources to market and get a fair return for selling them. That’s why Alaska Democratic legislators put forward a proposal to spark development of new fields, squeeze more oil from existing fields, and advance non-tax ideas for getting more oil out of the ground and into the pipeline.
It’s simple: Production before reduction. Our bill puts Alaska first instead of giving away billions of dollars for nothing but promises and the status quo. If an oil company puts more oil in the pipeline than they are now, they pay less in taxes on that oil.
For many Alaskans, going back to school is an exciting time of year. Students are excited to see their friends and take on new challenges. And parents are proud — even sometimes a bit relieved — as their children get back on the bus after a busy Alaska summer. It’s a fresh start, a chance to build on past experience and an opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge.
But parents and teachers know that the learning doesn’t stop when the students aren’t in school. And what youths learn at home, at camp, or out in the Alaska outdoors can have a big impact on how a child performs in the classroom. Just as those experiences cannot, and should not, be standardized, students are not standardized either. As any parent knows, what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another. And not all kids share the same opportunities or challenges.
For many Alaskans, going back to school is an exciting time of year. Students are excited to see their friends and take on new challenges. And parents are proud — even sometimes a bit relieved — as their children get back on the bus after a busy Alaska summer. It’s a fresh start, a chance to build on past experience and an opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge.
As students go back to school, it is a good time to reflect on what we expect from our education system and how to meet those expectations. As technology, globalization and a changing economy create new challenges and opportunities for Alaskans, it is important that our schools provide all students with the education they need to succeed in the 21st century world.
When debating proposals that could cost Alaskans billions of dollars, it’s important to have your facts straight. Recently a lobbying group took liberties with the facts to sway you into giving away Alaska’s fair return on the oil we own. People are entitled to their opinions. But they are not entitled to make up their own facts.
