Happy Holidays! May celebration of the holidays and the coming New Year bring you and your loved ones joy and good health.
It was my great honor in January to be selected as the first Alaska Native Speaker of the House in the history of the state. Since then I have been leading the bi-partisan Alaska House Majority Coalition—a group of legislators who have consistently worked for the best interests of rural and urban Alaskans alike.
Thank you to all who attended the West Anchorage Town Hall & Resource Fair on the 19th. Representative Jason Grenn and I enjoyed meeting with all of the community members who attended to share their thoughts and concerns with us. Public safety will always be a priority for Alaska and I look forward to working with West Anchorage neighbors and the law enforcement community for smart solutions.
Today, the Governor announced a special session that will begin on October 23rd. It will focus on revenue and criminal justice reform. Though seemingly unrelated, the recent rise of criminal activity in Alaska is a direct consequence of the fiscal crisis.
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.
Anchorage – The members of the Alaska House Majority Coalition respond to news that Alaska Governor Bill Walker will call the 30th Alaska State Legislature into a 4th Special Session in late October. The special session will be focused on a not yet disclosed revenue measure, or measures, to fill the projected $2.7 billion budget gap brought on by the continued low price of oil, which has pushed Alaska into a fiscal crisis and lingering recession.
While some good news came out of session, I’m frustrated, and know you are. As one vote, I don’t get to make all 60 people take action. I get to try. And I get to pitch compromises that I can’t force anyone to respond to. I’m a fan of democracy. I’m not a fan of not being able, as one person, to force people out of their ideological boxes to reach needed compromise, to get good things done.
Juneau – Earlier today, the leadership of the Alaska Senate Majority reversed course and called for action during the Second Special Session on legislation to fix Alaska’s flawed system of subsidizing the oil and gas industry on the North Slope through overly-generous tax credits. The Alaska House Majority Coalition welcomes a renewed focus on this important issue.
