Thanks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough for a really nice legislative reception.*I was very pleased that no District 35 mayor voted for the Alaska Municipal League's resolution concerning no confidence in the legislature. I have a very good working relationship with all the mayors in District 35 and hope they or any other constituents will come directly to me if there is a problem. I recently participated in the Native Health Board legislative roundtable discussion on health care.*It was unfortunate that only eight legislators were able to attend the event.*However, our days are packed with overlapping meetings that are all important.
District 35 visit reminder
I will be back in Homer Feb. 20-24.*I am including a list of the activities I will be attending in hopes that you will be able to join me at one of them.*Please give me a call if you would like to meet with me individually while I'm in town.*On Saturday, Feb. 21, I will be attending the District 35 Republican meeting at the Oceans and Islands Center.*Sunday the 22, I will fly to Seldovia to visit and answer questions at the community center from 2:30-4 p.m.*Later on Sunday, I will be at the Anchor Point Senior Center from 7-8:30 p.m. to talk with folks.*On Monday, Feb. 23, I am going to attend a meeting at the Alaska Marine Conservation Council to discuss fisheries issues from 9-11 a.m.; please contact Alan Parks at 235-5680 for questions on this meeting.*I will be having lunch on Monday at the Homer Senior Center beginning at noon, followed by a question and answer session until 2 p.m.*From 3-5 p.m. on Monday, I will be having an open house for local media contacts at my Homer office.*Monday evening I will be attending the Homer City Council Meeting, where I will give an update on how the legislative session is progressing thus far.*I will attend the Spruce Bark Beetle Symposium at Land's End on Tuesday, Feb. 24, until my afternoon flight back to Juneau.*Please call my office for more details.*I hope to see you at one of these events.
District 35 Military
I am endeavoring to send Alaska State flags to District 35 service members who are currently serving in the Middle East. If you know of anyone, please contact Lauren in my office.*We are working with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs on this project and we want to make sure that all regular military, reserve and National Guard service members serving in the Middle East receive a flag.*Ray Kranich inspired this project, and I would like to thank him for his idea.
Education Funding
The Education Funding Subcommit-tee, chaired by Rep. Dan Ogg, R-Kodiak, had its first meeting last Thursday.* Although the subcommittee only has three members (Reps. Ogg, Gara and myself), the meeting was well-attended by other legislators who are concerned about the very serious issues facing our school districts.*The subcommittee discussed House Bills 26, 220, 222, 265 and 361 (see BASIS to read full text of the bills).*Specific figures were discussed with respect to filling holes in district's budgets.*Ideas included a one-time $35 million appropriation for the purpose of instruction; inflation-proofing the foundation formula; catching funding up with the inflationary erosion of the past several years; and holding districts harmless for this year's Public Employees' Retirement System/Teachers' Retirement System contribution increases.*Proposed changes to the specific Base Student Allocation increases ranged from $100 to $400.*I thank all of the people who took the time to testify to the committee on this issue, especially our own KPBSD finance officer Melody Douglas.*The Education Funding Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
tact your local LIO if you would like to testify at this meeting.
House Fisheries committee
The Committee passed HCR 25, which recognizes the importance of salmon to Alaska and again establishes June 28-July 4 as "Alaska Wild Salmon Week." We also moved HJR 32 from committee; HJR 32 asks the federal government to label fish and fish products for their country of origin, presence of coloring or additives, genetic modification and if fish are farmed versus wild.*HB 341 passed out of the committee and allows the Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fishery Association (SARDFA) to tax themselves at 2, 4 and 6 percent.*SARDFA already has this ability at 1, 3, 5 and 7 percent.*The first hearing on HB 409, which would eliminate the 58-foot limit on the length of seine boats in statute, will be on Feb. 9. If HB 409 passes, the Board of Fish would then control the size limit of seine vessels. The current draft of HB 409 requires a two-thirds vote of the seine fishermen in each administrative district to change the length limit, however the two-thirds vote provision of the bill could be eliminated by amendment.
Shallow Natural Gas
Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, presented his bill, SB 250 Shallow Natural Gas Lease Buyback in the Kachemak Bay area, to the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee last Wednesday.*Sen. Stevens voiced many of the concerns and grievances surrounding the leases and the process by which the leases were let, and the committee asked the Department of Natural Resources many good questions. No public testimony was heard but Sen. Stevens and I are hopeful that the Committee will hear SB 250 again in order to listen to the public's comments.
House Bills 395 and 420 were heard in the House Oil and Gas Committee on Thursday.*These bills address many of the concerns raised by the public surrounding shallow natural gas leases and coal bed methane development; including, water quality protection and reimbursement of damages, public notice and local government control. Neither of these bills moved from committee, but much public testimony was taken, and I expect that these bills will be revised into one comprehensive bill to address the public's concerns on this issue.
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