2010-03-12: House Bipartisan News

A winter storm has prevented members of the Anchorage Legislative Caucus from traveling to their home districts. Consequently, the public meeting scheduled for Saturday, March 13, 2010 is canceled. Anchorage Caucus co-chairs Rep. Lindsey Holmes (D-Anchorage) and Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom (R-Eagle River) expressed their disappointment at the cancelation, but encouraged interested ...  Read More »

2010-03-12: House Majority Press

House Majority Leader Kyle Johansen, R-Ketchikan will head the panel for the Alaska State House Majority Caucus weekly press availability. Representatives Anna Fairclough, R-Eagle River, and Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, will join the Leader for the event, scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Monday, March 15. Majority press availabilities are scheduled every Monday at 9:00 a.m. during session unless ...  Read More »

2010-03-12: Rep. Carl Gatto

The Alaska State Senate today unanimously passed House Joint Resolution 16, supporting service-disabled veterans in building new businesses by urging the federal government to implement policy already signed into law. The Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 offered a three-percent federal procurement preference to assist service-disabled veterans in starting new businesses. HJR 16 ...  Read More »

2010-03-12: Rep. Anna Fairclough

The Alaska State House today passed House Bill 349, legislation proposing to allow the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council to conduct meetings and allow voting via teleconference. Representative Anna Fairclough, R-Eagle River, sponsored the bill. Fairclough says the small statutory changes will allow the Council to satisfy quorum requirements and meet their mission and goals. ...  Read More »

2010-03-12: Rep. Nancy Dahlstrom

The Alaska State House today passed House Bill 360, legislation offering Alaska high school drop-outs another avenue for graduation. House Rules Chair Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Eagle River, sponsored the bill, which would require school districts to submit the names and other information of drop-outs with the director of the Alaska Challenge Military Youth Academy, or ACMYA. "We ...  Read More »

2010-03-11: House Finance Committee

The Alaska State House today passed House Bill 300 and House Bill 302, the Fiscal Year 2011 Statewide Operating and Mental Health Operating budget bills. The House Finance Committee Substitute authorizes $34.1 million less than the governor's amended FY 11 spending plan, with a 10-percent across the board cut to state agency travel and deferral of funding for issues that require ...  Read More »

2010-03-10: Rep. Mike Chenault

The House Resources Committee this evening passed their committee substitute for House Bill 369, House Speaker Mike Chenault's, R-Nikiski, proposal creating the Joint In-State Gasline Development Team. The committee amended the bill to focus the function of the team, taking out the proposed steering committee. The substitute bill, or CS, also made minor changes to clarify and ...  Read More »

2010-03-10: Rep. Peggy Wilson

The Alaska State Senate today unanimously passed House Bill 276, correcting the boundary of the Ft. Rousseau Causeway State Historical Park. Rep. Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell, sponsored the bill that fixes an oversight in the 2007 legislation that formed the park adjacent to Sitka's Rocky Gutierrez Airport. The original legislation forming the park included uplands, tidelands, ...  Read More »

2010-03-10: Rep. Anna Fairclough

The Alaska State House today unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 20, which proclaims April 2010 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Representative Anna Fairclough, R-Eagle River, sponsored the resolution. "In addition to spreading the message asking Alaskans to speak out against this terrible crime, HCR 20 also recognizes the thoughtful, diligent work people all ...  Read More »

2010-03-09: House Military & Veterans' Affairs Spec. Com.

Special Committee on Military & Veterans Affairs Chair Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, is the featured member for today's Alaska State House Majority Caucus audio actualities. Chair Gatto comments on today's committee vote to forward Brig. Gen. Thomas Katkus' name to the full House for confirmation as the new commissioner of the Alaska Dept. of Military & Veterans ...  Read More »

2010-03-09: Rep. Wes Keller

Representative Wes Keller, R-Wasilla, saw two bills make progress through the State House this week. House Bill 354 would change some oversight language regarding loans available for general aviation in Alaska under the Capstone Avionics Loan program. Current language limits access to loans to individuals and small carriers that own their aircraft, and leases are not considered. ...  Read More »

2010-03-09: House Energy Spec. Com.

Representatives from six proposed major railbelt energy projects will appear before the House Special Committee on Energy on Thursday, March 11, to assist the committee in learning more about the projects and which one is best suited to meet the railbelt's energy needs. Officials for the following energy projects are scheduled to appear: Mt. Spurr Geothermal Facility ...  Read More »