Wildly Predictable Wildly Predictable February 7, 2020 Dear Friends and Neighbors, February First Friday! My high-schooler had a snow day this week, but we don't have time for that in the Capitol. (I might be a little jealous.) Oh, and if you have a Valentine, this is your one-week notice for Valentine's Day. Or just do something nice for yourself. You're worth it. Eighth graders from DZ and Juneau Community Charter School on the steps of the Capitol. I'm wearing the awesome Alaska tie they gave me! Reality Check (for Nine Figures) The governor sent us a supplemental budget request. It's way bigger than usual. Unpredictable hits like $110 million for the awful 2020 fire season and $3 million for 2019 earthquake relief Uncle Sam didn't pay for are appropriate. There's not much way to know in advance how bad fires and earthquakes will be. But other things are wildly predictable, like another $128 million for Medicaid. We knew last year the state wouldn't be able to make the governor's cuts to Medicaid work. The colossal rate increases for Pioneers Homes also came up short of revenue. That $1 million hole surprised nobody, since almost no Pioneer Home residents had that kind of dough. We could have skipped fully half the general fund money in the bill if the governor didn't veto the ever-lovin' reality out of the budget we passed. At least we can put back some of that necessary funding now. The supplemental also adds about $12 million for the ferries. DOT says $7 million of that is to fill holes in the current inadequate schedule of ferry operations while the rest is to overhaul ships. That's welcome. But keep in mind where we are: The Matanuska is on the fritz for at least a month leaving us with no boats fit to sail except the little Lituya. (I've asked the team in Ketchikan whether the Columbia could do it, but there's an unanswered safety question. I'll keep you posted.) And the strike last summer was costly. Bottom line: the amounts in the governor's supplemental wouldn't add any sailings this year. The supplemental needs some work. What needs more work is next year's budget, to make sure we don't go through all this again. If the governor gets every nickel he asked for, state spending will be $238 million lower at the end of this fiscal year than it was before. That means actually getting Alaskans the services you need is going to stay a giant challenge. Reps. Hannan, Story, Ortiz, Kreiss-Tomkins, & I spoke with Southeast Conference about the future of our ferry system and building a long term plan for Alaska's budget. Finding Fixes I'm introducing four new bills this session. Each one makes concrete improvements for Alaskans. The first will let disabled veterans who are eligible for a free hunting and fishing license to use it for trapping, too. That's how senior licenses work now, so it just makes sense to extend the same privileges to the hundred or so disabled vets who have to buy a trapping license each year. The second bill will make it just a little easier for private property owners to get rid of vehicles abandoned on their land. Right now, unless a city spends public funds to step in, it takes six months. That's an awfully long time to be stuck with someone else's abandoned car or boat on your land. Bill three will make it easier for folks leaving prison to get their state ID before they head out the door. You need ID to get a job, housing, and even court-ordered treatment. We want all those things to be as accessible as we can make them so folks getting out don't make new victims. And just this Wednesday I introduced a bill dealing with PFAS. These substances, found in the firefighting foams at airports and other places, has contaminated drinking water around the state. My bill sets standards for drinking water that protect human health. It makes sure anyone with a contaminated water supply gets safe, clean water. And it phases out the use of these poisonous foams. Rep. Hannan introduced a House companion to the bill today, so it'll moving through both bodies simultaneously. This is an urgent health issue for lots of Alaskans. All my best, Did someone forward you this newsletter? Did you fall into it through the series of tubes? Want more? SUBSCRIBE Events around District Q Juneau Youth Art Activity: Printing with Sara Tabbert Bring the kids (ages 6-9) to learn about printmaking techniques and make relief prints at the SLAM on Feb. 8. (Fellow parents: kids should wear “art-appropriate” clothes. Expect a glorious mess.) Here are all the details. Juneau P&R Youth Volleyball Registration opens Feb. 10 for the spring youth volleyball season. See information here to sign up fourth through eighth grade students. Juneau Night Sky The Marie Drake Planetarium has a new digital projector! Come see the first public show Feb. 11! Here are the details. Skagway Mardi Gras Celebrate Mardi Gras with the King Cake Potluck, costume contest, and music on Feb. 22. See more information. Skagway Vivacious Valentine Variety Show Come out for a fun evening of music, humor, and more on Feb. 14. Here are the details. Haines Volunteer Meeting Come learn more at this Alaska Natives Without Land meeting for community grassroots volunteers on Feb. 11. See all the info here. Haines Chamber of Commerce Casino Night & Dance Party Join in for dancing and a casino night after the (already sold out) auction on Feb. 15. I’ll be there helping with the auction. Hope to see you while I’m in town! Here are the details. Haines Winterfest Come learn about avalanche safety, participate in the Alpine Adventure Race, ski the Miles Klehini Classic, and watch some great short films Feb. 20-23. See more. Is there an event in our district I should know about? Please call or email! Visit Me! Alaska State Capitol Room 419 Juneau, AK 99801 800 550 4947 907 465 4947 Email Me! ‌ ‌ ‌ Contact My Staff: Edric Carrillo 907 465 6419 [email protected] Cathy Schlingheyde 907 465 6827 [email protected] Senator Jesse Kiehl | Alaska State Capitol, Rm. 419, 4th Avenue & Main Street, Juneau, AK 99801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected]