Dear Friends,

We have finally reached Solstice weekend. Now that we have passed the longest day of the year where we received 22 hours of functional sunlight here in Anchorage, we can start looking forward to shorter days. Remember to get out, make the most of the rest of the summer and get your daily dose of vitamin C!

We thank our brave heroes who fought for the freedom we enjoy today. Let’s commemorate their memory by spreading goodwill to all. Happy 4th of July to everyone! Please remember to be safe.

The Governor's Vetoes

On June 19th, the Governor released his list of vetoes to the operating and capital budgets. The Legislature approved a one-time increase of $680 per-student education funding to local schools, known as the Base Student Allocation (BSA), totaling $175 million. The Governor vetoed this increase in half to $87.5 million, or a $340 increase per student. This cut forces school districts to make difficult decisions regarding their schools and how they are funded. I support overriding the Governor’s unnecessary vetoes but, it requires a 2/3 vote in both the Senate and the House to call a special session (40) and a ¾ to override the vetoes (45). At this point it seems the House Minority is willing to override, however, the House Majority is not.

Additional vetoes follow:

$35 Million cut to maintenance/renovation projects at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
$3.5 million for Head Start Match
$3.1 million for road projects on the Kenai Peninsula and in the Anchorage area.
$30 million for the Community Assistance Fund, which sends grant funds to municipalities around the state to support government services.
$1 million that the Legislature budgeted for public radio grants.
$375,000 for the Department of Corrections, Department of Family and Community Services, and Department of Transportation to each hire a human resources technician to “address agency recruitment challenges.”
$2.5 million in grant funding the Legislature set aside for tourism advertising grants to the Alaska Travel Industry Association.
$100,000 for increased security at the Anchorage Legislative Office building.
$336,000 for five new positions for trail maintenance at Chugach State Park in the Anchorage area.
$5 million for the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP).
$140,000 in grant funding to the Alaska Legal Services Corp. which provides legal help to low-income residents.
$750,000 in funding for re-entry housing.
$580,000 that the Legislature set aside to cover a 30-day special session.
$4 million that the Legislature budgeted for the harbor matching grant fund program
$550,000 capital grant to the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police to create a standardized policy manual that could be used by departments across the state.
$500,000 capital grant to the Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association for a research project to improve fisheries managers’ ability to identify the origin of Western Alaska salmon caught in ocean fisheries.
$1.5 million capital grant to the city of Anchorage for a new cemetery in Eagle River.

To read more, click here!

Constituent Meeting

In the Community

The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts (the PAC) is excited to launch the 2023/2024 Broadway Alaska series. Its first production will be HAMILTON. Tickets are available for youth at $40!