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Good Laws & Bad Regs
July 22, 2025
| | | | Dear Friends and Neighbors, | |
This newsletter comes to you from Bellevue where I’m at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region conference. It’s four valuable days talking and learning about shared issues and opportunities in front of America’s five northwestern states and Canada’s western provinces & territories. I do keep having to remind the Canadians they’re our eastern neighbor, not our northern one…
Read on for PFD fixes, pension plans, and CFAB news. Plus how you can help fund our schools! (Hint: it involves telling EED to stop an asinine regulation.)
| I was honored to present a legislative citation to Bill Legere for his decades of work in Alaska public radio. He was instrumental in creating Gavel to Gavel, connecting Alaskans to their capital city. With the threats to public broadcasting coming out of D.C., the importance of Bill's work is even clearer than ever. Thank you to everyone who makes public broadcasting work across Alaska. We need you. | |
The Three Rs - Refuse Rotten Regulations
I’ve mentioned before that the state’s Department of Education & Early Development is considering a regulation change that will change how our municipalities can contribute to their local school districts. It’s a change for the worse. If passed, it would take a lot of local dollars out of our schools—dollars that pay for Pre-K, sports and other activities, and busses to get kids to school.
If you’re as concerned as I am about this, public comment is open. You can send yours to [email protected] until July 23rd at 5pm. I definitely will!
| Rep. Story and I met with Chilkoot Indian Association President James Hart during our visit to Haines last week. | |
A Lifeline & A Red Pen
There’s news I hate to share, but I didn’t get a choice. The governor vetoed SB 156, my bill to help keep the Alaska Commercial Fishing and Agriculture Bank alive.
CFAB is a state-created co-op that makes critical loans to Alaska commercial fisherman. The work I did hand-in-hand with the administration last year to lower the cost of loans from the state’s Commercial Fisheries Revolving Loan Fund threatened to put them out of business. SB 156 was the answer, providing a small, one-time infusion of money to keep them open—cash they’d pay back to the general fund later.
The governor’s move is frankly dumbfounding. Commercial fishing is the largest private-sector employer in the state, and it’s an industry in crisis. The governor doesn’t seem to know a thing about it. His veto message called CFAB a private bank, despite it being created by state law (and despite him directly appointing some of its board members.)
He also said the state’s investment was “not prudent.” Thats ironic, since the funding came from a defunct loan fund I found when scouring the state’s books. The money was not in the general fund and was literally sitting around doing nothing before the bill passed. With his veto, that’s what it will continue to do.
In a year where the legislature pinched every penny, my bill passed 59-1. The legislature clearly agreed Alaska commercial fishing family businesses matter—that the Governor doesn’t is a real disappointment.
What perplexes me most, though, is that the governor turned down my request to meet with him about the bill. It leaves us all guessing about his thoughts and motivations. It’s hard to help our state thrive and move forward opposite someone who just refuses to sit across the table and and work. But you can count on me to dust myself off and look for another opportunity to make things better. That’s the job.
| I got to give a Capitol tour to a group of firefighters - both local and from around the Pacific Northwest in Juneau for advanced training. | |
Pensions & Pricetags
In years past, one of the major hurdles to restoring a defined benefit pension for public employees has been the rule that bills affecting Alaska’s retirement systems must have an actuarial analysis before they can get a floor vote. Actuaries are very smart, expensive people who do sophisticated modeling, so their work gets time consuming and costly.
Delay is the enemy of change in the legislature. But these studies are essential to make sure a retirement system is fiscally sound.
The state’s actuary, Gallagher, rolled out the results of its actuarial analysis of the Defined Benefits bill before the House Finance Committee late this past session. In one of the more understandable (if long) presentations I’ve seen on this complex issue, the actuary explained it. He showed a defined benefits system provides more valuable benefits to workers than a 401(k)-style defined contribution system. Those benefits keep workers around longer, leading to a higher overall payroll. That’s why he showed a slightly higher price tag for a real pension—because it works.
We want great teachers for our kids, and we want them to stick around. We need experienced, efficient people processing SNAP benefits and PFD applications. Alaska needs road engineers who understand building in cold climates. We’re safer with well trained law enforcement and firefighters who know our towns and cultures. For too long, our state has struggled to fulfill its responsibilities. For too long, we’ve been the training ground for public workers, only to lose them to states with pensions.
But a fiscal note that shows increased costs is a tough hurdle. To get over it, we should look at what a fiscal note is and isn’t. Fiscal notes show the cost to the State of Alaska. They don’t cover costs to other employers – like municipalities and school districts. They don’t touch on the employees’ contributions (which stay at 8% of their pay in this bill). Crucially, a fiscal note doesn’t measure benefits and savings like lower recruitment & training costs, avoided lawsuits, or efficiencies. They also don’t consider the economic benefit of a functioning government that keeps Alaskans healthy, connected, and working and wastes less of their time.
The HB 78 fiscal note says the plan will cost the state $40 million in the first year, increasing each year as more people fill the vacant state jobs and stay in them longer. Because of all the factors not considered in a fiscal note, the Senate Finance Committee had an economist estimate the value of positive benefits to public employers two years ago. She estimated $76 million annually in cost savings and increased revenue, the lion’s share of which was in reduced turnover costs. In addition, there are indirect economic benefit to the state as a whole. They far outweigh the costs.
Returning our public employees to the stability of a guaranteed retirement is good for the state and other public employers, it’s good for public servants, and it’s good for the Alaskans they serve.
| I presented a legislative citation honoring the fantastic team at Tlingit & Haida Emergency Response. They do tremendous work around our region and play a key role in Juneau flood response. | |
Dividend Dilemmas
I’ve heard for years about broken parts of our ‘allowable absence’ PFD rules. Those are the extra time an Alaskan can be out of state and still get their annual check. I partnered with Ketchikan Rep. Jeremy Bynum to pass a bill fixing these problems and improving safety and cost efficiency at the PFD Division. It became law when the governor signed it this summer.
The first problem we fixed was for Merchant Mariners. Alaskans who go Outside for merchant marine training will now stay eligible for their PFDs, just like college students. That change supports local hire in our maritime industries. The second fix lets college students count short breaks during the school year as part of the semester. (That doesn’t include summer break.) It means a student who can’t afford to fly home for Thanksgiving or spring break won’t get dinged. Fix #3 clears up some of our insanely convoluted rules about medical absences. The amount of time you could be out for medical care down South depends on whether your medical care happens before or after other work or family travel. Now it won’t. Alaskans shouldn’t need to plan medical emergencies in advance to keep a PFD.
Rep. Bynum and I also worked with Rep. Story to include an allowable absence for the uniformed services at NOAA and the Public Health Service. These folks wear our nation’s uniform, get veterans benefits, and can be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. They’ll now get comparable treatment to the armed services when it comes to the PFD, too.
The bill also makes your personal info a little more secure. It requires the PFD division to fingerprint its employees and job applicants. Division staff handle Alaskans’ banking information and private medical records, so it’s an important safety improvement. The bill also lets Alaskans opt-in to electronic levy notices from the division. If you prefer email, the division won’t have to waste money sending you snail mail, too.
The last piece of the bill was a little unusual: we added a “letter of intent” instructing the department to change a regulation. Regulations are based on state laws. But PFD has one that doesn’t match the statute. Alaska law lets a parent or legal guardian apply for a PFD on behalf of a minor child or disabled adult. It doesn’t say the sponsor has to be eligible. The regulations keep to the law for disabled adults’ sponsors, but stopped a minor child from getting a PFD if the parent or guardian wasn’t eligible. So a child who never left the state but lived with grandma, would lose PFD eligibility if mom & dad worked too many days out of state. We didn’t add a bill provision, because Alaska law already makes the child eligible. Instead, we voted on both the House and Senate floors to tell the Department to change the regulations to match current law.
The pieces of this bill have mostly been in the works in various bits of legislation for years. I’m proud I could partner with Rep. Bynum to get them enacted
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| | Events & Happenings Around District B | | |
Juneau Master’s Faire
Time to break out your armor! Join the fun at the annual medieval faire on July 26.
Juneau Marathon
Run (or walk) Juneau’s marathon or half-marathon! You can sign up now for the July 26 race!
Juneau Musical Planets
On July 26, enjoy a musical planetarium show! See the stars while listening to Holst’s “The Planets”!
Juneau Death in Douglas
On Aug. 2, join a Dougals walking tour to learn about seven historical Douglas and Treadwell murder cases!
Juneau Bookmark Contest
Know a young artist? The annual Juneau bookmark contest starts Sept. 15! Students in pre-school through high school can submit their art.
Juneau Library Walks
Join the fun for walks, socializing, and free snacks during Parks & Rec’s Walk to the Library! Meet up at the Douglas Library on July 30 to walk the Treadwell Mine Historic trail or the Downtown Library on Aug. 18 to enjoy a ship-free morning on the Seawalk!
Gustavus Gallery Opening
On Aug. 1 head to the Community Center for the Gateway Gallery Opening Reception!
Gustavus Second Saturday Market
You can shop local on Aug. 9 at the Community Center’s Second Saturday Market!
Gustavus Get Skunked Cribbage Tournament
Get your cards and your board ready for the Library Cribbage Tournament Aug. 1!
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Haines Takshanuk Ridge Run
Lace up your shoes for this annual race on August 3! The Takshanuk Ridge Run is a great time, plus all proceeds go the Glacier Bears running programs!
Haines Southeast State Fair
The fun starts July 31st for the Southeast State Fair! Come for the music, the rides, the crafts, and so much more. This year’s theme: We got a good thing growing!
Haines Dalton City Limits
Come to the fairgrounds for a summer concert series! On August 13 you can dance to a western swing sound and then on August 27 you can close out the season with high energy nostalgia covers!
Haines Artists Market
Shop for local art, crafts, and homemade goods on August 21!
Skagway Climbing Club
On Thursdays, join the fun with the Skagway Climbing Club! Whether you’re brand new or an experienced climber, you can join the trips to outdoor crags, learn about belaying and climbing, and more!
Skagway Junior Ranger Day
On July 31, the whole family can join in the fun of Junior Ranger Day, including old-fashioned ice cream making!
Skagway Klondike Road Relay
It’s time to get your team together and break in your shoes! The Klondike Road Relay starts Sept. 5.
Skagway Maggio Music Fun-Raiser
On Aug. 16, come to the Dedman Stage for music, food, games, and more!
Skagway Garden City Market
Check out local jewelry, paintings, plants, produce, soap, baked goods, and so much more! Get all your shopping done on Aug. 9.
| | Is there an event in our district I should know about? Please call or email! | | | | |
