Dear friends,

As we leave 2020 behind, we have a lot to look forward to this new year! The State of Alaska has received its first COVID vaccines, we are finished with the election cycle and we are gearing up to start a new legislative session. I am hopeful that brighter days are ahead, and I am looking forward to continuing to serve as your Senator.

As we start to work through the 32nd legislative session, I will ensure that you are given the information you need to stay afloat on all of the legislative happenings.

Here's to brighter days ahead as we welcome 2021!

Happy New Year!

Governor Dunleavy's Budget Package

Governor Dunleavy's proposed a $5 billion recovery budget package:

· $1,916 one-time PFD early in the 2021 session. ($1.2 billion)

· Full 2021 PFD

· $3.4 billion to pay for both PFDs

· $300 million to $350 million proposed GEO bond

· $1.4 billion capital budget

· Draws $6.3 billion from the ERA

$200.6 million cut to agency operations:

· $140 million cut to Health and Social Services

· $27 million cut to education. (Due to enrollment changes)

· $20 million cut to the University system. (Part of the 3-year compact)

· $16 million cut to Transportation

Department of Health and Social Services (FY 22):

· $3.41 billion in total funding

· 4% decrease compared to the FY 2021 authorized budget

· $140 million UGF cut

· $35 million cut to Medicaid

· No change to the funding for adult preventative dental services under Medicaid

Governor Dunleavy's budget proposal calls for closing 6 DMVA offices:

· Eagle River

· Tok

· Valdez

· Homer

· Haines

· Delta Junction

Governor Dunleavy wants the Alaska Legislature to fast-track the one-time PFD payment and the GO bond package.

FY 22 operating, mental health, and capital budgets:

· Fully funds public education with no changes to the funding formula

· $13.5 million increase for public safety

· Funds the Alaska Psychiatric Institute to operate at full capacity

· Restores school construction financing to FY20 level

· $60 million to pay oil tax credits. (AIDEA funding)

· $294 million in cuts in FY 22. (UGF) ($180 million less than the approved FY21 budget)

· $ 20 million cut to the University of Alaska. (Final year of the 3-year compact)

Express Capital Budget:

· Funding the rest of the 2020 PFD - $1,916 per eligible Alaskan

· $4 million to address the sexual assault case backlog

· $26 million to fisheries, wildlife, and resource projects

· $24 million in construction and maintenance projects

· $4 million for statehood defense

Separately, Governor Dunleavy is proposing 3 constitutional amendments:

· Cap government spending

· Require a vote of the people to pass new taxes

· Protect the Permanent Fund

The Governor is proposing a change to the established divided formula:

· 50/50 split and an advisory vote of the people in the spring.

Anchorage Reads

After a long hiatus, Anchorage Public Library is bringing back Anchorage Reads! Anchorage Reads is a community-based reading initiative that promotes literacy and civic dialog by encouraging everyone in the Anchorage Bowl area to come together to read and discuss a single book.

This year, we have selected Stamped from the Beginning: A Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi. For younger readers, there is a youth-oriented version entitled Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. National events in 2020 have shone a spotlight on issues of racism in the U.S., and the Anchorage Reads committee believes there is no better time to examine our history and find a better way forward.

Each month the Anchorage Public Library, the NAACP, Story Works Alaska, Bridge Builders of Anchorage, and other partners will bring the Anchorage community together to discuss the themes in the book. Our goal is to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the past so that we can act together to address inequities in our community that impact us all. We cannot meet this goal without the help of people like you. Will you help us amplify the Anchorage Reads program? We want to reach as many people as possible and your organization can help. Here are a number of different ways you can participate :

Share about Anchorage Reads on social media
Share about Anchorage Reads with your membership
Have a representative from your organization participate in a panel discussion
Have a representative from your organization facilitate a book club meeting
Distribute flyers about Anchorage Reads and related events
Donate money or ad space to promote the program

Anchorage Reads Events are as follows:

● Sunday, January 17: Kick Off. MLK Birthday

● Thursday, February 18: Book Discussion: Stamped, Part 1, "Cotton Mather" (1415-1728)

● Sunday, February 21: Community Conversation: Health and Healthy Communities

● Thursday, March 18: Book Discussion: Part 2, Stamped, "Thomas Jefferson"

● Sunday, March 21: Community Conversation: Housing/Lending

● Thursday, April 15, Book Discussion: Part 3, Stamped, "William Lloyd Garrison"

● Sunday, April 18: Community Conversation: Education

● Thursday, May 20: Book Discussion: Part 4, Stamped, "W.E.B. DuBois" (1868-1963)

● Sunday, May 23: Community Conversation: Policing

● Thursday, June 17: Book Discussion: Part 5, Stamped, "Angela Davis" (1963-Today)

● Sunday, June 20: Community Conversation: Criminal Justice

We hope that we can count on your help to make the 2021 Anchorage Reads a success!

Thank you in advance for your partnership! We look forward to seeing you at our community events.

COVID-19: Relief Legislation

Congressional and White House negotiators have reached a deal on a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package.

· $300-per-week federal boost to state unemployment insurance for 11 weeks

· $600 stimulus checks for Americans earning less than $75,000. ($166 billion)

· A renewed Paycheck Protection Program

· Extending eviction moratoriums for renters for an unspecified amount of time

The Bill is awaiting the President's signature.

COVID-19: Vaccine

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is recommended that states prioritize Americans over the age of 75 and essential frontline workers for the COVID-19 vaccine.

· Essential frontline workers include grocery store employees and teachers.

The FDA has approved another COVID-19 vaccine for use in the U.S.

· The vaccine was developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health.

· The data suggests that the Moderna vaccine is 94% effective.

· 5.9 million doses are being shipped to locations across the country.

· The vaccine requires 2 doses spaced several weeks apart.

Doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are being shipped to all 50 states.

· On Dec. 11, the FDA approved an emergency use authorization for the vaccine.

· 2.9 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been delivered.

“The tireless work to develop a new vaccine to prevent this novel, serious, and life-threatening disease in an expedited timeframe after its emergence is a true testament to scientific innovation and public-private collaboration worldwide.” - FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn

Analysis by the FDA shows the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be 94.8% effective.

· New clinical data suggest the AstraZeneca-University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine is 70% effective.

Alaska Healthcare Scorecard

The Commonwealth Fund issued their 2020 Scorecard on State Health System Performance.

Alaska rankings:

· Overall Ranking = 32

· Access and Affordability = 35

· Prevention and Treatment = 48

· Avoidable Hospital Use and Cost = 8

· Healthy Lives = 28

· Disparity 17

Alaska State Profile

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to my office at any time:

L. Keith Bauguess

Chief of Staff

907.269.0174

Besse Odom

Legislative Aide

907.269.0174

I’m Senator Elvi, always.....

"Listening and Representing Your Interests!”