The budget, the budget, & the budget

July 10, 2021

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Greetings from Haines! I can finally travel our district again and see folks face-to-face. Thanks to everyone who came out to our Juneau, Haines, & Klukwan town halls. I look forward to seeing folks in Skagway tonight and Gustavus tomorrow. (More details in the events section below.)

Thursday’s meeting with Philippine Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer. He & his staff brought the Consulate on Wings to Southeast to help dual citizens and green card holders keep their paperwork up-to-date post COVID.

The Whole Megillah

Part of the down-to-the-wire agreement to prevent a shutdown included having a group of legislators work before the next special session to devise a “comprehensive fiscal plan.” Nothing ambitious.

The Comprehensive Fiscal Plan Working Group (there’s a mouthful) had our organizing meeting Thursday. Our task is to figure out if and how the state should raise more revenues, identify potential budget cuts, rework the PFD formula, and agree on whether any of this stuff should go in the constitution. Anything the group comes up with will get considered by the full legislature in August.

We have two members from each of the four caucuses in the legislature. I look forward to a lot of conversations with my colleagues—we come at these issues from different directions—but we also need to hear from you. Please share your thoughts on the state’s fiscal future.

Oh! And remember, I’m still taking guesses on the governor’s mysterious revenue proposals. No announcements from him yet. I’m buying lunch for the winner, so email me those guesses!

Turning the Pages

Speaking of our August special session, the Senate is hiring pages! Pages are the staff who work on the Senate floor, keeping us on track. (They also occasionally need to drive a state vehicle.) As of right now, the job will last 30 days, starting Aug. 2. If you’re interested, email your resume and driving record to [email protected].

Reps. Story, Hannan, & I honored Gina Del Rosario for the incredible care she gives our elders managing the Juneau Pioneer Home and for her volunteer work in our community.

Four Billion and One Mistakes

There’ve been some updates from last week’s newsletter. But first, a correction: I said last week the governor vetoed school bond debt reimbursement. That’s wrong. He actually vetoed money for rural school major maintenance. (Most of the school bond debt payments are caught in the ¾ vote debacle, waiting on our next special session.)

There’s also great news: $4 billion is going from the (easily spendable) Earnings Reserve of the Permanent Fund to the constitutionally-protected corpus. The governor, having declared he’d veto the protection, didn’t actually do so. See, the governor has to personally initial every single line-item veto or reduction to the budget. It’s a constitutional power governors can’t just delegate. He returned the budget to the legislature without having touched that line. After initially claiming the legislature had to let him fix it (which is not a thing in the constitution) he’s now decided not to fight the transfer. The slip of his attention/veto pen will make a real impact in ensuring future legislators and governors don’t recklessly spend down the fund.

And more good news: The governor backed down in his latest game of chicken with the Alaska Judicial Council. He selected Jennifer Stuart Henderson to be the next Alaska Supreme Court Justice, and didn’t push us into a constitutional crisis asking them to send him the name of a lower-scoring judge. It looked like he was headed that way, but in the end the constitution prevailed.

All my best,

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Events & Happenings Around District Q

Juneau Treadwell History Walk

The Juneau-Douglas City Museum has Treadwell Mine complex tours led by local historian Jim Geraghty. Only 3 chances, starting July 18th, so don't miss out!

Juneau The Tempest

Theatre in the Rough’s production of the Tempest opened this weekend. Check out Shakespeare’s fantastical adventure! (Full disclosure: I have family on the production crew. So you know it’s good.)

Juneau Garden Tour

The 2021 Garden Tour is happening July 10! Get your tickets and more info here.

Skagway coloring the world

with reading!

Summer doesn’t always mean being outside. The Summer Reading Program is good both indoors and out! Log your reading and submit the results for a chance to win monthly prizes through mid-August or participate in these youth activities up until school starts!

Skagway Annual Flower &

Garden Show

Check out these flower and food gardens in their natural habitats. The show is July 32-25.

Skagway Town Hall

Rep. Hannan & I are hosting a town hall TONIGHT, July 10th,, at the AB Hall from 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Haines Chilkat Challenge

Something about the Chilkat makes physical events even more inspiring - join the Chilkat Challenge Triathlon July 10 for a 35-mile tour!

Haines Fair Happenings

The Southeast Alaska State Fair is back! It’ll look a little different than previous years but the fun is still the same—there will be exhibits, parades, logging shows, live music and much more!

Gustavus Town Hall

Rep. Hannan & I are hosting a town hall July 11, at the Gustavus Community Center

from 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Klukwan Book Check

Every book checked out at the library gets you a chance to win “Traditional Food Guide” from the Klukwan SEARHC Health Promotion!