Courts, Clays, Conveyances, & Care Courts, Clays, Conveyances, & Care November 8, 2019 Dear Friends and Neighbors, Monday is Veterans' Day. Enjoy the heck out of the day off, if you get it, and take a minute to thank those who served. It matters. I crashed DOT's working group on how to make the Egan-Yandukin intersection safer. Not Better Yet The ferry situation still isn't OK. People around our region are stranded with their cars and no way to get home. Small business owners can't meet their promises to customers. Students can't travel for school activities. Alaskans up north were pretty upset by a proposal to pause plowing on some state roads between towns in the wee hours of the morning. I agree with them. Safe, reliable transportation between communities is essential, whether it's asphalt or steel hulls. And Alaskans are rightly ticked DOT still doesn't even have at least a stopgap plan to get people in ferry-served communities where they need to go this season. I'm still working with other coastal legislators to get DOT to honor the schedule it published and the tickets it sold, and keep Alaskans moving. At the Southeast Sea Otter Conference Wednesday, learning the latest on these charming & voracious weasels of the ocean. Breaking Clays Cade Clay is a senior at Haines High School. He just came back from the National Shooting Competition ranked 2nd in Trap. That's second in the nation. As a guy who once broke 19 out of 25, my hat's off to Cade! Listening to seniors at Wildflower Court with Reps. Hannan & Story. Appropriately Appropriated The Superior Court ruled on pre-funding schools yesterday. A quick recap: in 2018 the legislature appropriated funding for K-12 schools for this year (Fiscal Year 2020.) The point was to let schools plan their budgets in advance to best serve Alaska students. Gov. Dunleavy doesn't think "forward funding" education is constitutional. Now the courts are deciding. The Superior Court Thursday gave a thumbs up to a year of forward funding. The judge pointed out the Constitution has no rules against it, and noted this year's legislature could modify the funding if we wanted. And he pointed to the constitutional requirement that the Legislature provide for K-12. (He also hinted strongly that pre-funding more than one year ahead would be a different issue.) The case will go up to the Alaska Supreme Court before we have a final decision. In the meantime the governor vetoed our attempt to forward fund for next year (FY 21.) That means schools and kids will almost certainly be a bargaining chip this coming session. And even as we fight for better funding, it's all but sure to mean another round of pink slips for teachers Alaska has no plans to fire. This therapy bunny (who knew that was a thing?) at Wildflower Court is adorably named Honey Bunny. Market Rate Miscue Here's one that's been under the radar. The state helps some low-income families pay for child care. It's part of the Division of Public Assistance's mission to help people reach self-sufficiency—because without child care, parents can't work. The amount the state pays is based on a survey. The point is to pay based on the market rate for various categories of care (child's age, full-time vs. part-time...) Some of the Juneau numbers are just wacky. They make it seem like the cost of childcare has gone way down in Juneau. It hasn't. The change will nail a bunch of families now (when kids are in school most of the day,) but it will absolutely flatten them this coming summer. Bluntly, families on public assistance don't have an extra $1000 per month. They'll have to quit their jobs or leave the kids unattended. That's no kind of hand up. Reps. Story and Hannan and I are working with the Department of Health & Social Services—and with CBJ—to get this mess fixed. The department met with their federal partners this week to look at their options. Stay tuned! All my best, Did someone forward you this newsletter? Did you fall into it through a series of tubes? Want more? SUBSCRIBE Events around District Q Juneau Cancer Connection Health Forum Check out this public forum on the future of cancer treatment on Nov. 9. See more here. Juneau Veterans Day Come honor our veterans on Nov. 11 with ceremonies, a chili feed, and more. Here’s a list of Veterans Day events. Juneau Evening at Egan Making Science Matter The science of blue carbon on Nov. 15. Here’s all the info. Juneau Our Alaskan Stories Come watch this screening of films by past Mt. Edgecumbe students Nov. 18. See more here. Skagway Veterans Park Plaque Dedication Come honor our veterans on Nov. 11. The details for the dedication are here. Klukwan Bald Eagle Ceremony Join this ceremony on Nov. 9. I get to present a legislative citation to the Bald Eagle Foundation, so I'll see you there! Find out more here. Haines Bald Eagle Festival Banquet Join the last event of this year’s Alaska Bald Eagle festival with a banquet on Nov. 9. Here’s the info. Haines Learn How to Backcountry Ski The library is holding this neat class on Nov. 13. See the details. Gustavus 20th Annual Craft & Gift Fair Get your holiday gifts at the fair on Dec. 2 at the Gustavus School Gym. If you want to be a vendor, make sure to sign up by Nov. 20! Skagway DDF Meet Come watch the final debate on Nov. 16. Here’s the info. 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]