Festivities and Finances Festivities and Finances December 13, 2019 Dear Friends and Neighbors, Happy December! The streets and stores are non-stop holidays. I know I'm looking forward to time with family. (But I'm way behind on gift shopping—I could use at least one more week.) We've got some decorations up in the Capitol and we're having a holiday open house next Friday from Noon-3. If you're in Juneau I hope you'll stop by and say hi! Rep. Andi Story and I gave a Capitol tour to government students from Thunder Mountain High School Budget Breakdown The governor's budget proposal came out this week and there's a lot to talk about. First up: the governor submitted a supplemental budget that would be one of the biggest in a long while. A supplemental usually covers unexpected expenses in the current year (the regular budget deals with the year to come.) Some of that is unavoidable⁠—with the bad fire season we had up north last summer, we need to cover more costs. But some of it was completely predictable. The governor is asking for more than $250 million in additional Medicaid money, for instance. His proposed cuts and vetoes last year went below what his own departments said they could achieve, after all. For next year's budget proposal, the governor suggests roughly the current spending level (keeping the big cuts the legislature made this past year, plus his vetoes.) There are still some more cutbacks on his list. I'm working through the agency budgets now to track all of the proposals. Once I find them, we'll see whether they make sense for Alaska. The governor also proposes doubling this year's PFD amount next fall. But his proposal has no new ideas for state revenue. That extra billion dollars would force us to cut the budget more deeply than he proposed last year or radically spend down our savings. This year's proposal is the latter. That's not a solution for the long term. Spending down our savings will just force future legislatures to make drastic cuts to the budget and the PFD both, leaving Alaska without a safety net or a sustainable fiscal future. Bottom line: Alaska needs revenues. We can revise our oil tax system, where we're leaving money on the table for a resource we Alaskans own. We also need some sort of broad-based tax—like an income tax—to connect a growing economy with the funds state government need to enable that economy. An income tax would also ensure out of state workers pay their fair share. In the past, the governor threatened to veto any revenue measures, but I hope there's room for a serious conversation this session. With my older daughter at the Governor's Mansion Holiday Open House New Newsletter Just a quick heads up to check your mailbox! I sent out an actual physical newsletter (or as my wife calls it, a 'dead tree version') which should hit boxes starting today. It goes over some big issues coming up for session, plus legislation I'm working on. I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts as we gear up for session. Give me a call! All my best, Did someone forward you this newsletter? Did you fall into it through the series of tubes? Want more? SUBSCRIBE Events around District Q Juneau Youth Basketball Skills Clinic Parks & Rec and the Zach Gordon Youth Center are hosting this neat skills clinic for kids ages 5 to 14 on Dec. 14. See more here. Juneau Holiday Skating Show Come watch the “Let It Snow” skating show followed by a free skate on Dec. 15. Here are details. Juneau Holiday Lights Bus Tour Come out for a tour of the Capital City holiday lights on either Dec. 14 or Dec. 21. Here’s the info. Juneau Christmas Eve Festivities See the torchlight parade and enjoy arts, crafts, live music, and more at Eaglecrest on Dec. 21. (Plus, I heard Santa might be stopping by…) See more here. Skagway Jingle Ball Join the fun with caroling, hot cocoa, and more! See all the info. Haines Holiday Parade Join the fun at the annual holiday parade on Dec. 14, followed by the fireworks show!! Here’s the information. Haines Burmese Indian Cuisine Learn how to cook a fabulous meal at Haines Community Education on Dec. 16. See delicious details here. Haines Movie Night at the Museum Watch Charlie Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush” on Dec. 18. My brother laughed ‘till he puked the first time he watched this. True story. Get more information on the film screening. Skagway Winter Wonderland Family Story Time Come out for stories and songs at the Skagway Library on Dec. 14. Check it out here. 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]