We're Baaaack!

January 20, 2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The Legislature is back in business! We convened the first session of the 33d Legislature on Tuesday. It's great to welcome colleagues back to our capital city from around the state. The Senate has a large bipartisan majority, and I'm looking forward to a productive session.

Here's a sneak peak of my first bills this session, plus your chance to start making your summer plans!

Taking the oath of office with Sens. Stedman, Bjorkman, & Stevens.

Starting Line Up

Bills and budgets are the core of the legislature's session work. You won’t be shocked to hear I started by introducing a bill to bring back the option of a pension to public employees. It seems like every time I see the news there’s another article about the labor shortage—especially for the public sector, where tight budgets prevent competition with the private sector on salaries.

Keeping good employees on the job means we need to fix Alaska's retirement system. State actuaries show going back to a pension would save money. And that doesn't count lower turnover in our workforce. Every time we lose a public employee to a state with a pension (and that's all of them) or to the private sector (where they earn Social Security,) we have to spend time and your money. Offering public employees the option of a pension just makes good financial sense.

I also reintroduced a bill to create an address protection program for survivors of domestic violence and members of law enforcement. The program would let people list a central post office box instead of their actual mailing address on things that create a paper trail—like a voter registration or driver’s license. Not listing your actual mailing address prevents a stalker or abuser from staking out someone's home or post office. It's long past time for Alaska to join the 47 other states with programs like this to keep people safe.

My third pre-filed bill would give service-disabled veterans the same free trapping license as Alaskans over age 60. Right now, disabled veterans can get a free hunting or fishing license, but not a trapping license. Recognizing their service to our country with the same hunt/fish/trap license we give to elders is an easy call.

Rep. Story & I are headed to Skagway to hold office hours and a town hall. Come talk with us tomorrow night (Jan. 21) at 5pm at the AB Hall.

Summer's Right Around the Corner

I know, I know—it’s January. But DOT put out the draft ferry schedule for this coming summer! On the plus side – there’s more regular service scheduled. On the downside there are still a lot of points for possible failure.

The Matanuska is out of commission due to asbestos issues, so there's no backup mainliner. And major understaffing systemwide are a big challenge to running the ones we have. We need to build back a lot of capacity over the next couple of years—and we've just begun.

You can give the department your thoughts by writing in (the deadline is Jan. 26) or testifying during the zoom meeting Jan. 27 at 10am. Please let AMHS know what we need!

The team in my office: Ella, Cathy, Caleb, & Aurora.

Meet the Team

I've put together a great staff team working for our piece of Southeast this year. Let me introduce the people I rely on for a colossal amount of work:

Aurora Hauke has worked 24 sessions in the Legislature. (She even has me beat for legislative experience!) She brings an extraordinary depth of expertise to the job. Aurora will be my lead staff on Judiciary Committee issues. We're incredibly lucky to have her on board.

Ella Adkison is Juneau born and raised—with a few chilly years in Fairbanks to add perspective. She earned a degree in International Affairs from a college Outside, but we managed to reel her back home to Alaska right away. Ella will be on point for me on the Education Committee.

Cathy Schlingheyde is returning for a fifth year on the team, and a sixth in the legislature. Her law degree and chemistry background continue to come in handy with great frequency. She will focus on Finance Committee work this year.

Finally, please help me welcome Caleb Yabes to the team. He's an intern with the Ted Stevens Legislative Internship program at the University of Alaska. Caleb is a senior studying political science in Anchorage. He’s picking up the ins and outs of legislative work—and learning issues—at a breakneck pace! Caleb is staffing me on the Transportation Committee.

Each of them also works on bills, constituent issues, and other legislative duties. They’re an extraordinary team.

Please call us at (907) 465-4947 or come by the Capitol and visit us in our new office: Rm. 514. We’re here to help!

All my best,

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Events & Happenings Around District B

Skagway Town Hall

Join us (yes, US!) on Saturday, Jan. 21 for a Town Hall. Rep. Story and I will be at the AB hall from 5-7 pm. We'll also have office hours at the library from 1-3.

Skagway Book Club

Join fellow readers at the Skagway Book Club! This month’s book is “Breakfast with Buddha.” You can join the conversation Jan. 29 at the Library!

Stalking Awareness Workshop

T&H is hosting a Stalking Awareness & Prevention Community Workshop and Resource Fair. You can participate in this important program on Jan. 30 either on Zoom or in-person at Juneau's Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall from 12-2pm. Email Jeni Brown for more info.

Juneau Theater

Theater Alaska's last performance of Every Brilliant Thing is tonight! Check out this play—it's getting rave reviews!

Juneau Symphony

Beethoven, Strauss, and Rimsky-Korsakov! The Juneau Symphony plays at JDHS on January 28 & 29!

Juneau Chamber Series

For more excellent music, come listen to Flautist Sally Schlichting at SLAM on Feb. 11.

Gustavus Bagels

Swing by the Gustavus Community Center for some delicious bagels! Saturday, Jan. 21^st, and every Saturday thereafter.

Gustavus Gluten-Free Baking

Take a Gluten-free baking class at the Community Center! Register here to make some goodies of your own.

Gustavus Ping-Pong

Do you have what it takes to be a ping-pong wizard? Compete in the tournament Jan. 28^th at the Community Center and find out!

Gustavus Puzzles

Celebrate National Puzzle Day in the best way: with puzzles! Join fellow puzzle enthusiasts Jan. 29^th at the Community Center.

Haines Crafters Hall

Meet with like-minded crafty people (and learn how to enter your work in the fair!) Swing by Harriet Hall on the 21^st from 1-3pm.

Haines River Talk

Come by the Chilkat Center to listen to—or tell your own—stories! $7 to enjoy a fun night of songs and tales Jan. 26, 7-9pm.

Haines Alcan 200

Join the fun in this international snow machine race on Jan. 21. If you're not up for the race there's also an awards dinner at the Legion hall and a fun day at Mosquito Lake the 22^d.