JUNEAU – On Sunday, April 24, Alaska will celebrate the first annual Vic Fischer and Jack Coghill Constitution of the State of Alaska Day. April 24 recognizes that day in 1956 when the citizens of Alaska ratified the Constitution of the State of Alaska, “guaranteeing that the individual will always be in-charge” and enshrining our […]
JUNEAU – Tuesday night, Governor Dunleavy issued his fourth State of the State address to the Alaska Legislature. Senate Democratic Leader Tom Begich (D-Anchorage) issued the following response: “I’m glad to hear the Governor applaud our need to work together, his acknowledgement of Alaskans who have succeeded against long odds, his championing of renewable […]
(Anchorage) – Wednesday, the Alaska Redistricting Board met and established a litigation subcommittee that placed Chair Binkley and Board member Bud Simpson as the sole members, despite the unembellished objections and recommendations from other board members. Senator Tom Begich (D-Anchorage), who has over 30 years of experience of reapportionment in Alaska, released the following statement: […]
JUNEAU – Wednesday, members of the Senate Democrats introduced two pieces of legislation to increase revenue for the state of Alaska. During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on August 24, 2021, it was noted by the non-partisan Legislative Finance Division that Alaska faces a $285 million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2023, even after overdrawing […]
ANCHORAGE – Today, Governor Mike Dunleavy signed into law Senate Bill 47, sponsored by Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage), to expand the ability for speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists to provide proof of disability for Alaskans to obtain special disability plates for vehicles. Many disabled Alaskans are closer to their physical or occupational […]
ANCHORAGE – Last Friday, a panel of three judges of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision in Thompson v. Hebdon that Alaska’s campaign contribution limits violated the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Today, the Alaska Senate Democrats sent a letter to Governor Mike Dunleavy urging him to direct the […]
ANCHORAGE – Today, Governor Dunleavy issued his vetoes of the Fiscal Year 2022 budgets. Many of the vetoes contained services and projects that had bipartisan and bicameral support in the legislature. These vetoes include public broadcasting, pre-Kindergarten grants, Alaska Marine Highway, front-line social workers, tourism, and the Permanent Fund Dividend, among other essential services. Members […]
JUNEAU – Wednesday, the Alaska State Legislature passed Senate Bill 76 by Senator Jesse Kiehl (D-Juneau), which shortens the wait for private property owners to dispose of abandoned vehicles. Current law requires a person to live with an abandoned car in their driveway or on their lot for six months before starting the legal process […]
An Income Tax Seeks to be Part of a Balanced Solution to Alaska’s Budget Deficit JUNEAU – Today, Senator Tom Begich (D-Anchorage) introduced legislation to establish a flat five percent income tax based on your federal tax rate. Senate Bill 100 would generate new state revenue from residents and non-residents earning an income in […]